Chapter 33
CHAPTER
After dropping Anna off, Carol drove straight back to the hall.
Most of the cars that had been parked outside were gone as people returned to their homes to prepare for the worst. The hall was still open, but there was no music.
No laughter. She climbed the stairs into a room that was, at best, sombre.
Bree and her grandmother, Rose, approached. ‘Hi, Carol. We weren’t expecting you to come back.’
‘I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help. My sons are out there fighting that fire. If there’s anything at all I can do for them, or anyone else, I want to be here.’
Rose put a comforting hand on her arm. ‘Of course.’
Bree nodded. ‘We need to get some of these tables and chairs set up so we can feed them when they have time for a break. Deb has gone back to the pub to see about water bottles. Kelly is bringing some things from the store as well. I don’t imagine we’ll see anyone before dawn, but we should be ready, just in case. ’
‘Shall I fill the urns and get the coffee cups and so forth ready?’
‘Good idea. It’s going to be a long night. We’ll all be needing coffee soon.’
They were hard at work when a young woman walked in, her arms full of electronic equipment. Bree greeted her and then introduced her to Carol.
‘This is Maggie. She works on the farm with me. I don’t think you’ve met her before. She’s also something of a whizz with all things computer related.’
‘It occurred to me,’ Maggie said, ‘that we’d all want to keep track of what’s happening.
And charge our phones too. So I thought I’d create a mobile hotspot here.
I’ve brought my tablet for people to watch if they can’t use their phones.
And I’ve brought some power boards and extension cords and some of my ridiculous collection of charging cables.
Hopefully that will be enough to keep us all in touch. Where shall I set them all up?’
They agreed on a place and Maggie dragged a table against the wall, where the existing power points would get her started.
A few more people arrived, mostly women.
Some were carrying blankets. Others had water kegs or Tupperware containers of food.
Some came empty-handed, simply wanting to help.
And for company. When there was nothing to do, they stood about in small groups, talking quietly.
Most of the kids had been settled in for sleepovers with friends, under the watchful gaze of one or two people, but just a phone call away if the fire got too close.
As soon as Maggie’s tablet was connected and showing the news, people clustered around it, their eyes glued to the screen.
Despite the late hour—or was it already an early hour?
—the news channel was filled with updates about the fire.
And not only one fire. Several large fires were burning all over the state, and all were being driven to new fury by the hot, dry winds.
Firefighting resources were stretched thin.
Interviews with RFS officers were filled with warnings and requests for people to make sure their homes were fire safe.
‘Thank goodness those two RFS officers came here when they did,’ a woman remarked. ‘We’ve cleaned up around our house. I hope it’s safer now.’
There was a murmur of agreement and Carol closed her eyes, in case the tears welling up gave away how proud she was of her sons. How much she loved them. And how frightened she was for them. She would give anything to have them back safely.
During the next couple of hours, some of the people who lived nearby drifted out of the hall, going home to try to sleep.
Carol stayed. Bree did, too. Her husband, Matt, was out with the volunteers.
Their daughter, Vicki, was with some of the other kids, enjoying a distracting sleepover with her friends.
Bree rarely took her eyes off the news, except to check her phone for messages.
The alpaca stud was on the other side of town from the fire and in no danger.
At least for now. With the technology all in place, she sent Maggie back to the stud to keep an eye on things there.
‘I want to be here when they come back,’ Bree told Carol.
Other wives and mothers and sisters stayed for the same reason. They all clustered around the screen, far from sleep, waiting and hoping. The fire was not yet threatening Wagtail Ridge, but they were all ready in case it did.
Just after midnight, those waiting heard engine noises approaching. Carol raced to the door. Three fire trucks were pulling up on the road outside, but it was only a moment before she realised the exhausted men and women climbing down from the cabs were not from Wagtail Ridge.
‘We were told to come here for some food and a rest,’ the first man approaching the hall said.
‘We’ve been expecting you. Come on in.’
They trooped through the door.
