Kakadu Sunset (37 page)

She looked over the side. The downed chopper had settled into the mud and the water was getting higher. The helicopter slipped a little further and she grabbed for the skids as the left side dipped a few centimetres.

Keeping completely still, she examined the water between her and the three large crocodiles on the far bank. The river was flowing swiftly but it wasn’t as deep as she’d thought. It was clear and she could see the stones that formed the causeway only about half a metre below the surface. Maybe she could try to get to the bank. But her legs refused to move. There was no way she would get in that water and strike out for the shore.

She turned to look at the other bank but the pain the movement caused was unbearable. The scene in front of her wavered as though she was looking at it through water.

Her hands began to tremble. She was in trouble whatever she did. The need to escape, to get away from here, overtook her, but she couldn’t move.

*

Kane ran the short distance from the hut towards the river. Even though he was moving quickly, his legs felt as though he was running through sand. He gritted his teeth and focused on the present, refusing to let his brain take over and put him back in the desert. Ellie needed him; he had to get to her. He looked down at the ground and concentrated on his breathing.

This is Australia and I’m in Kakadu
. No sand, just hard red dirt. Gradually, the feeling eased and the solidness of the hard-packed earth beneath his feet calmed him. Strength filled him; he could do it.

Kane ran past the SUV and came to a sudden halt. The vehicle had a large metal hook attached to the bull bar on the front. He ran to the back of the car and flung the door open, and spotted the quick access toolbox in the spare wheel compartment.

Please
.

He grabbed the snatch strap, ran to the helicopter and threw it in. Back at the edge of the water, he cupped his hands to his mouth. ‘Ellie!’

His call disturbed a flock of cockatoos in a tree above the helicopter. They squawked raucously as they lifted off and flew over him to a large dead tree on the other side of the river.

‘Grab the rope when I drop it to you.’ He pointed to the helicopter and relief flooded through him when she gave him the thumbs up. After securing the strap to the skids, he looked across to the hut. There’d been no time to tell David his idea once he spotted the snatch strap, but this wouldn’t take long.

Seconds later, the chopper lifted with the rope stretched out beneath the skids as he gained height.

Holding it in a hover was the easy part. Judging the right distance so Ellie could grab the nylon webbing was harder. He shoved the door open and leaned over.

‘Shit.’ He was too low and about ten metres too far into the river. The snatch strap was in the water.

Using his hands and feet, he manoeuvred the bird until he was directly above her, and held it in a hover for the second time. He held his breath as Ellie grabbed for the strap as it swung past her head.

She missed it. The wash from the rotors was ruffling the water and the strap swayed as it caught in the downdraft. Kane held his breath as it swung back towards her.

‘Good girl.’ On the second pass Ellie grabbed for it and held it. He watched as she wrapped the end of the strap around her waist and looped it over before she raised her arms, and held on. She put her head back and nodded as she held the now taut strap with both hands. It was a delicate dance of precision as his feet moved on the foot controls and his hand gripped the cyclic. He did it all by feel, not once taking his eyes off Ellie as she lifted from the roof of the submerged helicopter. Slowly and carefully, the bird responded to his deft movements as Ellie spun slowly above the water.

Seconds later, she was above the ground, well away from the water’s edge, and as he lowered the bird slowly, she slipped out of the strap onto the bank.

But his relief was short lived, as she crumpled to the ground.

*

Ellie opened her eyes to the sound of running feet. The ground was hard beneath her back and her head ached.

‘Ellie. Can you hear me?’

She put her hands to her face and stared up at Kane as he dropped to his knees beside her. Gentle hands ran over her body.

‘I’m okay. It’s only my head, but it’s not too bad.’

‘What happened?’

‘I clipped a tree on the way down.’ Ellie pushed herself up and clung to him. She pushed her face into his neck, and his warmth and the smell of his skin soothed her. Her lips trembled and she held him tightly as she fought for control.

‘He killed my father.’

‘Shh. It’s okay. You’re okay.’

‘It’s not fucking okay.’ She pulled her head back and her voice broke as it got louder. ‘He told me my eyes were like Dad’s as he put the noose around his neck.’

Ellie buried her face in his neck again and a sob escaped her lips.

‘I’ll help you find out what happened. I promise.’

