Jack & Harry (30 page)

There were too many people to fit inside so the meal was served under a big canvas marquee erected for the day. The sides were rolled up to let some air in and trestles with bench seats were set up in rows. The Aboriginal drovers and ringers congregated at one end while Tom Cooper, Toffy, Jack, Harry and the rest of the men sat at the other. There was a lot of merriment and many ‘oohs' and ‘aahs' of appreciation as each course was served.

There was crisp skinned turkey with cranberry sauce, roast beef and pork. Platters of roast potatoes and onions were set out with big bowls of green peas. Pitchers of rich, brown gravy were also placed on the tables alongside bottles of ice-cold beer and lots of soft drink, plus jugs of cordial. Also spread around the tables were little bowls of nuts, sugared ginger, liquorice allsorts and raisins. When everyone thought they couldn't eat another crumb the cook served bowls of steaming plum pudding with lashings of cream and custard. There were no sixpences but the boys didn't worry.

Dinner lasted to well into the afternoon when nearly everyone, fully satisfied, drifted off to find a quiet place to doze. Jack and Harry noticed that Warri had left the gathering early appearing a little unsteady on his feet as they watched him walk off. They knew he hadn't been drinking alcohol so wondered if he was all right but soon forgot about him as they became engrossed in the feast set before them.

It was Reynold who raised the alarm. Jack and Harry had just left the covered area when he ran breathlessly up to them. ‘Where Tom Cooper?

Where boss?' He was obviously agitated.

‘What's up, Reynold?' Harry asked.

‘Uncle Warri 'e crook, eh? Real crook! Yu seen Tom Cooper?'

Jack told Reynold that Tom was still finishing off dinner with a cup of tea back at the shelter. ‘Where's uncle Warri?' he called as Reynold ran off.

‘Back there.' He pointed over his shoulder to the wagon.

They found Warri in the shade leaning with his back against the rear wheel of the wagon, breathing shallowly with his eyes closed.

‘Uncle Warri.' Jack touched the old man's shoulder shaking him gently. ‘You all right, uncle Warri?'

Opening his eyes slowly he looked at them. His voice was a whisper when he spoke. ‘Warri, 'e not too good. Big pain … 'ere.' He indicated his chest.

Reynold came running with Tom Cooper behind him. ‘What's up, old mate?' Tom said, kneeling beside Warri.

Warri told him briefly as perspiration streamed in rivulets down his weathered face.

‘Just rest there, Warri, I'll be back in a minute. Get him some water, Reynold. You blokes stay here.' He leapt to his feet running to the quarters where he went inside only to reappear a minute later with one of the ringers. They went quickly to a station vehicle parked close by. They drove off, wheels spinning, in the direction of the homestead.

Tom Cooper returned to the wagon with the station manager. They checked Warri then lifted him into the back of the vehicle onto a mattress. Reynold jumped up beside him holding a hat to shield Warri's face from the sun as the vehicle drove off, leaving Jack and Harry standing in the dust.

The afternoon dragged on with the men standing around in small groups talking quietly, glancing now and then in the direction of the homestead. Near dusk, Tom Cooper returned driving the car with Reynold sitting in the back. He parked it and walked over to Jack and Harry.

‘Seems like Warri's had some sort of turn. Dunno what but the manager's wife is taking care of him for now. They've contacted the doctor by pedal wireless and he's given them some instruction on what to do.'

‘How is he?'

‘Not too good, Harry. He'll have to stay here. They'll watch him and if he gets worse then they'll put him in the plane and fly him out to get some proper medical help. We'll have to see how he is in the morning. No sense worrying as we can't change it but I need to speak to you blokes about something.'

‘What about, boss?'

‘Well, Jack, you were going to leave us here and head off to Coober weren't you? That was the plan?'

‘We thought we would, yes. This is the closest point to Coober Pedy and one of the ringers told us there's a rough track across from here that we can follow.'

