Dudes Down Under (33 page)

“
So, so he will be okay? He will regain use of his legs?”

“
I believe that to be the case. He will be in some pain as feeling returns, and he will require some intensive physiotherapy for a time, but I’m quietly confident that he will make an almost complete recovery.”

Both Lucy and Rebecca began to cry with relief, and they held on to each other like sisters while the tears finally flowed freely, then they both got the giggles and started wiping the tears from each other’s faces, laughing out loud at the sight they made.

“
Well, yes. He certainly has some good friends. May I ask how you come to know Ed Guest? I don’t wish to be rude, but you are not the usual type of people he associates with.”

“
Oh, Ed, yeah, good ol’ Ed. He’s by way of being a drinking buddy, Isn’t he, Lucy?” said Rebecca with a wink at them both.

“
Yep, he’s a good bloke is Ed.”

“
One of the best,” Lucy managed to say straight-faced.

“
I see. Well, whatever the reason, I am delighted that your friend will recover. I will be returning Stateside. However I would like to thank Mr. Guest personally for his very generous donation.”

“
When will Skeet, um, Mr. Harrington, be able to travel?” Lucy asked.

“
Not for a week or so. Depends on how fast the swelling reduces and how he recovers from his other injuries.”

“
Well, then, if you would care to accompany us, you can thank Ed in person, then rest up before the trip back.”

“
Well, I … I have never actually met Ed. Yes, very well. Thank you. I can keep an eye on my patient. Do we have far to travel? “

“
About an hour and a half in a chopper.”

“
A helicopter?”

“
Yes.”

“
Oh, I’ve never … Yes, well, okay. Thank you.”

“
Can we see Skeet? Is he awake?”

“
Yes, he’s awake, but very groggy from the pain relief. I have already told him he’s a very lucky young man. Oh, and can someone please tell me who this Cyril person is? My patient seems dreadfully concerned about him, keeps on about him not wearing a pink sun hat? He’s not with it, of course, unless this friend Cyril is gay perhaps.” The professor was a little taken aback when the three people in front of him all started laughing.

“
It’s okay, Professor, you will understand when you meet Cyril,” Lucy explained. “Can we please see Skeet now?”

The Professor nodded.

Skeet had his eyes closed and a smile on his face. The morphine had him feeling nothing at all for the moment, but that Yank doctor reckoned everything would be okay. He’d been trying to avoid thinking about the other possibility, not with great success, so at the moment he was relieved and sleepy.

“
Some people will do anything to get out of work,” Lucy said.

“
Yeah, you got that right. I think he was trying to get outta dancin’ with me as well.”

“
Malingering again, hey, Skeet?”

Skeet’s grin grew larger. He opened his eyes. “Can’t a bloke get any bloody peace in this place?”

The friends carried on that way for a short while, then Skeet asked, “Ginny and Ed Guest, are they both okay?”

“
Yep, they sure are. You owe ‘em both a drink, mate.”

“
Was it Ginny on the other end of those gunshots?”

“
Yep, she’s a cracker of a shot, thank God.”

“
Ed Guest pulled some heavy strings to get that Yank doctor out here fast, mate.”

“
Yeah, so he said. I’ll buy him a beer or six when I get home. So I guess this means I have ta dance with ya after all, hey, Bec?”

“
You'd better believe it.”

“
How’s Cyril? Behaving himself, I hope.”

“
Yeah, he’s as good as gold, mate. Sadie’s keepin’ him occupied, plus I got ‘em both copies of
The Godfather
, all three movies. They’re watching them right about now.”

“
Good, that’s terrific.”

“
Lucy, love, how did
Dudes
hold up?”

“
Nothing that can’t be fixed easily, my friend. All the damage was outside. Those shutters we put in worked perfectly.”

“
All the guests gone back their separate ways?”

“
No, no, most of ‘em stayed. They are all helping out with clearing up the debris. And Tristan and Jack have gone out on croc patrol with the teams. No big dramas, but a few disorientated crocs needed relocating.”

“
Bugger it. I’m missin’ all the fun. Still, the Yank bloke reckons I can probably head home in a week or so.”

“
Yep, no more lazin’ around doin’ nothin’, mate.”

The four of them enjoyed a good laugh, then they were shooed away by the sister in charge.

“
I’ll take real good care of Cyril, so no worryin,’ okay?” Rebecca called over her shoulder as they were ushered out of the room.

“
It’s all good. Thanks a lot. See ya soon.”

Skeet was asleep again before his friends even got to the lift.

Chapter 37

Jack and Tristan were happily exhausted when they came back off patrol. The Aussie team had been pleased as punch to have them along once they realized that these guys were damned good shots and willing to take risks. The comments were rude and crude, a clear indication that they had been accepted.

Max greeted them on arrival back at
Dudes
with ice cold beers and hamburgers.

The crew tucked into the food and drink, happy to be off shift.

Tristan looked around but couldn’t see Izzy anywhere. Max caught the look and pointed in the direction of the pool outside the nearest entrance. “The sheilas are doin’ a great job, fellas. They have already cleared the rubbish out of two of the pools. All on their own, bless ‘em.”

“
Our ladies are cleaning pools?” said Jack in a disbelieving tone. “You have got to be shittin’ me, man.”

“
No way, mate. The women have been workin’ their bum’s off, true as I stand here.”

“
Well, what do you know? I gotta get this on film.” Tristan hurried off to his bungalow to grab the recorder.

