Pearlie's Pet Rescue (5 page)

P
EARLIE
woke to a small rush of air on her face. Then there it was. The familiar monkey smell that could only belong to Tinto.

Tiny hands touched her hair, her face and Tinto made excited chattering sounds as he snuggled into her.

‘You're alive, my little lion,' she cooed, stroking his mane and kissing his cheeks.

But what's this? That's strange, she thought. In amongst Tinto's fur were fine grains of sand. ‘Were you on the beach just now?' She leaned forward and smelt his head. There was definitely the salty smell of sea on him. Could it be possible that he climbed through the cracks between the boulders and found his way out?

With bruised, shaky hands Pearlie ripped a strip of material from her dress and tied it in a knot around Tinto's collar.

She lifted her head and with all the strength she could muster said, ‘Go to Reddy, Tinto. Go to Reddy.' Pearlie was puffing when she felt Tinto leave. She was alone again in the dark. And so began a long, agonising wait.

Chip, chip, chip
.

It was either very close, like two beetles fighting right by Pearlie's ear, or else very far away. Her mind was suddenly alert.

‘Here,' she called, but her throat was so dry it came out as a long rasping noise. Pearlie swallowed. ‘Help! Help . . .'

The
chip chip chipping
sound was growing louder and suddenly Tinto was next to her.

It seemed to take forever for the rescue party to reach her. But gradually the air smelt fresher and Pearlie could feel wafts of the salty breeze on her face.

Then a crack of light appeared, which made her eyes burn until they grew used to it.

The crack became a hole the size of a tennis ball, then egg-shaped like one of Reddy's footballs. Torch beams flickered. Warm, urgent voices were now so close.

‘Pearlie.' It was Reddy's voice.

‘Yes,' she gasped.

‘Over here!' he yelled. ‘I found her! She's alive!'

The rocks were carefully lifted away and Reddy clambered through. He held a canteen of water to Pearlie's lips. She was so thirsty she wanted to drink it all at once but Reddy stopped her. ‘Slowly, slowly,' he said.

‘Don't let them take Tinto away.'

‘It will be all right,' Reddy said.

Pearlie was tied to a stretcher and hauled up the cliff.

She saw the sky bulging with grey clouds. A seagull soared. A feather was carried away on the wind.

Pearlie lay beneath a pair of giant white wings. An angel, she thought and looked up into the gentle face, which appeared then disappeared. I'm in heaven. ‘Heaven is beautiful.'

‘Hello, love,' said Mum, lifting the mosquito net.

‘I must have been dreaming,' Pearlie said, and was about to get up when she felt a searing pain in her head. It brought back her memory. ‘Diamond Cave . . . where's Tinto?'

Mum sighed. ‘If it hadn't been for that little monkey . . .'

‘Mum, where is he?'

‘He's at home in his cage.'

Pearlie sank back into the pillow. ‘He's not hurt, is he?'

‘No.'

‘I was lying low,' Pearlie said. ‘Did you hear how he got into the barracks?'

Mum nodded. ‘It was a very silly thing you did, Pearlie.'

‘I know. But I was scared the Colonel would take him away. I'm sorry . . .'

‘Well, no one's been over to find him. I think he's safe now. And if Colonel Mitchell comes knocking, we'll tell him how Tinto saved your life.' Mum turned her head and stood up from the bed. ‘There's someone who wants to see you.' She slipped out of Pearlie's vision.

Dad now filled the space where Mum had been a moment before. He was dressed in his pyjamas and his hair was ruffled but he'd put on some weight.

‘You're well again,' she said.

Dad nodded and smiled. ‘Not quite but I'm a lot better than I was. I'll be home soon.'

Pearlie's body hurt all over. It even hurt to smile but she did anyway.

After lunch Reddy came to visit. ‘G'day,' he said. ‘Got yourself into a right mess, eh?'

‘Thanks for saving my life,' she said.

‘Wasn't me. If little Tinto hadn't shown me where you were, I reckon you'd be a goner.'

Pearlie nodded. ‘I can keep him.'

‘Yeah? At least somethin' good came out of it.'

‘Yeah.'

Reddy looked down and a little bump began wriggling inside his shirt. ‘Brought you a present.'

‘Tinto!' she cried. Reddy lifted up his shirt and Tinto jumped onto Pearlie's pillow. She raised the sheet so he could snuggle inside. Tinto crawled all the way down to her feet and curled up next to them.

‘Thanks Reddy,' she said, squeezing his hand. ‘You're the best friend ever.'

Reddy blushed and turned away.

‘How's Leonetta?' she asked.

He bit his lip and Pearlie felt a chill.

‘What's wrong?'

‘I tried to stop them,' Reddy said, shaking his head.

‘Stop who? Where is she?'

‘The army took her.'

‘No! No! Not our lovely Leonetta! Didn't you tell them she's a pet? What do they want her for, anyway?' Pearlie felt numb.

‘They could keep her as a mascot,' Reddy said and she knew he was lying but they were the words she wanted to hear.

