Chapter 9
Amelia and Kate arrived back at Kate's place. Gregory opened the door.
"How is he?" he asked. Kate moved past and went into the kitchen to make a welcome cup of tea.
Amelia said, "The doctor was about to call us in. Mike was dying, Gregory. Then Kate started to sing to him, and the nurse said his vital signs improved while she was singing. The doctor says that singing is good for him."
Turning to her daughter-in-law, Amelia said, "I had no idea you could sing, Kate dear. You have such a lovely voice. Jessica is lucky to be able to hear that."
Passing the mugs of tea around, Kate said, "Dad and I used to sing a lot. That reminds me. I need to call him. Excuse me, I won't be long."
Picking up her phone, she called her father. Philip's voice came back to her, "Why, hello, Katie. Why are you calling at such an ungodly hour?"
"It's not an ungodly hour where you are Dad. It's only ten-thirty there."
"Yes, but it's after midnight where you are. Katie, what's up?"
"Dad…it's Mike. He was hit by a car yesterday. He's been critically injured, Dad. They've got him in an induced coma…he is touch and go…Dad, please can you come over?"
Philip could hear the strain in his daughter's voice. "Why Katie, mo ghaoil, I'll come right now. As soon as I can get a flight. I'll be there as soon as I can. Of course, I'll be there. I'll call you when I get to Cairns. Goodnight, Katie."
Drying her eyes, Kate went back into her parents-in-law.
"Dad is on his way," she said, and sat down to drink her tea. Seeing the tiredness in Amelia's face, she said, "Why don't you go home now?"
"If you're ok here, we will. I'll go and see Mike first thing in the morning."
"Thanks Gregory, I have to attend to some Navy business, then I'll see Mike after that. The doctor has allowed us more time to spend with him."
Gregory and Amelia finished their tea, then Amelia kissed Kate and said, "Will you be all right dear?"
"Yes, I will. Goodnight, and thank you for taking care of Jessica."
Gregory's memory.
Promptly after he had eaten his breakfast, Gregory set out for the hospital. The sun had risen, yet it was a grey day, and the clouds were heavy with the rain which looked to fall any time soon. He greeted the nurses at the ICU ward, then walked over to Mike's bedside.
"Hello son. What's this I hear about you almost dying? Now what kind of a stunt is that to pull, eh?"
Gregory came home. It had been a tiring week, but he had plans for the weekend. I'll get that boy out of his room if it's the last thing I do, he thought, then as Amelia had dinner ready, he strode across to his son's room and rapped on the door, "Michael, your mother has dinner ready. Come and sit at the table now."
The teenage Mike emerged from his bedroom. He was fourteen years old now and going through that awkward stage of adolescence. He was sullen and moody often, and Gregory knew it was getting to Amelia.
Gregory looked at his son over the evening meal. He said, "I am going up to your Uncle Pat's place this weekend. You're coming with me. As soon as you have finished your dinner, get packed. It's a blokes-only weekend."
Mike opened his mouth to object, but his father cut him off. "It's not up for negotiation, son. Your uncle needs help with the farm this weekend. The shearers have been and some of the wool needs baling."
Patrick Flynn, Gregory's brother, ran a sheep farm outside a town in the Riverina district. Blind as a result of a shooting accident, Pat still ran the farm with the aid of his wife, and one or two farmhands. The eldest of three brothers, he had taken over the farm from their father. His two daughters were now at university, one studying to be an engineer, the other to be a vet. Mike hoped they wouldn't be there; his cousins were much older than him, and considered him useless, especially as he couldn't ride a horse, let alone fire a gun.
Once they'd reached the highway that would take them south, Gregory talked about the work they'd be doing. Then he talked about Mike's progress in high school, or rather, the lack of it.
"School's boring, Dad. They don't teach you anything that's interesting."
"What would you like school to teach you?"
"Something to do with water, or the sea. I do sailing for sport, but that's it, Dad. The rest is boring. I'm not interested in any subjects."
"Yeah, I know school can be a drag, but son, you need an education. You can't see it now, but you will." The boy slumped down in his seat. They said no more until they reached the turnoff near Jugiong which would take them to the farm just near Harden. They arrived just at bedtime, and Mike went into the room where he usually stayed when he came to the farm.
The next morning, he was emptied out of his bed by his uncle. "You're not here to sleep, boy, you're here to work. Up!"
He stumbled into the kitchen and sat down to the hearty farm breakfast his aunt prepared for them. His father and uncle made short work of their breakfast, and left the table, beckoning him to follow. The shed was filled with wool bales, and fleeces awaiting baling.