She closed her eyes as Kane lifted her into his arms and began to walk towards the hut. ‘But first we have to help David. Gina is in labour.’

The door was open and he walked inside, putting her down gently on the floor beside a low bed where Gina lay.

David was beside Gina and he reached up and took Ellie’s hand. ‘You’re okay?’

‘I’m okay.’ She leaned down and spoke to Gina. ‘Are you?’

‘The pains have eased a bit.’ Gina reached out and touched her face. ‘How can I ever thank you, Ellie? And Kane, you, too.’

Kane frowned down at Ellie. ‘You shouldn’t be on your feet. I want you to rest while I take Gina to the medical centre in Jabiru. David, make sure she lies down. I know what she’s like.’

‘What am I like?’ A small smile crossed Ellie’s face.

‘You’re invincible,’ Kane said as he leaned in and kissed her.

5.00 pm Sunday
Makowa Lodge

Ellie stood on the verandah outside her apartment, letting the late afternoon sun warm her bare limbs. The only after-effects from the events of yesterday morning were a dull headache and a greater fear of crocodiles. The medical centre had checked her over – luckily she’d needed no stitches – and told Kane to keep an eye on her.

She picked up the small trowel she’d brought out from beneath the kitchen sink. Her black gardening gloves were stiff and she flexed her fingers, watching as the dried soil fell to the wooden floorboards. Her herb seedlings had been ignored for the past few days and she leaned over the small pots, digging her gloved hand into the seed raising mix. The soft green shoots had withered and were now stiff and brown.

Ellie wasn’t aware she was crying until the first tear plopped with a splat onto the verandah beside the pots. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes and gave way to the tears that rolled down her cheeks as the grief welled into her throat. She cried silently for her father and the sad loneliness of his death. Her tears fell for Kane’s mother who had spent her last weeks alone and neglected.

Ellie cried because she knew Kane would leave and she would be alone again; there was no reason for him to stay here now. Her prickly shell would go up and protect her heart again; this time it would be twice as thick.

Maybe it was time for her to consider moving on. As much as she loved Kakadu, all it held were sad memories for her.

‘Is your head bothering you?’ As usual Kane’s movements were silent and she hadn’t heard his door close. He’d insisted on spending last night in her apartment in case she had concussion, and had kept a vigil by the bed as she’d slept. He’d left her only briefly to go and have a shower.

Ellie shook her head and sniffed as her nose began to run with the tears. She wiped her face with the back of her gloved hand. ‘My head’s fine. It’s just been a rough couple of days.’ She moved along to make room for Kane as he lowered himself next to her and he leaned back against the railing, his head close to hers.

‘It has.’ His arm went around her shoulders and she leaned into him, marvelling at the comfort that she drew from his presence. ‘But there’s some good news. Jock called just as I was getting in the shower. David called the lodge and asked him to get a message to us. They have a new little girl. She didn’t make an appearance till lunchtime today.’

Ellie closed her eyes again as his thumb brushed her cheek. ‘They’re both okay?’

‘Jock said Gina and the baby are doing well. They’ve called her Ellie. Nice name, hey?’ Kane’s deep voice was soft and Ellie let it wash over her. She could stay here forever; the afternoon sun warming her skin, Kane’s leg pressed against hers. Somewhere in the background the birdlife on the river created the usual cacophony of sound as the sun headed for the horizon.

‘Beautiful sky tonight.’ Kane’s breath brushed against her face. ‘Are you going to open your eyes and enjoy it with me?’

Ellie opened her eyes slowly. Kane’s cheek was close to hers. The sky behind him was brilliant orange and the narrow, horizontal clouds above the horizon were tinged with silver.

‘Kakadu sunsets are always beautiful.’ She looked at him from beneath her lashes. ‘Even more so in the other seasons.
Banggerreng
is my favourite.’

‘Banggerreng?’

‘Knock ’em down season. One of the six traditional seasons we have up here. It’s not the wet and it’s not the dry but we can get the most amazing thunderheads.’

‘I’ll look forward to it.’

Ellie lifted her head and looked at him as hope unfurled in her chest. ‘You’ll be around then?’ She kept her voice casual.