Pearlie couldn't bear the thought of Leonetta being eaten. She turned her head to face the other way.

‘There's something else I have to tell you,' Reddy said. He bit a fingernail that had split, then looked at her and said, ‘I have to go on the next boat. It leaves for Perth in a few days.'

‘No, Reddy!'

‘I'm sorry, Pearlie.'

‘But I'll be all by myself . . .'

Reddy turned to stare out of the window.

Pearlie went home the next day. Rusty pranced around her like he had springs in his feet. ‘I love you too, Rusty,' she said and knelt down stiffly to give him a hug.

Mum had placed an old wooden fruit box lined with a towel in the corner of the kitchen. ‘I think a brave little monkey deserves a nice bed instead of a cage to sleep in,' she said, smiling at Pearlie.

Tinto liked his new bed and so did Joey, who snuggled down with the little monkey and wouldn't get out.

Pearlie laughed. It was good to be home again. But lying in hospital had given her plenty of time to think. Now that she knew Reddy was leaving, there was something she had to ask. Mum poured them both a cup of tea and sweetened it with sugar.

‘We'll have to leave soon, too,' Pearlie said.

‘Yes, love. But at least Dad'll be able to come with us. It's funny how things work out. His illness turned into a good thing. If he was well he'd have to stay back and help, like most of the other husbands.'

Pearlie looked at Rusty sitting at the back door, then up at Santa, who was in his cage preening his long tail feathers. ‘I gotta find new homes for them then,' she said.

‘Yes,' Mum replied. ‘The sooner the better.'

‘And Tinto? He'll be allowed to come with us, won't he, Mum?'

Mum paused. Then said, ‘I'll try my best but you'll have to be brave, Pearlie.'

F
our
days passed and the day that Pearlie had been dreading arrived. Darwin Harbour was filled with ships now. The hospital ship, the
Manunda
, had come in, carrying wounded Australian soldiers who had been fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. And there was a big United States warship, the
USS Peary
, with huge guns on its deck. And tied up at the wharf was the
Koolama
, the ship that was taking Reddy away.

Pearlie saw crowds of women and children saying goodbye to their husbands and fathers. Most were crying. They were in a kind of daze. Nobody wanted to leave. Darwin was their home. But these were the orders.

Pearlie had tears in her eyes, too. Not only was she sad that Reddy was going and she might never see him again, she was also thinking about when it would be their turn. She didn't know what to say as she stood in front of Reddy. ‘Will you write?'

Reddy nodded.

‘Oh.' Her shoulders slumped. ‘But I don't know where I'll be.'

‘I'm good at finding out things.' Reddy squeezed her hand. Then he bent down and patted Rusty. ‘What you going to do about Rusty and Santa when your turn comes?'

She shrugged. Reddy had been right all those weeks ago, but Pearlie wasn't sorry that she'd saved their lives – not one bit. ‘I don't know . . .' Her voice caught in her throat.

‘Time to get aboard,' yelled one of the soldiers, opening the boom gate.

‘Ask Frank. The army's not going anywhere fast. They might want a dog and a bird as a mascot. It's worth a try, eh,' Reddy said, picking up a small suitcase. It held a change of clothes for him, his mum, Clara and Billy. Everything else they owned had to be left behind. ‘See ya, Pearlie.'

Pearlie put on a brave smile as she watched Reddy disappear up the gangplank and into the crowd of other refugees fleeing Darwin. She had never felt more alone in her life.

As she turned to leave, she heard Reddy yelling. She looked up and he suddenly appeared at the railing of the ship. ‘Pearlie, wait! I forgot to give you this!' And he threw something to her.

It spun in the air and Pearlie caught it.

Then Reddy was pushed away by a sailor and Pearlie lost sight of him in the crowd. She looked down at the object in her hand.

It was Reddy's lucky penknife.

The days that followed were full of turmoil. Dad came home from the hospital but he was still very weak. Almost everyone Pearlie knew had left. The shops in the town were being boarded up one by one. And the air-raid sirens went off at all hours. On top of that, it rained and rained as if the sky was crying for the people of Darwin.

Pearlie always kept Tinto by her side. They could be evacuated at a moment's notice. He slept with her at night, and she carried him around in his pouch or on her shoulder during the day. She'd heard of some dads going to work in the morning then coming home at night and finding their family gone. That's how fast things were happening. Everyone was scared.

It was too sad to think about but Pearlie
had
to find homes for her dear ones – Rusty, Santa, and the Girls.

She didn't trust the army. They'd taken Leonetta and nearly gotten Tinto. But Reddy was right. The army were the only ones who were guaranteed to stick around. I have to find Frank, she thought.

He lived at Larrakeyah Barracks, which Pearlie knew was impossible to get into. But though she looked out for Frank, hoping to run into him on the street, the days passed and she didn't see him anywhere.

‘It's happened,' said Dad at dinner one night. ‘The evacuation order came through. We're leaving on the
Koolinda
for Perth on the fifteenth of February. That's in two days' time.'

