Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up.
-Thomas Edison
“I don’t get it!” moaned Frank. “I was convinced she’d be hiding here. I know how she thinks. At least I thought I knew... The three musketeers were so close.”
“Hope, Maya and... ?”
“Rick.”
A probing glance from Dave.
“My son... I can’t lose her too... I couldn’t handle it...”
Dave filled in the blanks.
“There’s no evidence of a struggle Frank. Let’s not jump to any unfounded conclusions yet, eh?”
“But here’s safe. Why didn’t she hide here, Dave?”
“Maybe she felt if she came here, then that might put you in danger. And she wanted to protect you.”
“A teenager is protecting me... You’re protecting me... Gordon and this Zac bloke are protecting Maya because of my ineptness... You’re right. I’m just a deskie who should have stayed at his desk.”
“Some of the toughest blokes I know are pen-pushers. And in my outfit, when the going gets tough, the tough keep going deskie.”
“Keep going? But how are we going to find her now?”
“Well... we know she stopped at Southern Cross for fuel. Which means she didn’t head across the Nullarbor. And we know she’s run a background check on Tarapaca and Luan, so she’s gonna be careful... And while she’s not here, we know she’ll probably be hanging around in the area...”
“How do we know that?” frowned Frank.
“Jardín de la isla. 27th, 9 pm... Rockingham’s just down the road...”
Frank’s countenance cleared.
“So the next step is to find out what’s happening on Garden Island on the 27th and then we might find Hope.”
“Gordon’s onto it as we speak.”
“But Garden Island’s a military base. Hope can’t just meander over there...”
“It’s not a comforting thought knowing Tarapaca and Luan intend to meander over there either,” replied Dave solemnly.
Ω
“It was Purple Paki!” screamed Mike in his sleep.
Charlie sat up in his bed and looked over in Mike’s direction. He watched him thrashing around, then strode over and interrupted his nightmare.
Mike sat bolt upright. Pale and shaking uncontrollably. Charlie ran his hands soothingly over Mike’s forehead, to reposition his sweat-plastered hair. Mike wiped his nose with his forearm and sniffed up noisily. Charlie waited until he seemed composed.
“Wanna talk about it?” asked Charlie softly.
A mute shake of the head.
Silence.
“Will you let me pray for you then?”
Mike hesitated then nodded faintly. Charlie beamed and pulled Mike to his feet. He draped his arms around Mike’s neck and started dancing around in circles with him.
“What are you doing?” murmured Mike in astonishment.
“Praying for ya!” retorted Charlie. “Psalm 30 style.”
Mike looked at Charlie blankly.
“Jesus turn Mike’s mourning into dancing!” sang Charlie. “Jesus put off Mike’s sackcloth... Fill ‘im up with peace and joy and all that stuff... and gird him up with gladness.”
Mike laughed away his acute embarrassment.
“See, it’s working already! Come on Mike. Let’s keep praying and dancing ‘til there’s no more mourning left in ya!” grinned Charlie.
Another embarrassed chuckle.
“It’s the middle of the night Charlie!”
“Nah. It’s the start of a brand new day mate,” replied Charlie joyfully. “Come on. Let’s pray some more...”
Ω
I jumped in fright as someone tapped on my door. I opened it mega cautiously.
“Good evening,” he said, catching my eye. “I thought I’d drop by.”
“Er... Hi,” I replied, surprised his English was so good.
An awkward silence.
“It’s Pedro isn’t it?”
“Yeah... You haven’t told us your name yet though.”
My body language was attack dog stiff. He read it.
“Never mind. Dutchy calls you Dochter. Suits you.”
“Doctor? No. I’m not a doctor...” I said, shaking my head. “Um... I live a private life at the moment. Reasons.”
Pedro eyed the holes the bullets had made in the door earlier that afternoon.
“Helps prevent you getting shot eh?” he put in helpfully.
An anxious cousin to a smile. I petted Missy to calm myself.
Pedro cleared his throat softly.
“Funny. Only getting around to introductions hours before we’re evicted.”
His eyes scanned my room curiously.
“You don’t look very packed.”
My lips trembled. He pretended not to notice.
“Don’t you despise him? Putting you through this unfair hardship!” I blurted out. “Smirking down on you from the vantage point of his architect-designed penthouse?”
“S’pose he needs somewhere to park his fat derrière.”
“With the money he’s stolen from us, his wallet should be obese!” I seethed.
Pedro eyed me wisely.
“He’ll turn your things into rubble unless you move them. He carries out his threats...”
Two huge tears trickled unexpectedly down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away with shaking hands.
Dutchy joined us.
“Dochter needs our help,” said Pedro simply.
