CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Unplugged
Natalie was so tired she could hardly get the key into the front door lock. Anxiously, she wriggled it into place with her mind on slipping into her slippers.
“Milo?” She asked Anna and Kev as they staggered down the hallway.
“Nah,” replied Kevin. “How about that bottle of French Champagne we promised we would open for a special occasion.”
“I think the birth of our first grandchild is the perfect occasion,” replied Natalie as she kicked off her shoes. She placed her hand in Kevin’s and he kissed it tenderly and they continued into the kitchen, exhausted yet euphoric.
Anna opened the green room door knowing it was empty of its spirited visitor.
She opened the buffet door to reveal the plasma television. The late night news was on. Another young Australian soldier had been killed in Afghanistan. Leo’s war seemed so far away, like outer space but war was real and it was here in her dining room, in her life. She looked at the handsome young face as she held the television remote in her hand. She paused and said goodbye quietly then flicked the channels quickly, frustrated by what she saw. Sport, more sport, bikini clad girls selling fishing rods. “Sickening,” she muttered to herself.
She stopped at an old movie. Anna didn’t like old-fashioned black and white romances but she needed something to take her mind off the baby’s traumatic birth. She couldn’t sleep although she was tired. She tried to block the image of Blake’s hysterical face as he was sent out of the Emergency operating theatre. Her arms were numb and her legs felt heavy. She settled down on the chaise. The baby was tiny and pink and smelled really good. Anna felt a sudden rush of love for her new family member.
Audrey Hepburn was looking fabulous as she peeked up into Cary Grant’s eyes, full of love and admiration. Was that Paris in the background?
“How predictable,” she groaned, but became entranced and unable to change the channel. She watched the duo, enchanted by their easy witty banter.
A hint of stinky smoke wafted past her. “Hi Leo,” she said, without turning around.
“What is this machine then, it’s wondersome,” said a renewed Leo, looking over her shoulder.
“It’s awesome, not wondersome Leo,” she replied, without taking her eyes off Cary Grant.
“Whatever,” shrugged Leo.
“Whatever? You sound like Dylan.” Anna giggled and looked over her shoulder to see a grinning Leo.
“How’s your sister and the baby?”
“They are fine … now.”
“Now?”
Anna didn’t respond. Leo noticed she looked pale and let her be. A few moments later he added cheekily, “She had a little girl, didn’t she?”
“Lucky guess.” A smile crept across her mouth.
Leo stepped forward and examined the plasma. “What is this AWESOME thingy called,” he asked pointedly.
“Television.”
She flicked rapidly through the channels creating a blur out of the dead soldier’s face, footballers, celebrity chefs, aliens, cops and lovers.
She blushed at the last image.
“I can do that, make pictures that move,” he said.
“What can you do?” She snapped. “You can make ‘television’?” she sniped back.
“Yes … I tried it with Agnes a couple of times but it only made her cry … and faint … I reckon I should have asked her first.”
“Poor Agnes,” she sighed and went back to watching Audrey bat her perfect eyelashes.
Suddenly she felt her heart pounding with even greater vibration. She looked up and Leo was right next to her. He took her hand and looked into her eyes, “Do you mind?” Leo asked gently.
The room began to fall away although she could still feel her bum on the couch. She clung to the chaise with her free hand. She was no longer looking at the TV. She was no longer in the green room.
It is dark, very dark and quiet. “I’m scared Leo,” she says feeling out of control.
“Don’t be scared, you’re only in my mind … the remnants of my brain.”
“Now I am terrified … why is it so dark?”
“Because we are hiding under the table.”
“Our table?”
“It’s not your table. It’s the McNamara’s. Now shoosh, from now on it will take all my strength to make this for you. I need silence,” he whispers imperiously like a travelling magician.
“Yes sir!” Anna wanted to salute but was too afraid to let go of the couch fearing she might sail away like an abandoned helium balloon.
“Why are we—?”
“I said SHOOSH!” he replies angrily. Anna silently clutches the chaise.
Suddenly, a tiny glint of light illuminates a beautiful face next to her. It is Daisy in full technicolour. Her face is softly lit as she pulls up the tablecloth gently. The light falls from a gas lamp burning low in a kitchen. The house is quiet. Daisy smiles at Anna, but says Leo’s name. Anna truly is inside Leo’s memory.
