Gone
"He's gone?"
Jack- Uncle Jack- nods heavily, not looking at me. "He won, and went and signed up. Could've beaten bloody Lasalles. But…"
"Gone?"
"I'm sorry, Zac."
He walks away. I sit on the ground, staring out at the mountain.
Archy hadn't said nothing about joining up.
"Prefer the company of blacks, hey, Archy?"
"Zac's my mate."
There, I was his mate! And he said nothing! Not even goodbye! Just told me he'd be gone!
"I'm off in a few days, Zac. I'll win us all a medal."
He didn't say he wouldn't be coming back no more. Not even his family knew. I can see why he didn't tell them- they'd have stopped him, they would have- but why didn't he tell me? I wouldn't have stopped him! I was his friend- or at least, I thought I was.
"Don't go to the rocks, go on the mountain."
He'd gone, now.
He'll come back.
What if he didn't?
Why couldn't he have said he was going?
"I'm off in a few days, Zac."
Yeah, off to leave me behind, when I did nothing but support you and help you beat that bloody Les! He never laid off your back, but I was always trying to help you! And then you just leave- without saying nothing!
I was supposed to be your brother, your mate!
I would hate you, Archy.
But I can't.
---
A/N: Ok, this is barely any longer than drabble, and it's badly done, but never mind. It's just that it really irked me in "Gallipoli" how Archy never told Zac he was going to sign up- and Zac obviously loved Archy as a friend and brother, and then Archy just seemed to ditch him and take up with the unknown (incredibly hot) Frank Dunne… I hope someone actually enjoyed this! If not, feel free to flame me. I may not reply, but I don't blame you if you do.