The three of them worked all day, and Mike's arms ached with carrying so many fleeces, and operating the bale machine.
As lunchtime neared, Mike was fetching yet another load of fleeces when a brown snake slid out from the classing table, almost under his feet. He yelled, and made to run.
"Stand still boy!" his uncle shouted. Patrick was on his feet. As Mike watched, his uncle threw his cap in the direction of the snake. The reptile slithered toward the cap, and from somewhere, Patrick produced a stockwhip. Mike heard a crack like a shotgun, then looked to see where the snake and its head had parted company. Patrick coiled the whip and he and Gregory continued baling wool as if nothing happened. Mike stood there, transfixed, amazed at his uncle's actions. He looked over at his uncle, with the beginnings of a deep respect. He picked up the fleeces then walked over to where his father and uncle were working.
"That was so awesome! How did you do that?"
"Get busy boy, those fleeces have to be baled. Truck's going to be here this afternoon."
On the way back to Sydney, Mike couldn't stop talking about his uncle and the snake. "How did he do that, Dad? How did he do that?"
Gregory laughed. "He's been doing that for years, son. Before he lost his sight, he used to grab 'em up by the tail, swing 'em round his head and crack their heads off. He started doing that when he was your age. Then after the accident, he learned how to kill them in other ways. His hearing is more acute than yours or mine. He heard your yell, then when he threw his cap, he heard it slithering. He knew where to crack the whip to get it, good and proper."
"Dad, do you think Uncle Pat would let me come to the farm more often?"
"Only if you're prepared to work, son. It won't be a holiday."
Mike was to spend his school holidays and any weekends he could at his uncle's farm, right up to when he left school.
Dad, is that you? Dad? He tried to turn toward where his father's voice was. I was dying? No no, don't let me die! Dad, I want to live! Please!
Kate was awake. She went into Jessica's bedroom. The little girl stirred herself awake, and said "Hello Mummy, I'm hungry. I need some scran."
Kate smiled at her, then she said, "I have a little surprise for you. I need to go to Hammersley, and Grandpa is coming to see us."
Jessica jumped up out of her bed. "Can I go to Ham'sley, Mummy? When's Grandpa coming?"
"Yes, of course you can come to Hammersley, darling. And Grandpa will be here today. He's going to stay with us for a little while. Now, come and have your breakfast and get dressed."
Jessica chattered all the way to the Naval docks. She proudly marched onboard Hammersley, and to amusement of the watch onboard, saluted the flag as her mother had done.
Lt. David Miles was onboard, organising paperwork, and receiving the watch report. He turned when Kate came into the ship's office.
"Ma'am! How are you? How's Captain Flynn?"
"Still in a coma, X. But he is showing signs of improvement. How are things here?" she asked.
"The crew are having some shore leave, Ma'am, we are due to sail in a week. Patrol in the Timor Sea. Six weeks."
"Your first command, David. Are you up for it?" His Irish eyes twinkled, and he said, "Sure and didn't I have the finest commander in the fleet to learn from?"
"Please take care of Hammersley, David. She means a lot to me, and to Captain Flynn. She's my first command, and his first as an XO."
"Well, here's a thing. Hammersley has always been in Irish hands."
"I'm of Scots descent, remember." She smiled briefly, "I also wanted to thank you for the basket of goodies. That was so sweet. Please thank the crew for me."
"Actually, it was Greenie's idea. She approached me just after we docked. I piped 'clear lower deck' and spoke to the crew. We all put in, Ma'am."
"Is she onboard?"
"She is, Ma'am. She's catching up on the maintenance of the generators and pumps, before going on shore leave."
"Good, I'll leave Hammersley in your capable hands. Now where's Jessica?"
Kate found Jessica in the galley, being fed cookies by Kathy Green.
"Just the sailor I'm looking for."
Kathy straightened up and came to attention. "Ma'am?"
"At ease, Leader," Kate said, "I hear that the lovely basket I found at my place was your idea. That is so kind of you. A really kind thought."
"Yes Ma'am," Kathy said. "The captain, will he be OK?"
"I don't honestly know. It's too early to say. All I ask is that you all support Lt. Miles as you have me."
"Yes Ma'am." Kate's mobile buzzed at this point. She turned away and answered it. Philip was on the other end, telling her he had arrived at Cairns Airport. Kate bent to Jessica. Taking a paper towel from the galley, she wiped the child's chocolate covered face, and replaced her cap.
"Bye, Kathy!" she said as she walked with her mother toward the gangway.