Daisy puts a finger to her lips and looks lovingly into Leo’s eyes. It disconcerts Anna.
“The Old Man is coming, hush.”
Anna can see that the Old Man is not that old. He is no more than forty-five. His dark hair has swirls of grey emerging up from his side burns. His features are sharp like a surprised elf. Standing in his britches, he watches the kettle boil as he scratches his chest.
A woman’s voice floats down the hallway. “Edward, Edward … I’ve got a cramp, something terrible. Come and rub me legs with me ointment. It so painful I’m fit to burst. And me corns need a seeing to as well … Ahh how I wish the Lord would take me in the night.”
The Old Man grimaces, swigs his teacup. He adds some brandy to it and gulps it down.
“Edward?” Mary Ellen’s tone is sweet and low.
His sharp eyebrows shoot up, “Coming Mary Dear,” he says hastily.
He extinguishes the flame and is gone. After a moment or two, the room is bathed in moonlight.
Leo peers out from under the table. He looks blindly through a young child standing by the cooking hob.
“It’s clear now. I’ll be off home.”
You idiot, the coast isn’t clear thinks Anna. She can see the little tot with her hand over her mouth, laughing. She is in her nightdress.
Leo whispers to Daisy that he has to stand up soon. His leg is dead with pins and needles. He will have to call the Old Man to rub him down as well.
Anna feels a whack on the back of her head.
“Don’t you dare be disrespectful to my parents, you cheeky sod,” giggles Daisy.
Leo climbs out and stretches, Anna goes to shout as he walks right through the child. She realises the child must be Gladys’ ghost.
Gladys disappears.
Books, paper and pencils cover the tablecloth.
“What will I do with these?” Daisy is clutching a posy of roses, myrtle and jasmine wrapped in brown paper.
“Stolen, I suppose?” she eyes Leo mischievously.
“Hard to break an old habit.” Anna feels Leo chuckle softly.
Daisy crawls out on her hands and knees. Leo is looking at her bum and it’s making Anna very uncomfortable but she can’t look away until Leo does.
“That was a close call.” A pencil holds Daisy’s dark hair up in a bun.
“Well I had to see you. You have been locked up here studying with only books for company. It’s enough to drive you stark raving mad.” Leo picks up one of the books and holds it close to his face. Anna reads the words, ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare’.
Leo puts the book back down and sighs.
“I have not been locked up!” Daisy whispers back ferociously, “I like learning new things and I like books. I want to do well in my exams.”
Daisy moves to the back door on tippy toes and noiselessly opens the door for Leo.
br /> Anna feels Leo hesitate. There is a strange feeling she has not experienced before happening inside of Leo. “Oh my God, he is going to kiss her,” she realises. She watches Daisy’s pretty face get closer and closer. Her lips are puckered. Anna feels Leo’s hand move to the curve in the small of Daisy’s back.
Agnes appears out of nowhere. Her long hair is tightly plaited and her white nightie is buttoned up to her chin. “What in heaven’s name are you two doing?” she says in a clenched whisper. Gladys stands timidly behind Agnes and peeks out. Anna can tell she is regretting spilling the beans on Daisy.
“Leo brought me some flowers. He was just going now … I can smell cake … thank you so much for that.” Daisy forces out a smile—suddenly Gladys vanishes.
Anna feels the strange yet pleasant sensations evaporate. It is replaced by feelings she knows too well. Jealousy and resentment flood his body.
Daisy shoves Leo out the door. She pecks him self-consciously on the cheek and whispers goodnight. “Remember … Forever.” Her big brown eyes look longingly at him. She winks and pulls the pencil out of her hair bun. Dark waves cascade down her shoulders. It glints in the moonlight. Leo is breathless.
Anna quickly pulled out of the memory. She let go of the couch and sat on the floor with her head between her knees.
“That was Epic! That was AWESOMITY Leo!”
“Told ya I could make moving pictures.”
“I believe you,” panted Anna. She found herself thinking of Deepak’s big brown eyes and warm smile and broke into a tingly blush.