Dutchy made a sound which could have been agreement or indigestion.
“She’ll need until tomorrow to pack.”
Dutchy shook his head.
“We all move tonight. So when Crawley and his law-enforcers come tomorrow, there’s no trace of any of us...”
Ω
Zac lay propped up on his elbow. He closed the small book he was reading as Maya and Jake approached him.
“Good morning you two. I wondered where you had both got to.”
“I just got changed out of my PJ’s,” said Jake with crimson cheeks.
“So did I,” said Maya, a smile twitching in the corners of her mouth.
“Hmmm... I’d better get changed myself.”
Zac wriggled lower down into the sleeping bag.
“Why are you getting changed in there?” asked Jake.
“It’s too cold to get bare out there!” laughed Zac.
Maya stifled a giggle. Jake glared at her.
“I think I’ll change in the sleeping bag tomorrow,” sighed Jake.
“Do you always sleep in boardies instead of PJ’s Zac?” asked Maya casually.
“I do when I’m hiking. They’re more modest if I have to get up unexpectedly.”
“Next time I come camping with you I’m going through your suitcase and I’m packing one of everything you bring,” mumbled Jake.
“Are you gonna pack one of everything I bring too?” ragged Maya.
Jake’s nostrils flared momentarily. Zac eyed Jake curiously.
“There are no hard and fast rules about clothes. Decent is about the only guideline.”
“So sleeping in bras is out,” said Maya with dancing eyes.
“Er... yes.”
Jake swung a clenched fist in Maya’s direction. Maya laughed and jumped clear of Jake. Zac eyed them both as he zipped up his fleecy top.
“Are you two okay or am I picking up something that’s not there?”
“We’re okay,” said Jake and Maya in unison.
The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas
-Linus Pauling
“You look tired Zac,” said Maya over breakfast. “Don’t you sleep well close to other people?”
“No... Your company was... warm. I just lay awake for quite a while last night, trying to work out how we’ll get across this bridge today with only one harness and the rope we’ve got. I’ve thought through every possible scenario.
There’s no way around it. Two of us are going to have to cross without a harness.”
“I’ll be okay without a harness,” shrugged Jake. “This bridge is just like the ones in the kids’ playgrounds. You walk along the rope like this... Or slide along on your bum like this!”
“Jake! Get back here! This is not like the kids’ playgrounds where if you accidentally fall, you land on terra firma a few feet beneath you. I don’t even know how deep that chasm is, but it makes me feel like throwing up just looking down at it.”
Maya glanced at Zac perspicaciously.
“I think we should let Jake lead this time, since he seems so confident. You go in the middle and wear the harness. And I’ll follow last.”
“I was going to offer you the harness...”
“No. I think you should wear it. You’ve got the greatest upper body strength. So if Jake or I feel like we’re going to fall we can holler and you can reach out and steady us.”
Zac moistened his lips.
“The other thing we can do is divide up the rope and loop it through the harness then attach us all to it. Except if one of us fall, there’s a possibility we all might fall.”
“Hey if we’re gonna plunge to our death, all going together doesn’t sound such a bad way to go.”
“Maya. I’m serious.”
“So am I. The Bible says, Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
Zac cracked up.
“I think you’ll find that’s a line out of a John Wayne movie, not the Bible.”
“It is? Oh, well it sounds like something Jesus would say. I mean it’s His style of leadership isn’t it?”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right. Thanks for reminding me of that Maya.”
“Come on. The sun’s up. Let’s go!” said Jake eagerly.
“Not so fast. We’ve still got to work out how to get our packs across without the right gear, before we try and get ourselves across.”
“I once saw this lady get her groceries across a rope bridge a bit like this in Tibet. She attached her basket to this gadget. It looked like a cross between a flying fox and a slingshot.”
“There’s an idea!” said Jake brightly.
Zac rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“We could use our belts... Except we’ll need something stretchy as well...”
“Want the elastic cord out of my parka?”
“Thanks, but it’s too thin.”
Zac looked thoughtful.
“Maya, could I swipe an article of clothing from your pack? I’ll buy you a replacement item if we damage yours and it’s no longer fit for the purpose.”
“Er... sure.”
Jake fired Zac a look of disbelief as Zac rummaged through Maya’s pack.
“Tell me you’re not gonna do what I think you’re gonna do.”
Zac silenced Jake’s nascent protest with a grin.
“Hold this end for me.”
“I’m not holding it!”
“Jake. It’s a bunch of elastane copolymer fibres shaped to provide a woman comfort. It’s not gonna bite your fingers if you touch it.”
Maya burst out laughing and got out her camera.
