'What did they do to you?!' I asked, shocked, taking his arm and looking at just how bad the cuts and burns were.
Straight away I felt around in my pack for the first aid kit we always carried with us. I knew they would have more stuff somewhere in the school, so I promised myself that as soon as it was safe I would go find it. I set to work on putting creams and bandages on his arms and legs as he continued on with his story.
'They grabbed me and all I remember of that night is getting kicked and beat around the street by the patrol. They were screaming and shouting all sorts of things but the only thing I could understand of what they were saying was 'You do this?!' Then I woke up in the Wirrawee hospital.
No one was around and I tried to get up but I was in too much pain. I ended up staying there for 8 days. They had beaten me pretty hard, I assume, from the amount of pain I had! The place felt empty. The only person I saw was a nurse once each day, who came in and changed the food tray and check on my burns and cuts. But there was no one else around that I heard or saw.
By the ninth day the pain had almost gone and I was feeling a lot better, so after the nurse made her visit, I made my escape. They are pretty slack in the hospital. If you act sick they don't worry about you and it's pretty easy to get out. I carefully walked down the corridor and headed around to the emergency exit. No one was around, so I opened the door and made a run for the bushes. That's probably how these got so bad.' Lee pointed at his burns and cuts 'Because I've been stuck in the bushes for the past 12 days.
I tried to head back to Hell, but every time I try to work my way around the outside of Wirrawee to get to the bush that would lead to Hell I'd either run into patrols and have to turn back so they don't catch me, or I run out of energy and have to rest. I've made it as far as the school. They even sent out a small search party searching for me at one stage. But I think they gave up. They know what I look like now though, so they know who to look for.
They've got patrols everywhere. They're really scared about this attack and are really buckling down. So I guess we've done our job well.'
Homer smiled at me, obviously satisfied that we had given them a scare.
'Seeing how scared it made them makes getting beat up almost worth it.' Lee nodded to himself, then flinched as I smothered the biggest cut in cream.
He sighed. 'That feels better. They have been so painful.'
I looked up at him. 'You're lucky. They are close to infection.'
Lee shivered. 'So what happened with you guys since the attack?' He asked looking around.
'Well,' I began, 'I remember Fi and I riding along and when we got to the Alexander's house we realized that you weren't behind us. Robyn showed up and we decided to wait and see if maybe you had just fallen behind. So we waited, and waited, and waited. But no one came.'
I started doing up another bandage and Homer took over in telling the story.
'I came there around 4-5am, and it was lucky I did! Because those girls without a man around, they wouldn't be able to cope!' Homer winked at me and Robyn gave him a little punch in the arm.
Lee grinned. 'So, with a great helpful man around, I decided that we should all head around to the shed to wait and see if you would show up. Well, we sat around for a while, me entertaining everyone with a fun game of guess who, but it was starting getting light and we all agreed that if you were captured there was nothing we could do in the day light, so we headed back to Ellie's place and got the Landrover.
With me, obviously the best driver, behind the wheel we headed around to a few of the neighboring property's to have a poke around for some more food and supplies. We were getting really low.' Homer paused and Robyn gave a little sniffle.
'That was when we found Chris's body.' Robyn said, tears welling up in her eyes.
'Oh god..' Lee said, absolutely horrified.
Homer continued his tone serious, his face expressionless, 'He had been in some sort of car accident. He was drunk. And he rolled the car. We all agreed that he deserved a good burial so we took his body into Hell and buried him. After a few days, of moping around all depressed, Ellie, Robyn and I decided to come back into Wirrawee to try to find you. Fi couldn't bring herself to leave Chris's grave, but after a few days she caught up with us at Kevin's place.
We took the small bikes into town but ditched them in one of the dams outside of town, then headed into Robyn's house to rest, though of course, me being the man and all, I didn't need rest, so I went out that night and had a look at Mrs Alexanders house to see if you did end up showing up there. But you weren't there so I headed back. The next night we came back in and searched around for you but we honestly didn't know where to look. We watched the Show Grounds for a few days, hoping we would see you, but you weren't in there. So we came around to check the Hospital. But you must have left right as we came in because you weren't their either. And I have to agree with you on the Hospital being pretty slack. We got in pretty easily and getting out was a breeze! So we decided to hang around at the Show Grounds for a while.
Ellie and I really wanted to come have another look for you and Robyn couldn't bare another day of watching how the soldiers were treating our friends and family, so we left Fi to keep a watch on the Show Grounds while we looked for you. We remembered the school and decided to check it out to see if maybe you were here. And you were. My god if Ellie hadn't noticed it was you I would have pulled that trigger.'
Lee flinched again, but this time at the thought of what Homer had just said.
'You're lucky Ellie knows you so well.' He added.
I continued bandaging his leg, not saying anything.
'What about Corrie and Kevin? Have you seen or heard anything about them?' I asked Lee suddenly.
He shook his head. 'I was about to ask you the same thing. There was nothing said about them around Wirrawee or in the hospital.'
I dropped my head in sadness. 'Let's just hope they're both still battling on.' I mumbled.
Homer suddenly ducked down. 'The patrols coming back.' He whispered.