‘I will. I’ve been thinking. There’s a lot about this place that I like.’ Ellie smiled as he pointed to the sky. ‘Sunsets are pretty good.’ Kane lifted his arm and put it around her and she leaned into his shoulder as he rested his chin on the top of her head. ‘Not hurting you, am I?’

‘No, I’m good.’

‘And I hear the lodge could do with another pilot.’

Ellie smiled. His healing had begun. ‘You’ll be working with a pretty cranky female pilot.’

‘Not a problem.’ Warmth feathered through Ellie’s skin as Kane dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead. ‘I don’t believe that prickly exterior she puts up. She’s as soft as butter inside.’

‘I’m the senior pilot.’ The stubble on his cheek was rough against her face as she grinned.

‘I’m the best pilot.’ Kane squeezed her arm.

‘Maybe. It’ll be fun finding out, anyway,’ she said bumping him playfully with her shoulder. Knowing that Kane was going to be around for a while lightened her heart. The tears were gone.

‘I’ve got another question for you.’

Ellie moved back a little and looked up at him. Kane’s eyes were dark and his expression serious as he held her gaze.

‘You love mucking around with this stuff, don’t you?’ He gestured to the pots along the railing. ‘Now that Mum and Panos have gone . . . the farm will be mine. Panos had no family. I’ve always had a yen to grow something. How would you feel about trying to resurrect a mango plantation?’ He rushed on as Ellie felt her mouth drop open. The lightness in her chest was replaced with joy that spread through her entire body as she looked at this man. This man she knew she’d fallen in love with.

‘We could knock down the old house, build a new one . . . and the shed. Get rid of all our bad memories. Plant some new trees maybe?’ Kane’s hand cupped her face. ‘Maybe it’s too soon but we’ll see. One thing I am sure of is that I’d really love you to share it with me.’

‘Are you sure?’ Ellie whispered.

‘I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.’

Ellie lifted her head and pressed her lips against his.

‘I take it that’s a yes.’

One week later
Daintree, North Queensland

When the wound on Ellie’s head had healed and her headache was finally gone, Kane travelled to Queensland with her. They’d waited until after his mother’s funeral and driven to the airport the next morning.

Ellie knew her own healing could not begin until she spoke to her mother and told her that she’d been right about the farm – about her father’s death, and about the men who had wanted to use the place for its resources. The news she had was not the sort of thing she wanted to deliver by email or over the phone. When she’d asked Jock for more time off, he’d understood, knowing the ordeal she’d been through.

‘I owe you, Jock.’ Ellie hugged him.

‘No, I think you’ve done me a big favour.’

‘How’s that?’ Ellie tipped her head to the side, wincing a little as the plaster caught on her hair.

‘I think we finally have another pilot who’s going to hang around a while.’ Jock grinned at her. ‘No ex-wife likely to turn up looking for Kane, is there?’

Ellie smiled back. ‘Not that’s he’s mentioned. I’d better check.’

They landed in Cairns in the early morning and Kane drove to their hotel. Ellie yawned as the beaches flashed past her window. ‘Why is it that every flight seems to leave Darwin in the middle of the night?’ She looked over at Kane as he drove through the city. His tanned arms held the wheel confidently and the haunted look had left his eyes. His mouth was relaxed but Ellie knew he still had a way to go before he healed.

He had talked more about his flashbacks and the stressful memories that he carried inside him. ‘When I think about you on the side of the helicopter in the river . . .’ He shook his head slowly. ‘I’ve got another reason to have a bloody flashback.’

Ellie shivered; it would take her a long time to forget the fear that had gripped her while she waited for rescue. She had blocked the memory of the crocodile taking that man. She reached over and put her hand into Kane’s, and he squeezed her fingers. The shiver left her as he lifted them to his lips.

Kane was staying at the hotel while she drove to Emma’s by herself. ‘It’ll be better if it’s just you and your mum and sister.’ Ellie appreciated his thoughtfulness. She was seeing more and more of the real Kane every day.

Emma and Mum lived in a small cottage on the river in the little village of Daintree, north of Port Douglas. Ellie hadn’t called to say she was coming because she knew she would have blurted out what had happened. Her involvement in the rescue of Gina Johnson hadn’t made the papers; the only person the journalist had been interested in was the heavily pregnant wife of the Chief Minister.