The battle had been hard. That much was evident in the droop of their shoulders and the dragging of their feet.
Most barely managed to say thank you as they took the offered food and drinks, then collapsed onto the folding chairs around the trestle tables.
Some didn’t bother with food. They took the water bottles or cups of tea and coffee and slumped down against the wall.
Their uniforms were soot stained and their faces were dirty, except where rivers of sweat had washed them clean.
More noise from outside heralded the arrival of an ambulance.
The two ambos looked fresh and rested. They moved among the firefighters, offering assistance for small wounds and the occasional burn.
Carol was shocked to see one woman’s hands red raw where they had blistered and bled from swinging an axe or a shovel.
One of the firefighters dragged himself to his feet and left the hall for a few minutes. He returned with some radio equipment, which he set up on a table at the far end of the room. Carol walked over to him.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you. All we know is what we see on the news, that the fire is spreading. Is there anything you can tell us?’
‘Not much more than you already know. The wind is rising and now they’re expecting it to change direction.’
‘Change direction?’ Deb joined Carol. ‘Which way?’
‘It may end up turning this way,’ the firefighter said. ‘You might get a lot more of us here needing food and a rest.’
‘We’ll do whatever we can.’
The firefighter hesitated. ‘How many people are there in and around the town?’
‘About three hundred. A few more. Why?’
‘Can you spread the word? People should be prepared to evacuate. Pack a go-bag. Make sure the kids are nearby.’
‘We’re prepared,’ Carol said. ‘Our own volunteers are out there now. It can’t be that bad. Surely.’
‘I’m not saying it is. I’m saying be prepared. And in the meantime, those who can should get ready to defend their homes.’
‘We are already on that. But I’ll spread the word to be ready.’ Deb turned back to the rest of the room.
‘Please,’ Carol almost whispered. ‘I just … I have two sons out there fighting the fire …’
‘I know where most of the crews are, but not who is on them. But I’ve had no reports of any serious injuries, if that helps.’ The radio started to crackle and the firefighter turned away.
No reports of serious injuries. It wasn’t what she had hoped to hear, but it was something. Carol left the firefighter to his work.
There wasn’t much activity in the hall. The exhausted firefighters were resting. Some were asleep and an occasional snore drifted through the room. Everyone else was still clustered around the tablet and the news broadcast or checking their phones.
A man Carol hadn’t noticed before approached the group.
‘I’m looking for Carol Turner.’
Carol’s heart almost exploded. ‘That’s me!’ Her voice broke as fear took an icy grip on her heart.
‘I have an injured wombat in the car. It’s got some burns. I was told you could help it.’
Relief washed over her. ‘Yes. I can. Let’s look at it.’ The two of them walked out to the car. Bree and Deb followed behind.
The animal was wrapped in a towel and lying in a cardboard box on the back seat of the man’s car. It was a juvenile and its fur was singed, and its face was covered in soot and ash. It was moving feebly.
‘I need to get it to the vet,’ Carol said. ‘Let’s get it into my car.’ It felt good to have a purpose.
It wasn’t until the animal was safely transferred that she thought to ask. ‘Who told you to bring it here? To me?’
‘One of the firefighters. Out by my place. He said to tell you Ben sent it.’
Carol closed her eyes. Relief washed over her. Ben was okay. She looked at Bree and Deb and saw the relief in their faces too.
‘Was his twin brother with him?’ Bree asked the question before Carol could.
‘I don’t know. There wasn’t time. It’s pretty bad out there and I have to get back now. That’s if I still have a home to go back to.’ He returned to his car and drove away.
‘I’ll take this guy to Anna,’ Carol said.
Deb put a comforting hand on her shoulder. ‘We’ll let you know if we hear anything.’
‘Thanks.’ Carol drove away. Her hands were still shaking. It helped to know Ben was all right. But what about Justin? Her sons had always done everything together. They always had each other’s backs. They were safe together.
But this fire had parted them, and Carol was scared.