‘Coober is only about eighty or so miles from here that's true. Rough country but I think you blokes have proved that you can make it as long as you keep your wits about ya.'

‘What did you want to talk to us about, boss?' Jack sensed their plans were about to be shot down.

‘I'll put it straight, lads.' Cooper looked them firmly in the eyes. ‘With Warri crook, Reynold isn't going to be much help on the ride down to Marree. Wandoo's coming good but he's not as sharp as he was so I'm gonna to be a bit short-handed for the trip. I asked the manager here if he could lend me a coupla blokes but he has a lot on and can't spare anyone.'

‘So you want us to stay on then to give ya a hand?' Jack guessed the question that was coming.

‘It'd be a favour, Jack, yes. I have to get this mob there on time as there's a bloke coming up from Adelaide for an inspection and to make offer on them. If the bid's good enough the owner will take it rather than have to ship them down to market and run the risk of getting a lower price and still have the rail costs on top.' He pushed his hat back scratching his matted hair. ‘Have a think about it … let me know in the morning.'

Jack looked at Harry and saw him nod his head slightly. ‘Boss,' he said, ‘we'll stick with ya to Marree. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.'

‘You sure?' Cooper looked at Harry.

‘We won't let you down, boss.'

‘Thanks. We head off at first light.'

The news of Warri the next morning was not encouraging. Tom Cooper reported that if anything he seemed to be a bit worse. The pain had stopped but he was very weak from not having eaten anything or taken any liquid. He really didn't seem to know Tom was with him, sleeping most of the time.

‘Best thing for him though, to stay here. Gotta be thankful it didn't happen on the track. OK, let's get this mob on the move.' Cooper kicked his horse into action.

Reynold was very quiet after they left Anna creek heading to Marree, not communicating and only speaking in monosyllables when asked a question. The last night before they were due to arrive at the railhead town however, he edged up to Jack at the campfire. ‘Yu goin' to Kupa when we git to Marree eh?'

‘We hope to, Reynold, yes.'

Reynold looked at the ground, hands stuck deeply in his pockets. ‘Uncle Warri 'e maybe finish eh?'

‘Nah, Reynold, he's tough.' Jack looked over at Harry for support.

‘You bet, mate.' Harry took the cue ‘He'll be OK. He just needs to rest up for a bit. Too much plum puddin' I reckon.'

Reynold didn't respond to Harry's attempt to lighten the situation. ‘Maybe, Harry, but I tink 'is drovin' days over for long time.'

‘What are you gonna do then, Reynold?'

‘Dunno. Stay wit' Mista Cooper or maybe look for 'nother mob goin' somewhere.' He sounded miserable and confused.

‘Would you like to come with us, Reynold?'

‘Wit' yu, Jack? To Kupa Piti?'

‘Why not? That'd be good wouldn't it, Harry?'

‘Yeah, for sure.'

‘Know nothin' 'bout opal minin', Rennol 'e jus' a drover, Harry.'

‘We don't know anythin' about it either, mate, so we can all learn together. You gonna come?'

‘Not sure. Maybe … maybe not.'

Jack felt Reynold didn't want to impose but knew that he wouldn't have brought the subject up if he didn't want to go with them.

‘Reynold, Harry and me would really like you to come with us. You're our mate and we've been together a long time now so we'd miss ya if you didn't come.'

‘Too right, Reynold,' Harry encouraged, ‘it'd be just like when we started out from Kalgoorlie, mate … just the three of us. Go on, what do ya say?'

Reynold thought for a few seconds. ‘OK. If yu need me then I come wit' yu' His face lit up in a broad smile. ‘Yu right … we all laik brothers now 'cause we got same uncle eh?'

Marree, set on a barren red treeless plain was dusty with the hot wind blowing sand in from the surrounding desert. A small number of low weatherboard dwellings clung to the outskirts of town and a few more substantial buildings with broad, wide verandahs were scattered to form the main street. The most impressive building was the Marree Hotel, a two-storey square brick building with a second storey balcony.