“I got others, I got plenty of memories.”
“Like what? How about where your body is?”
Leo looked embarrassed. “I can’t remember that, remember? The closer I get to dying, the less I remember.”
Anna sighed, “We really are trying to find out, we want to help you.”
An awkward silence settled over them and left them both staring at the television set. Cary Grant had whipped Audrey off into the sunset and now the commercials blared loudly at them. Images of cut price international flights to holiday destinations zoomed past their eyes.
Leo caught sight of the Pyramids in Egypt. “I have been there, how about one of those memories.”
“Okay, Leo Unplugged and Live from the green room,” said Anna shakily. Her heart was starting to hurt and she felt dizzy.
“I’m staying on the floor this time. If East Perth made me dizzy then Egypt is going to flatten me.” Leo sat down next to her and grabbed both hands. She felt his warm aura envelop her. She closed her eyes in anticipation, ready for the heady spectacles of the Great Pyramids and Egypt.
She opens them expecting a panoramic view of a lush Nile river only to be staring into a dusty training ring. Les cuts a fine figure in his uniform as he puts his horse through its paces. Anna and Leo watch with pride. He is graceful and totally in command of his animal. He dismounts with ease and gives a little self-deprecating shrug as his fellow soldiers clap and cheer for him. Les pats the horse and whispers into its ear. It nuzzles him fondly.
“Settle down,” barks the Sergeant in charge with an inside smile.
“Who is that bloke?” whispers a man to Leo. He has short red hair and freckles across his nose. He is taller than Leo. Leo and Anna are looking up at him. He has long gangly limbs and his uniform fits awkwardly.
“Was his mother a mare?” he asks to no one in particular.
“No, she is a cow,” replies Leo quickly. “His name is Les McNamara and he is my mate.”
The man tries to contain his laughter, “That’s a good one fella.” He slaps Leo on the back. Anna is glad she is sitting on the floor as she flinches and falls forward.
“My name is Patrick, but you can call me Pat.”
“Hello Pat. My name is Leopold but you can call me Leo.”
“Comedian hey?” laughs Pat. His eyebrows rise and wiggle independently of each other.
“Don’t expect anything like that from me.” Pat holds up his hands. “These are the hands of a musician.” He says with mock pomposity. Anna looks at the longest fingers she has ever seen. “We play around all the Perth dance halls and clubs. We always get the Red Cross Balls,” he said proudly. “Ever seen me?”
“No, but Les might have. He loves to dance.”
“I just hope I can hold on and don’t fall off.”
“Your turn Private Prendergast,” says the Sergeant sharply to Pat.
Patrick manages the course with the finesse of a rodeo clown. The line erupts with laughter and good will as he dismounts with his boot caught in the stirrup, leaving him dangling face down in the dirt.
“Thank God you are the last in the line,” says the Sergeant as he wipes the sweat from his forehead. “I don’t know how you have managed to keep alive.”
An older man who is addressed as Captain speaks to the soldiers with the sweating Sergeant at his side.
“As you lot have proven, the mounted regiments do a solid job of keeping Egypt under the control of the British Empire.” The crowd breaks into a hurrah. “We have managed and will continue to keep those ruddy Turks and Arabs at bay. We have struck a line in the desert lads. However, as you are well aware, the fight for the Western Front continues on. Some of you chaps will be mobilized to Europe where you will sweep through and crush the stalemate at the Front Line. On the strength of your performance today, we will be splitting you up into new divisions. Some of you will stay here in the Light Horse and some of you will be sent to France to fight in the trenches. We will show those damn Fritz what Australian lads are capable of.”
A surge of patriotism ripples through the group as they think of their homes. Anna can feel Leo’s anxiety levels rise.
The Sergeant lists countless names. Anna finds it boring but has to counter Leo’s panicking adrenalin levels. She is bored yet freaked out of her mind but manages to pick up three names.
Leslie McNamara - 10th Light Horse Brigade
Leopold Nolan - 14th Artillery
Patrick Prendergast - 14th Artillery.
Pat turns and smiles and makes a rubbery face at Leo.
The list drones on and on.
Anna feels Leo’s panic escalate. Anna sees Les looking across the line. Les looks at him and discreetly makes a calm down motion with one hand.
