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Chapter 5
Adelaide River
The easterly wind carrieda cloud of dust towards Meg as an army truck pulled up in front of the mess hall, brakes squealing in protest. At least it had arrived from the south, so that meant no new patients. A good thing, given how full the wards were. Shading her eyes against the grit and slowly settling dust, and keen to see what supplies had arrived, Meg waited for the unloading to begin. The tailgate dropped and bags of cement and metal rods came into view.
Doubtful her replacement issue of uniform items would have accompanied a load of building materials, she sighed and slipped into the mess tent. ‘Any chance of a late lunch, Cookie? Even a sandwich?’
Burly arms and a crooked nose gave Cookie the look of an aging pugilist rather than a cook, but he was a kind man. Not much taller than Meg, he had to lift his chin to peer into the pot he was stirring. Apparently satisfied, he banged the ladle on the rim and set the utensil down. ‘No problem, Sister. You sit yourself down and I’ll bring you a tray.’
‘You’re a legend, Cookie. Thank you. I’ll be happy with a Spam sandwich this late in the day.’ Her stomach gurgled, betraying her desperate need for food. There was precious little time for rest or relaxation, or sometimes even grabbing a meal since the 119 Australian General Hospital had moved south following the bombing of Darwin. Precious little time with Seamus, and never enough to satisfy, but they cobbled together enough snatched moments to keep them both going. At least they were both stationed in the same place.
For now. She sat at the end of the long table nearest the front of the mess and watched the first few bags of cement being tossed down.
Cookie handed over a tray with a generous serving of hash and veggies then set a cup of tea in front of her. ‘Get that into you, Sister.’ He leaned on the table and watched the unloading. ‘That cement will be to make blast walls for the new telephone exchange.’
‘We’re getting a telephone exchange here? That seems excessive when Darwin’s just up the road.’
Rolls of camouflage netting were tossed from the back of the truck on top of the bags of cement and Cookie nodded at them. ‘Blast walls and camo netting. They’re setting up a bigger military post here. The River is going to become a key part of our northern defences.’
‘Are they abandoning Darwin then?’
Cookie met her eyes. Sympathy had filled his each time she mentioned Darwin, and she wondered if her fear still showed. Nightmares about the bombing haunted most of her nights, but Mary, with whom she shared a tent, simply shook her awake and chatted until Meg settled.
‘We won’t abandon the port, but it suffered so much damage, it will take time to make it fully operational again. Even when it is, think about how exposed it is. We need heavy artillery up there for the next time the Japs attack.’
‘The next—’ Her heart thudded hard. The shakes that came with the memory of falling bombs were almost as bad as her nightmares, but worse, they were visible. Anyone and everyone could see and know she was a coward. Clenching her hands, she pressed her nails into her palms and swallowed the lump of fear. A nurse had to be stronger than this. A nurse had to make her patients feel safe. Meg sucked in a painful breath. ‘So you think they will? Attack, that is?’ The hash she’d managed to eat sat heavy in her stomach and she dropped her fork onto the food heaped on her tray.
‘For sure. Darwin’s a strategic port.’
A chill rose in Meg, like a slow leaching away of heat and life. Of course the Japanese would return. Of course they would drop more bombs on Darwin. And every other town and city they could reach from their aircraft carriers. The only way she could do her job was to push the knowledge deep into her mind where it couldn’t sit on her shoulder like a vulture.
‘But the Japs won’t catch our RAAF like sitting ducks again. Those blokes can grade a short bush runway faster than the Japs can bomb one, and I heard tell there’s likely to be a few hidden in the bush. Not A-class ones, but still. Reckon we’ll be safe enough here, Sister.’
Safe enough? Meg nodded and summoned a smile. She wasn’t sure anywhere was safe in this war, but Cookie’s optimism helped bury the vulture. For now. ‘In that case, I’ll relax and enjoy this delicious meal then write a bright and happy letter to my parents.’
‘Good idea, and—Sister?’
‘What is it, Cookie?’
‘Any time you need cheering up, just pop into my kitchen. I’ve a broad shoulder and a fund of jokes, and if all else fails, there’s my secret stash of chocolate.’ He grinned and patted her shoulder.
‘Thanks, Cookie. That means a lot.’
##
Meg wrung out her washing, shook out her shirt then pegged it on the line Seamus had strung for her and Mary between their tent and a twelve-foot sapling. The late summer heat would dry her shirt and undergarments quickly, which was just as well. Two sets of clothes—one in the wash and one on her back—weren’t enough. Not when she lost a gallon of sweat in the normal course of a day. Sweat, dust, and flies – the summer trifecta, Dad called it.
She took a wooden peg from her pocket and hung her knickers as a pair of hands slid around her waist. In that first moment, Meg gasped before Seamus nuzzled her ear. ‘It’s just me. How’s my girl today?’
Setting her hands over his, she leaned against Seamus’s chest and closed her eyes. ‘Better now you’re here. Gosh, I’m tired.’
‘Long shift?’
She bit her lip and nodded. ‘And another nightmare. Honestly, I don’t know how Mary puts up with me.’
‘She must be a saint. You know I’d willingly replace her if I could. In my arms—’ His lips trailed kisses up her neck and she tipped her head to make it easier for him. ‘You wouldn’t have nightmares, macushla.’
If only Seamus could be by my side.