“Actually I’ll just see what other ones she’s got in here...” continued Zac undeterred. “Here - this one looks even stretchier... The tag says lycra/nylon... Let’s compare the two... Actually I think this one might be more suitable... Feel Jake.”
“I am not feeling it Zac. Not in a zillion years.”
“Well, just hold this one at the end while I see if it stretches far enough...Whoops...”
Zac covered his mouth to hide his surprise. Maya’s laughter echoed across the canyon.
“Er...That wasn’t supposed to happen... Sorry. I’ll buy you a replacement one when we get near some half decent shops...”
“It doesn’t matter... I just got a video of that... The look of disbelief on your face! I’m gonna enter that in Australia’s Funniest Home Videos when we get back!”
“Well you’ve got to give me half the prize money if you win!” complained Jake. “I was the one who accidentally let go of it!”
“Well hold onto this one... Tightly.”
“What are you trying to do anyway?” smiled Maya.
“This...” grunted Zac. “There we go... That should work.”
“Wait... I have to get this on video too! I feel like I’m guest starring in MacGyver.”
“It looks embarrassing Zac!” groaned Jake.
“Who cares what it looks like? Providing it works. Come on... let’s see how far we can get the packs to slide along it...”
Ω
“What’s all the fuss about Charlie?” smiled John, approaching the group of grinning men.
“The civilians have been a huge source of entertainment since they woke up this morning.”
“What have they been up to?”
“Well at sun-up the girl woke up and snuck off for some private ablutions. Except the young lad chose the same place for the same purpose...”
“At the same time?”
“Ah ha.”
All round laughter.
“And then the Professor turned a pair of bras and two belts into a makeshift cradle to slide their packs across the rope bridge.”
“Hmmm... That’s a twist on the concept of a booby trap.”
Grins all round.
“Except his young offsider lost his grip on the garment on their first attempt and the bra launched itself into the air, sailed across the chasm and fluttered down just near the end of the bridge!” grinned Charlie.
“The look on his face was priceless!” chortled Jed.
“His second attempt worked well though,” said Mike. “I’ve got to hand it to him. He’s good at improvising. I’ve never come across an untrained civilian quite like him.”
John Cunningham nodded.
“It’s good to see they’re still showing ingenuity. That means they stand a fighting chance of making it across the chasm.”
Charlie frowned, his eyes focused off into the distance.
“They’d have a much better chance if we were down there, passing them the right equipment and coaxing them across like we should be.”
“I know that and you know that. We all just have to ride it out until our academy graduate realizes that... Actually, I might turn the pressure up today to move things along a bit...”
“I might pinch his flamin’ rule book and toss it off the rope bridge today to move things along a bit,” muttered Charlie.
“Patience Charlie... A gem can’t be polished without friction.”
Tense silence.
“What about a mix of both plans?” ventured Mike. “You know - make him question the rules or break the rules to put pressure on him. That might bring things to a head.”
John nodded in approval.
“Want to tag-team with us?”
“Why?”
“Because this particular lump of coal has been highly resistant to change since he arrived... Maybe you can dish out the right type of heat and pressure to bring the diamond out in him.”
“What makes you think I can?”
“I hear you have exceptional talent in the area, Mentor Mike.”
Paul looked at Mike curiously.
“Who’s spreading rumours?” asked Mike guardedly.
“Mad Son. We chat now and then.”
A frown flickered on Mike’s brow.
“General Madison’s wrong. I’m washed up.”
John nodded.
“Well feel free to join us if you change your mind...”
Mike inhaled noisily and broke off eye contact.
“Operation Diamond commencing now,” announced Charlie softly.
Everyone stopped talking and turned and looked at Ryan as he approached the group.
“Good morning Ryan.”
“Is there a reason you’re here Sir? You said you were busy.”
“I am busy. But I thought I’d take a break and enjo
y a sense of camaraderie with our guests.”
“Sir, I’m aware you have taken a special interest in this team of civilians. However Section 28 recommends non-intervention where civilians have intentionally put themselves in danger, so I’ve ordered the men to just continue to observe their progress.”
“Do you want me to countermine your order?” retorted John softly.
“Sorry Sir?”
“It will weigh heavily on your conscience if the three civilians plunge to their death today attempting something they’re ill-equipped to attempt.”
“No Sir. I don’t wish you to countermine my order.”
Silence.
“Captain, please explain the reason for your decision.”
“Because Section 28, Article 5 recommends non-intervention where civilians have intentionally put themselves in danger,” repeated Ryan.
“Captain, what does the rulebook recommend you do when a team of scientists say, ‘Please watch over us - we may need your help - It’s important we get through,’ and they tell you this before they put themselves in danger?”