*  *  *

“
Well my friends, I think we can call it quits for the day. I don’t know about you lot, but I’m buggered. We’ve all done a bloody good day's work. So what do ya think, knock off time?” asked Didi.

“
If that means we can stop now, you got my vote,” Sidney said with a swipe at yet another fly that found her enjoyable company.

“
Amen to that idea. Let’s start again early tomorrow. Rright now I need a long cool drink.”

“
Would you settle for a long cool man instead?” said Lana, pointing to the edge of the pool where Tristan and Jack were both busy with the camcorders. “You boys better run, and fast. I for one don’t want to see what I look like right now.”

Lana and Izzy both clambered out of the pool and headed determinedly towards the guys. “Oh no you don’t, Tris. Come back here with that camera.”

“
No chance, honey. The kids are not gonna believe this.” He ran off, dodging his wet lady as he did so.

“
Jack? Oh, Jack, honey. C’mon, don’t fool around. Give me the recorder. Play nice. I must look a sight. No film, okay?

“
Lana, you look wonderful, in a messed-up, tired sorta way. You want this … ” he dangled the recorder in front of her, “you come get it, m’lady.”

“
Well, girls,” said Vanessa with a shake of her head, “looks like it’s just the three of us for drinks.”

“
Okay. Can someone please help my ass outta this pool,” Sidney asked as she draped her tired body on the edge.

Vanessa and Didi both giggled at the sight she made. They took an arm each and dragged her up and out, then the three of them headed off to have burgers and beer.

Sidney was part of something good for the first time in a very long while. It sure felt different and nice, she admitted to herself. Yeah, it felt real nice.

Kylie and Ginny headed in to join the others when their croc patrol returned. It was a large, happy and tired bunch of people gathered around the bar which had been set up in a freshly cleared area outside. The aroma of onions cooking drifted on the air and the hungry crew made short work of the delicious burgers.

A chopper flew overhead and everyone paid attention, waiting for news on Skeet.

The Doc and Lucy joined the group. Rebecca went off to check on Cyril and Sadie.

Lucy headed up to the microphone. “Hey, folks, we have wonderful news. Skeet should make a complete recovery. Please give a warm round of applause to Doc for doing it right, yo Ginny for being Annie Oakley with a gun, and to Ed for his generosity in flying in the best of the best spinal cord injury specialists in the world. Let me introduce you to him right now. Professor, up you come!”

To say that the American surgeon was a little amazed at seeing so many well-known faces in the group would be a massive understatement. He acknowledged the applause, said his thanks and made his way over to Ed Guest.

Lucy came over and gave the businessman another hug of thanks.

Ed responded with an embarrassed laugh. “Careful now, Lucy honey, you wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation as an asshole.”

“
Glad to ruin it. You’re all right, Ed. Underneath all that arsehole behavior, you have a heart. Who would have guessed it?”

The man had the grace to laugh at the comment.

The professor insisted everyone called him Rodney. Lucy said, “So, Rodney, you wanted to meet Cyril?”

“
Well yes, yes, I would like that.”

“
Come with me.”

Lucy led the way to the movie screening where Cyril and Sadie were munching happily on popcorn and drinking beer while watching
The Godfather Part 3
. They were in heaven having already sat through
The Godfather Parts 1 and 2
twice. The grunting and tail wagging was disconcerting to the man who had never seen a crocodile up close and personal before.

Rebecca had just joined her two charges and hadn’t interrupted the film. She would give the babies the good news about Skeet when the movie ended.

Lucy pointed out Cyril to the professor. “I won’t interrupt their movie. You can be formally introduced later, okay?”

The man looked utterly confused. “Formally introduced? But they are crocodiles.”

“
Sssh! You don’t want to offend them, do you?”

“
What? I, um … you’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?” He looked into Lucy’s face and realized that she was absolutely serious. “Well I’ll be damned.”

Chapter 38

“
Oh, Sadie, that was so good. I swear I almost cried again when Al died. He dies so beautifully.”

“
Yes, sniff! I cry every time I see it. The ending never changes, though. Sigh! Perhaps they should try cryogenics or something and then defrost him at a later date.”

“
Hmmm, that could work, although he might like dying better than the deep freeze. Oh look, there’s Rebecca. She promised news about my Skeet.”

“
Hello, you two, come give me a hug,” Rebecca squatted on the floor next to the pair. “So you have been good babies, Max tells me. I’m happy that you ate all your dinner despite the huge amount of popcorn he made for you.”

“
It was so yummy, and I’m extra hungry at the moment. I need chocolate, ummm, chocolate would be good here. Yo, Bec, chocolate munchies, I need munchies. Cyril, my dear, how do I let her know I want munchies?”

“
You’re still hungry? Wow, I’m impressed. I know how to get munchies. Watch this.”

Cyril made his way across the room and into the foyer off the reception area. The vending machine, filled to the brim with munchies, sat there waiting.

Okay, I can do this. Please give me munchies. Don’t play dumb with me. I’ve seen plenty of the people you give munchies to. Um, you can. They're not for me. It’s Rebecca, she wants munchies.

“
Cyril, sweetie, what’s the matter, hon? You want a candy bar? Well I got some change here. Let’s see … yep, I can do this. What would you like?” Sidney asked.

Oh, tummy-tickler, thanks so much. It’s for Rebecca, you see. Umm, I think cherry ripe or wagon wheel, or no, maybe not. Peppermint crisp. Hmm, I can’t decide.