Dudes Down Under (30 page)

Skeet would need every ounce of his strength and willpower to survive. He was made of tough stuff, this man, but would that be enough?

That thought was in everyone’s minds as the chopper lifted off and headed out over the mountainous seas to the mainland.

Chapter 33

Lucy sat in silence looking out across the shattered landscape. Uprooted trees and jungle vines lay in tangled heaps scattered across her entire field of vision. She felt sick just looking at it.

Lucy gave herself a mental shake. The guests were safe and the structure of
Dudes
had held up beautifully. It was outside that had been rearranged to Mother Nature’s crazed design.

Charlie found her sitting gazing pensively around at what remained of her paradise. ”Sweetheart, c’mon, you should try and have something to eat. Everyone else is. The guests are all in fine fettle, except for worrying about Skeet, that is.”

“
I know, darling, I should be grateful that everyone else is okay. I am. It’s just - ”

She stood and shook her head, forcing the tears back and her determined chin forward. “Well, this is getting nothing done. I have to sit down and make a list of the most urgent priorities. First up, we need to evacuate all these guests to the mainland. I will need teams to check the bungalows for structural damage before any of them can return to gather their belongings together.”

“
How about you come out to the main dining room and just sit and have some food? Then, if you like, I can help with the list. You won’t be any help to anyone if you pass out from lack of nourishment.”

“
Okay. You’re right, come on.” Lucy placed her hand in Charlie’s and together they returned to the dining area.

The atmosphere in the room was surprisingly cheerful. The endorphin rush that accompanies survival had hit, and relieved laughter seemed to be on the menu. Lucy took a deep breath, thankful that everyone seemed fine.

Rebecca spotted Lucy and hurried across to her. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I know you have a lot on your mind, but please tell me how he is. Please.”

“
Honey, he’s doing okay. Not wonderful, but okay. His vital signs are good. They still have him in theatre. As soon as I know anything more, I’ll tell you, I promise.” Lucy gave her a hug. “How are Cyril and Sadie?”

“
They are both asleep at the moment. I’ll give them a good feed when they wake up. I’ll stay, if you like, and look after them until Skeet gets home. Would that be alright? I’ll feel better if I’m here amongst his friends, and Cyril might be a little edgy when he realizes Skeet isn’t here. I’m not certain how he’ll react, but I can handle it.”

“
Rebecca, that would be wonderful. You’re kind of fond of Skeet, huh?”

Rebecca blushed scarlet and smiled at Lucy. “Fond? Yeah, mate. Fond is a good word.” She headed back towards her two charges, still smiling at Lucy’s choice of words. Fond doesn’t even come close, Lucy. Nowhere near it.

The guests were all congregating together near the stage. Lucy wondered what was happening. They appeared to be having a meeting of some sort. Eat first, questions will wait a while. They all seemed happy enough at the moment.

Lucy finished her meal, and she and Charlie began working on the list of priorities. First up would be to ensure that the guests could return safely to their bungalows. Lucy already had teams of staff checking for structural damage and, even more importantly, clearing some debris to make walking safer. The croc patrols were on full alert and had already cleared three large ones away from the inhabited areas. The crocs would be a problem for a day or so. They were confused by the cyclone and would seek out their usual habitat eventually, but for now they were afraid and that made them even more dangerous than normal.

Rebecca had been out to the kitchen and gathered breakfast for the twosome. She decided to move them to the large indoor pen to feed them, but would allow them to awaken in their own time. She was in no hurry to find out what reaction Cyril would have to finding Skeet missing.

Lucy excused herself and made her way to the stage.

“
Folks, if I can have your attention for a moment. First of all, I want to say thank you to all of you. Your generous behavior helped us all through a difficult situation. I am so grateful that you all remained so calm. We have some important things to sort out. My first need is to ensure that you are all safe. With that in mind, I need you to agree to a few important safety measures. First of all, your bungalows are being checked for damage as we speak. The walkways will be cleared of debris to allow you access to them and I will let you know when the all clear comes through.

Now, the most important thing, please do not go off anywhere alone. We have a large enough staff to ensure that someone can accompany you at all times. This will be in force until we are satisfied that any crocs have been safely returned to their usual habitat. Please stay within the resort boundaries. I am organizing an airlift evacuation and you will all be taken back to the mainland as soon as possible. A full refund of all moneys paid for the month long stay will be transmitted through to whatever account you nominate. I thank you in advance for your co-operation. I can’t apologize enough for the inconvenience. I’m afraid a cyclone wasn’t on the list of attractions you signed on for.”

Lucy was a little shocked at the silence that greeted her announcement. She felt certain that a complete refund was fair but she had expected a few questions. The mainland hadn’t been hit hard by the cyclone. It had crossed the coast in a largely unpopulated area. Skeet's appeared to be the only known injury. Perhaps they were concerned about being in a worse situation if they travelled to Cairns. Lucy was about to address that when Lana Peters called out, “Lucy?”

“
Yes, my friend?”

“
We, that is the guests, we had a vote, and most of us would like to stay. We can help out, I’m sure we can. Even if it’s just to help clear the pathways or prepare food for the teams as they come in. We are a part of this, Lucy. No one here has ever seen anything like this firsthand before. We know damned well if it hadn’t been for the way
Dudes
was designed and built, and the well-trained staff, we would have been in deep shit, girlfriend. We want to stay and help out.”

Lucy couldn’t speak. This was not even remotely what she had expected. She looked around at the famous faces and saw all of them smiling back at her. She felt the tears start and sat down on the edge of the stage and let them flow.

The crowd of people no longer appeared as famous names. These were real people responding to an emergency situation. Lucy managed a choked, “Thank you so much,” before the tears took control. She looked up and smiled as one of the most gorgeous men on the planet sat next to her and offered her his handkerchief. “Thanks, Tristan.”