“Shipping out on the Twelfth of June.”
“So soon,” she feels Leo whisper.
“Yeah mate, those ruddy krauts wont kill ‘emselves.” Pat looks at his fingers again.
“Ahh, much better put to use on a Howitzer than a pair of reins,” he says happily as he rubs the remaining dirt off his face. “Hope we don’t have to give back the leather puttees though. The other ones look like the bandages off one of those mummies in there.” He points to the looming back drop of the Great Pyramids.
Leo glances at the pyramids quickly. He is not interested. Anna catches a tiny glimpse before Leo turns back to Les. Les is talking to the Sergeant in charge. The Sergeant shakes his head vigorously and Anna hears the words, “Final decision … no discussion entered into —” carried on the stirring afternoon breeze.
Les turns and nods imperceptibly in Leo’s direction, the Sergeant’s eyes widen. He looks in the direction of Leo. Les reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of smokes and places it discreetly into the Officer’s hand as they shake.
Les strides over to Leo, “Hey little mate,” says Les looking up at Leo. “Looks like there was a bit of a mix up with the list. I’m coming to France with you boys. Always wanted to see the Eiffel tower and eat some frog legs. He starts singing ‘Mademoiselle from Armentieres’ off key.
“Don’t give up your day job soldier,” mocks Prendergast. He invites himself along as he introduces himself to Les.
“But Les?” Anna feels his relief pouring through her.
“But what?”
“Y
ou love horses. You’re the best by a long shot.”
Les shrugs, “Just lucky today mate, that’s all. I’m nothing special.”
They take the horses back to the stables. They watch a young rider trying to control his bucking horse. He ends up on this bum in the mucky stable straw.
Les grabs the reins just as the horse’s hooves are about to trample the man. He shouts something to the horse in a curious Irish accent. The horse understands and is subdued. The man stands up and wipes the hay off his trousers and puts out his hand nervously.
“Thank you, we only have one horse on our farm and she was born before me.”
“No worries mate, you’re a bag of nerves around the horses. You gotta relax or you will really come a cropper.”
“Doesn’t matter any more I’m off to France,” the soldier replies tensely.
“Hope you don’t get bucked off a Lewis Gun then we will all be in trouble,” laughs Pat as he extends his hand.
The man shyly smiles, “My name is Bill Sadleir.”
“Well Bill,” says Les, “Would you like to come and take a squizz at the Pyramids with us?”
“Yes, thank you.” His smile turns into a grin and pats his face with a handkerchief and neatly tucks his shirt into his pants. Anna can see he has a tiny notebook in his pocket.
“What is that?” ask Leo.
“Oh nothing, just my doodling pad.”
“Give us a look?”
Leo takes the book and flicks through it.
“Hey Les, take a gander at this.”
Les examines the drawings. “They are top notch.”
Anna sees exquisite pencilled images of crocodiles, cobras and a cat like fox.
The pad is passed to Pat, “You’re very talented Bill,” he says full of admiration. But have you ever drawn a naked lady?” asks Pat in mock seriousness.
“Yes,” laughs Bill out loud. Pat slaps Bill on the back and the men move forward.
“Pigs,” groans Anna.
Leo walks on. They pass camel after camel. A soldier with a kangaroo overtakes them. The group cheer.
“At last,” whispers Anna, as the Great Pyramids tower in front of her.
The next thing Anna felt was Leo releasing her from his grip. He stood back from her and looked down with concern.
“What is going on? I was about to visit the Pharaoh and now I’m back here with you.” She lay down flat on the cold floorboards. She felt weak and shaky. She pressed her cheek hard into the timber, hoping its coolness would keep her conscious.
“It’s too much for you Anna, you’re the colour of chalk. You look like you have seen a ghost,” he smiled feebly. “We will make more moving pictures another time.”
Anna breathed deeply and nodded. She opened her eyes.
“A kangaroo?”
“Long story … some kind of mascot,” grinned Leo.
Anna drifted into sleep. Leo placed the quilt over her body and wished her sweet dreams. He looked down at his hands and arms and found them fading before his eyes. He needed to return once again.
“Leo?”
“Yes?”
“I like Les.”