“So you’re saying we should have offered them assistance in violation of Section 28, Article 5, Paragraph 3, Sir?”
“How can you keep letting him do this?” blurted out Mike.
“Easy Mike,” said John gently.
“Ryan, do you know how many other civilian scientific teams have taken Farliga Pass to my knowledge?”
“How many Sir?”
“None.”
Silence. Ryan looked around the group from face to face.
“Well what are you all waiting for? You two... Watch the civilians’ progress. The rest of you, commence the advanced obstacle course!” he ordered.
If I have a thousand ideas and only one turns out to be good, I am satisfied.
-Alfred Noble
“Well, we’ve made it as far as our packs,” breathed Maya.
“You’re doing really well Maya. I’m proud of you. You too Jake.”
“I’m proud our invention helped us get the packs all the way out here. You were right Zac. It doesn’t matter what something looks like. Providing it works.”
Zac nodded tensely.
“Both hold on extra tight for a moment. I’ve just got to swing across and give our makeshift cradle another big push along... Except after I do, the bridge is going to swing wildly.”
“Why?” asked Maya.
“Newton’s third law of motion - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Expect side to side resonance followed by back and forth resonance after the packs have moved along. Just brace yourself on the ropes and ride it out.”
“Sounds frightening wig territory.”
“Listen, if you scream because you’re afraid, Jake or I promise we won’t make fun of you. Just promise me you’ll hang on Maya.”
“Thanks for telling me what to expect. It’s not so scary if you know what to expect.”
“Ready? 1...2...3...”
“Wow!” grinned Jake. “You just sent them flying another 300 metres Zac... One more shove like that and our packs will be across... Hey are you alright? You look wobbly.”
“I’m alright... Guys hold tight. Wrap your legs either side of the rope bridge as well.”
Zac braced himself as the anticipated wave of resonance hit them.
“Yee-hah. This is awesome fun!” grinned Jake.
“It’s a cross between a rollercoaster and an earthquake!” laughed Maya.
Silence.
“It’s stopped shaking now. Let’s go Zac.”
Silence.
“Zac... Some time today!” laughed Maya.
“I... can’t.”
“Huh?”
“The adrenaline has left me giddy. I’m too scared to move...”
All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
-Helen Keller
We gathered up the remnants of our lives by moonlight and packed them into a sea container on Dutchy’s truck. Tears flowed down Katja’s wrinkled cheeks. I put Missy into my car, then spontaneously hugged Katja. I smoothed her thick white hair with my fingertips and wiped away the tears from her aged eyelids. Inside I was screaming with frustration. As Heidi Cannikin, I could have created a media stir about this. Instead, all I could do was offer empathy.
“We’ll turn this around for good Katja,” I whispered. “Somehow.”
Dutchy showed no emotion. He simply exuded leadership. He reminded me of my brother. The thought of Zac caused a pang of longing.
If only I could contact him. He’d know what to do, about General Luan. And Crawley. And everything...
Dutchy’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Tonight we sleep on the beach. Tomorrow we regroup,” he said simply.
Ω
Maya and Jake eyed Zac with concern.
“You look pale. You’re not having us on are you?”
Zac shook his head and fought back an overwhelming desire to cry.
“I’m sorry. Both of you. It was reckless on my part to attempt this crossing without the right gear. The truth is, I was counting on the Special Forces blokes being here to help us get across the Pass. But they didn’t show up.”
“Oh.”
“I’ve been irresponsible because I knew my own limitations but I still pushed ahead and attempted something I knew I couldn’t do. I told myself that you both felt you could do it. So all I had to do was deal with my own fear...”
Intense looks from Maya and Jake.
“Not only that, I’m a hypocrite... because I demanded that you two let me know about your weaknesses, but I wasn’t transparent about mine, and now we’re all in danger.”
The sweaty points on Zac’s face were clearly visible.
“Stop beating yourself up Zac...” replied Maya. “You warned us you mightn’t be able to cross the bridge by yourself. Right back before we set out, remember?”
“And we encouraged you to extend yourself,” added Jake. “So now it’s up to us to help you. Like you’d help us if we were scared.”
“Guys... You don’t seem to understand. I’m too scared to move. Forward or back.”
“Well I know what you’d say to me if it was me frozen with fear right now, so I’m gonna say it to you... Come on Zac! Exchange mindsets! Dare to do the thing you fear to do and keep doing it. It’s the quickest and surest way I know of to conquer fear.”
A storm-tossed expression.
“You sound just like my father.”
“That’s because we’re family,” said Maya brightly. “Come on Zac! Let’s be brave together. 1... 2... 3...”