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Ellie hugged Kane tightly one last time. ‘See you soon.’
‘Okay, guys.’ Connor’s voice was brisk. ‘Ryan has texted. He’s at the airport. Let’s get going.’
Ellie and Dru stood on the balcony and waited and watched until Connor’s Landcruiser exited the garage and headed around the harbour and then turned east for the airport.
They made their way inside and sat on the sofa, each lost in their own thoughts.
They looked at each other as their phones both pinged at the same time. Ellie reached hers first as Dru headed for the kitchen bench to retrieve hers.
‘Oh God,’ Ellie said. ‘It’s Emma. She’s asked where I am. She wants to come and see me tomorrow. What will I say?’
‘Tell her to come here.’
‘But what will we tell her about Mum?’
‘We’ll play it by ear.’ Dru held up her phone. ‘She’s just texted me too. She needs us, Ellie. We’ll just have to focus on our big sister for a while, listen to her and give her some time. The guys will be at least three hours before they message us. I’ll keep an eye on Connor’s computer and any messages from Greg while we wait for Emma to get here. Okay?’
Ellie nodded. ‘Okay, I’ll text her back too.’
‘We don’t have to tell her anything about Mum tonight, and she doesn’t need to know you’re staying in town.’
‘Okay.’ Ellie started replying. ‘Will I say I’ll meet her here or where?’
‘Tell her you’ll be in town, and I’ll say I’m free tomorrow and I’ll ask her where and when she wants to meet.’
‘Good idea. Let her decide.’ Ellie nodded slowly. ‘It all depends what her news is, and whether it’s good or bad.’
***
Kane walked around the helicopter following his usual pre-flight routine. The routine he’d never got out of since he’d been in the army in Afghanistan. He’d soon learned that checking and following all the routine checks at least twice, and he liked to do them three times—much to Ellie’s amusement—made for a safe flight.
Ryan and Connor waited at the back of the chopper and when he gave them the nod, they slipped into the two seats in the back.
After they were secured and headphones in place, Kane checked with the tower and they lifted off. He turned immediately to the south, still in touch with the tower, and also keeping a visual on the sky around the chopper. There was too much air traffic around a city for his comfort, and he didn’t relax until they’d cleared the outskirts of Darwin and were flying over the scrubby bush. A couple of times, smoke from the burn-off of the savannah woodlands had him changing direction further west.
As the sun set behind them, the smoke generated a spectacular show as it fired the sky to deep pinks and gold. Ryan and Connor were quiet, and he finally spoke through the mike. ‘Probably a good idea to have a kip if you can, guys. It’ll be about eight-thirty when we get to the Alice.’
As darkness gradually enveloped them, Kane relaxed into the flight. He much preferred night flying; he’d developed that preference when he’d been in the army in Afghanistan. Sometimes that seemed as though it was a lifetime ago. He was very content with his life as a mango farmer these days. His thoughts moved to Ellie and James and the new baby, and then to their worry about Emma. He blocked any worry about Sandra—as he’d told Ellie there was nothing to be gained by thinking of the what-ifs; he’d learned that in the army. You made your decisions guided by reality not by speculation. He would keep positive and prayed that this time tomorrow night they would have her back in Darwin with the family.
It only seemed a short time until the lights of Alice Springs appeared to the south, and Kane brought the chopper down to a lower altitude as he called in to air traffic control.
Once they’d landed, Ryan and Connor went to the terminal while Kane arranged to secure the helicopter for the night. He was concerned about leaving the chopper unattended at the airport but the security guy assured him that it was safe and that the airport was patrolled through the night.
‘Where did you come from? Jabiru?’ the guy asked.
‘Yes, we’re at the Makowa Lodge at Yellow Water.’
‘What are you doing down here?’
‘I’ve got a couple mates who want to have a look around the McDonell Ranges.’
‘Which way are you going? East or west?’
Kane shrugged. ‘Up to them tomorrow. They reckon the west is supposed to be the best. I’m just the pilot. I do as I’m told.’
‘Six of one, half dozen of the other,’ the security guy said. ‘Me? I’d go to the east any day. Not as many bloody tourists that way, and some spectacular sights. Ruby Gap’s a pretty spot, gorges, and a few lush waterholes.’
‘Thanks, I’ll let them know. I’ve never been down this way before,’ Kane said.