He gave her a hug and jumped down from the stage to join his wife.

“
Lucy, you tell us what and where and when, girlfriend. There are only two people, or maybe three, who are going to leave. I think they are waiting outside your office. Now you go do what you need to be doing, and we will eat drink and be very merry until you ask us to do something or be somewhere. Okay?”

“
Thank you, Izzy. Folks, consider it a done deal. If I may say so, I’m proud to know each and every one of you.” Lucy headed to her office to see who was leaving.

Chapter 34

Oh my head, such a headache. Ohhhh why did they make me drink all that beer? Has the psycho-clone gone? Where’s Skeet? I need my breakfast, and my t-shirt simply can’t be worn another day. I hope Skeet caught that damn psycho-clone. Eeewww, scary looking man.

“
G’morning, Cyril. Where is Skeet? Is it breakfast time yet? Why are you frowning?”

“
I’m not frowning. I never frown. I have a dreadful headache is all. Did you sleep well, Sadie, my dear?”

“
Mmm, not too bad. Rebecca is just over there. I’ll fetch her.”

“
Oh-oh, Beck, here comes your Sadie. She don’t look like a happy little vegemite this morning.” Max grinned and left the table as his group of four croc handlers signaled from the doorway.

“
Well now, Miss Sadie, good morning to you.” Rebecca bent down and patted Sadie’s head. “I’ll just bet you and Cyril are hungry, aren’t you?”

Sadie gave a dignified snort and headed back across to Cyril. “Breakfast will be comin’ right away. Rebecca will fix us up.”

“
Does she have good dress sense? I must change this shirt, it’s dirty, disgusting. I am ashamed to be seen in it. Where the hell is Skeet?”

“
I haven’t seen him around. Rebecca must know. She will tell us I’m sure.”

“
He can’t have gone off with the tummy-tickler 'cause I can see her just over there. This is very unusual. Skeet just doesn’t go anywhere without telling me first. And why didn’t he read to me last night? He better have a damn good explanation. I'm not pleased. You don’t think the psycho-clone got him? What if he did? Oh my God, Skeet might at this very moment be trapped in a shower with Anthony Perkins. What if … dare I say it? … Yes, I dare … what if Anthony Perkins is naked? Eeeewww! How horrible. My poor Skeet! He has to be rescued!”

“
Cyril, my dear, I’m sure that Skeet is more than a match for that dreadfully skinny Perkins person.”

“
Even if he’s naked? You think? I mean, where else could Skeet be? Would he go outside in that storm in spite of the psycho-clone warning?”

“
Are you quite certain Lucy said 'psycho-clone'? I rather thought it was a 'cyclone' warning.”

“
Oh-dear, that’s worse than Anthony Perkins, isn’t it? Don’t those cyclone thingummies kill people?”

“
I have heard that.”

“
Nooo-nooo, this will never do. I want Skeet. I want Skeet right this minute. “

“
Uh-oh, Rebecca. Cyril’s headin’ in your direction and he doesn’t look too happy.” Kylie Andrews said.

“
Well, I’ll just have to cheer him up. Cyril, me lad, I know this is strange, but can you be a good crocodile for me? I’ll need your help.” Rebecca hunkered down and stroked his big head. “Can I count on you to be a strong crocodile, Cyril?”

Well, of course you can. Do you really see me as strong? Thanks so much. I do worry, you know, that people may think me a little odd. Only those that know I sleep with my Pooh bear, mind you. I am sooo pleased. You can count on me, Rebecca. Um, why do I need to be stronger than usual? Not that it’s a problem, of course. I am just a little curious, is all. By the way, what on earth is my Skeet up too? Where is he? Who has him? What will I wear? I’m hungry. Do you know how to read? Are you color blind? What do you think about, um, pink sun hats? Where is Skeet? Oh, I asked that already.

“
Now Cyril, sweetie, I need you to pay close attention. You musn’t worry about Skeet. I am here to take care of you while he’s away, you and Sadie both. Skeet was … Skeet got ... Skeet was hurt during the cyclone. He was hurt badly, I won’t lie to you, Cyril. But Doc fixed him up pretty damn good and now the doctors at the big hospital on the mainland are gonna fix him up as good as new.”

I knew it! I knew something was wrong. My, Skeet, oh my poor Skeet. I simply have to go to this mainland place and wait till he’s all better. Can I walk there? Is it far? Can Sadie come too? What shall I wear? I better have breakfast before I leave, and a drinkie or five. What’s a hospital?

*  *  *

The metal shutters had responded as they were made to do, locking down the windows and doorways of the bungalows. The devastating damage was outside where palm trees were bowed low to the ground. Those that were still standing were too dangerous to leave as they were. It would be a major job to resurrect the flora of the island.

The swimming pools were afloat with debris and every pathway was strewn with the remains of vegetation that had been ripped apart. It was hard to look at. Devastation on a larger scale had only been avoided owing to the owner sparing no expense on the construction and safety features at
Dudes
, and that, if nothing else, would be remembered.

The all-clear was given on the safety of the bungalows and the guests took their first look outside. Many of the women were in tears as they tried to take in the sight that greeted them. They were a quiet bunch as they entered their bungalows, amazed that all inside was as they had left it.

Croc patrols would remain on duty till further notice. The guests were asked not to venture near the lagoon for a day or so until the patrols were sure the surrounding area was croc-free.

Didi and Lucy walked together around the wrecked pathways. Lucy carried her rifle. “God, Didi, how will we ever get it back to what it was?”

“
Don’t fret about it, Luce. It’ll be almost as good as new in a week or so.”

“
Do you really think so?”