The cattle were yarded. It was the end of the drove so a melancholy descended on the drovers who as one, both black and white, had for many weeks urged, coaxed and cursed the cattle through the outback wilderness. Together they had crossed desert sand, gibber stone plains, rivers and mountain ranges.

It was also pay day and Tom Cooper had been to the bank with Toffy. Returning with the cash they set up a table near the wagon where the boss called each of the drovers by name to collect their money.

Jack and Harry busied themselves checking their gear while the men collected their hard-earned cash. They were occupied so didn't hear their names at first until Tom Cooper bellowed, ‘Ferguson, Turner.'

Surprised, knowing the deal was their keep only in exchange for being able to join the drove, they walked over to where he sat at the table with Toffy.

‘Yes, boss?'

‘Sign here.' Cooper held out a pen and pushed the cashbook in front of them.

‘What for?' Jack was puzzled.

‘Can't pay anyone unless they sign for it.' He held the pen further out towards them.

‘We can't do that, boss,' Harry said.

‘What?' Cooper asked in mock surprise. ‘Don't tell me you blokes can't write.' He turned to Toffy beside him. ‘Don't teach 'em anything at school in Perth these days it seems, Toffy.'

‘We didn't expect to get any money, boss. We've had a lot from you already. You got us here, put up with us learnin' and all. You also gave me that colt.'

Yeah,' Jack joined in. ‘What about the Christmas presents too?'

‘You fellas have earned your pay as much as anyone on the trip. It's not a lot and besides, you'll need to bankroll your prospecting to buy some mining equipment. Now … don't bloody argue just sign here.' Tom Cooper tapped the wages book where he had written their names.

The boys could not believe their fortune. Their bankroll was now replenished, they had three horses, a new rifle and Anna, Harry's blue heeler dog. Now all they had to do was get to Coober Pedy. How, they didn't know.

This question was answered when Tom Cooper stood up from the table. ‘Now, I noticed when we came into town that there was a camel train near the railhead. If I'm not mistaken it belongs to an old Afghan teamster who's been in this area for many years. There used to be lots of 'em once but there's only a couple left now. If I'm right, the one I saw still takes a camel team of supplies from the train to outlying stations and often goes to Coober Pedy. If you like I'll take you down there in the morning to see if he's heading your way. We'll ask if you can travel with him.'

‘That'd be great if you can do that, boss … thanks.' Harry was curious. ‘I didn't know there were camel trains working out here.'

‘Been here for years. Not as many now as there used to be though. Marree was once the main centre for them in this area. Years ago a lot of Afghans or ‘Ghans' as we call 'em, were brought to Australia to run the camels. Funny lot though, never fitted in too much with us and were never accepted. They still speak very little English and have their own religion that doesn't allow them to eat certain things so they set up a small community on the edge of town. Hard workers though and keep to themselves. Don't drink either,' Tom added, ‘which is a plus out here. Work has dropped off for them now as roads have opened up and the rail lines have spread across the country. We'll check it out tomorrow.' He then changed the subject completely. ‘Time now to celebrate the end of the drove and a job well done.'

‘What sort of celebration, boss?'

‘The only sort. Go down to the pub for a few beers to wash the dust out of the system,' he laughed as he packed the books and cash tin away in the wagon. ‘Reynold and Wandoo will probably meet up with their mates and some of the other local Aboriginal people, as they aren't allowed in the pub of course. More than likely have a feast out on the reserve somewhere but Toffy and me will go with the other blokes to hit the high life in town. We'll meet up with a few old mates, have a laugh … tell a lotta lies.' He was in a jovial mood.

Cooper noticed though that the two boys were unsure about what they would do and realised they couldn't celebrate, as they didn't know anyone. ‘How about you two blokes come with us?'

‘To the pub?' Harry was shocked.