‘Two days?' Pearlie gasped. ‘But I haven't found homes for Rusty and Santa! And what about the Girls?'

‘The army are taking the Girls,' Mum said.

‘No, Mum, you can't let them!'

‘We have no choice, love. It's a government order. But I'm sure they'll keep them for laying. They've still got a good few years worth of eggs in them,' said Mum. She gave a little sigh and stroked Tinto, who was sitting on Pearlie's shoulder. ‘I've tried, love,' she said. ‘Tried with all my might because Tinto saved your life. But I'm . . .'

Pearlie's stomach rolled as she realised what Mum was about to say. ‘I'm not leaving without him, Mum. I'll smuggle him on board if I have to.'

‘Pearlie, be reasonable,' said Dad. ‘Even if you can get him onto the ship, how are you going to keep him hidden?'

Tears welled in Pearlie's eyes. Tinto, sensing her distress, climbed down to sit in the crook of her arm. ‘He's the only part of Nao I have left,' she said.

I don't have time to feel sorry for myself, she thought as she wiped her eyes. I have to find a good home for Rusty and Santa, and I've only got two days to do it.

An idea came to Pearlie as she lay in bed that night. She knew Frank often went for a drink at The Don Hotel. It was a dangerous place. Its nickname was The Bloodhouse because of all the fights that broke out there between the soldiers and sailors. One night Dad had had to board up his shop as soldiers went through Chinatown smashing windows and stealing things. Her parents had warned her to stay away from there, especially at night. But Pearlie knew she had to take the chance.

She heard Mum and Dad going to bed. She heard their soft murmurings, then silence, then Dad snoring. Tinto climbed onto the covers, wondering what Pearlie was doing.

‘Shhh . . .' she said as she dressed quietly. As soon as she put the pouch over her shoulder, he jumped inside. Then she crept out the back door with Tinto hidden underneath her jacket.

The Don was just up the road from where Pearlie lived. It was a two-storey building with all its doors and windows flung open to let in fresh air. It was so crowded and hot inside that soldiers were hanging around on the street. She slipped into the large room with a long bar, then she weaved in and out of the groups of soldiers, looking for Frank.

A man swayed in front of her as if his shoes were stuck to the floor. Pearlie recognised him right away. It was the soldier who was on gate duty at Larrakeyah Barracks the day she and Naoko had gone to look for Colonel Mitchell. He took a step forward, almost fell, then staggered away. He smelled disgusting. The stench of alcohol was making her feel sick to the stomach.

From behind her came shouting. Pearlie spun around just in time to see a man punch another man. Both went crashing to the floor. Then there was more shouting and other men started fighting each other.

Pearlie ran to the front of the room, the way she had come in. Her heart was pounding. It was like being in a stampede of wild buffalo.

‘Quick, honey,' a woman serving behind the bar said to her. She lifted a wooden flap on the counter and Pearlie hurried through. ‘Now sit down and stay down till Hazel tells you otherwise, got it?'

Pearlie nodded. She hunched down, covering her ears with her hands. But she still heard the brawl – bottles smashing, chairs being broken and men yelling and swearing. Why are they fighting when they aren't even enemies? she wondered. Finally the police came with batons raised. They arrested some of the soldiers and sailors and soon it was quiet.

‘Okay, honey,' the woman said. ‘You can come out now.'

She brushed the dust from Pearlie's dress and looked at her. Hazel had shoulder-length brown hair tied up with a green scarf. Pearlie thought she was very pretty.

‘You're out kinda late, aren't you?'

‘I'm looking for someone. His name's Frank McBride,' Pearlie replied.

‘You mean Eleni Spirou's fella? She's a good friend of mine. Well . . . she was until they got evacuated. Sure, I know him.'

‘Is he here?' Pearlie said, looking around.

‘Didn't you know? Frank got shipped out the other day,' Hazel said.

Pearlie put her hand on the bar for support. She couldn't hide her disappointment. Frank had been her last hope – her only hope of saving Rusty and Santa.

‘What's your problem, sweetheart? Maybe Hazel can help.'

Pearlie looked up into Hazel's face. She had kind, smiley blue eyes.

‘I was looking for Frank 'cos I thought he could look after my dog, Rusty, and my bird, Santa. Santa used to belong to Dulcie, Frank's sister, and she gave him to me to take care of. I'm being evacuated but now Frank's gone I don't know what to do with them.'

‘I'd look after them myself,' said Hazel, ‘but I'm heading south pretty soon.' She turned to the bar, poured a lemon soda and gave it to Pearlie. ‘Here, drink this.' She cocked her head to one side, thinking. ‘There
is
one man who might . . . He likes animals, has at least one of his own, and he'll never leave Darwin, not even if it floods or it rains down bombs.'

Pearlie looked up excitedly. ‘Where can I find him? What's his name?'

‘Thomas Hardy's his name. But everyone calls him Old Man Lizard.'