Medical Mission (5 page)

The next week was a blur of activity. Josh tried to focus as much as he could on the fundraiser. It kept his mind occupied with something positive, and while it didn't stop him worrying about Mum and Nate, it did push the anxiety into the background.

Not just the Grade 6 class was involved. The whole school got behind the fundraising
projects. But Marceline seemed determined to turn it into a competition and to come out the winner.

Josh and his friends worked hard. They drew posters. They created a flyer, which the school photocopied so they could hand it out to people.

Marceline did that too. Her posters were larger and more colourful. Her flyers were professionally designed because her dad was a graphic artist.

Josh got one of the kids in the class to make a page to put on the school's website. Marceline got her dad to register a domain name and create a whole website.

Marceline set the date of the market for Friday in two weeks. Ratchet suggested having the screening on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday of next week – a week prior to the market. She even suggested advertising the market at the screening. Josh announced this to the class. The next day Marceline changed the date of the market to the Friday of the screening.

‘No one wants to watch some old television show at the drive-in,' she told Josh when he confronted her about the change of date. ‘We're going to make more money with the market.'

‘It's not a competition,' said Josh.

‘Says you,' huffed Marceline, turning her back on him and stalking off.

‘What is her problem?' asked Pete.

Josh shrugged.

‘You know, if this was a movie, we'd come up with some sort of plan to sabotage her market so that no one will go to it.'

‘That's horrible.' Sally stared accusingly at Pete. ‘We don't want the market to fail. That would mean less money for the RFDS. We want both events to be successful.'

‘Well, it's going to be hard.' Josh sighed. ‘Changing the dates was dumb. Now both things are going to get less people.'

‘Not necessarily,' said Sally. ‘I think Marceline's date change is a good thing.'

‘Huh?' Josh and Pete stared at Sally.

Sally grinned. ‘I've got an idea.'

‘I have a written proposal,' said Josh, holding above his head a couple of pages stapled together in the corner.

‘Oh?' said Ms Wright. ‘What about?'

Josh got to his feet and came out to the front of the class. ‘Our two fundraisers have turned into some sort of competition.' He looked at Marceline. She glared back. ‘And I think that's … counter-productive.' He smiled to himself for remembering the word Sally had suggested. ‘I reckon it makes more sense to work together.' He glanced at Ms Wright. ‘Cooperation.' He pointed to the ‘Class Principles' sign stuck up on the wall of the classroom, which included the word cooperation.

‘Instead of running two separate fundraisers,' he continued. ‘We should be working together.'

‘I'm not giving up my market,' Marceline blurted out.

‘
Your
market?' Her best friend Wendy was
frowning. ‘Who drew the pictures for the poster?'

‘Yeah,' added Mai-Ling. ‘And what about all the opal chips I got my parents to donate to sell?'

‘That's not what I meant,' flustered Marceline.

‘What did you mean?' demanded Wendy.

Suddenly everyone was talking and arguing. Voices rose and tempers flared.

‘Class!' called out Ms Wright. ‘Settle down, please. This is not a zoo. Settle down, right now.'

The voices subsided.

‘We shouldn't be arguing!' cried Josh. ‘We shouldn't be competing. We should be working together.' He looked out at the sea of student faces, which ranged from angry to bemused. ‘Cooperating.'

Ms Wright nodded.

‘We were talking about it yesterday,' he indicated Pete and Sally. ‘We were thinking that rather than running two separate things, we should combine them.'

‘How?' demanded Marceline.

‘Hold them on the same day in the same place,' revealed Josh. ‘If we set up the market at the drive-in, people can shop while they wait for
The Flying Doctors
to start.' He smiled at the class. ‘And if we run the market all afternoon, we can tell everyone who comes to return for the screening later. We could combine our advertising. We could all work together. And I'll bet that we'll make more money if we do things that way.'

‘That is a great idea, Josh,' said Ms Wright.

‘Sally came up with it,' said Josh.

‘Well, Sally,' said Ms Wright, ‘it was a very mature and sensible suggestion.'

Sally blushed then smiled, relieved that the heat she felt in her cheeks wouldn't show on her dark skin.

‘What does the rest of the class think?' asked the teacher.

The kids all burst into cheers. Even Marceline reluctantly nodded.

‘We can also make some more money,' Josh went on, ‘if we bring food to sell. Any ideas on what we can do?'

‘My parents own the milk bar,' piped up Jason. ‘I'll ask them to donate some lollies.'

‘I'll get some pizza,' said Lee. Her parents ran the new Italian takeaway.

‘The rest of us could bake some biscuits and cakes and things,' suggested Ramone.

The class was alive with suggestions and enthusiasm.

‘It's Hawaiian,' said Josh, opening up the pizza box.

‘Oh,' said Dad, sitting himself down in front of it. ‘I guess I can pick off the pineapple.'

Josh put a plate down on the table in front of Dad and got a slice for himself. He wondered if he should try to tell him about what happened at school – about how he got everyone to cooperate.

‘It's cold,' said Dad as he took a piece.

‘Sorry,' said Josh. ‘Pete's brother was late picking us up. And it's a bit of a drive anyway. You could microwave it.'

Dad grunted and ate his slice cold.

‘Um …' ventured Josh. ‘Could we ring Mum tonight?'

‘She already rang earlier,' he said through a mouthful of pizza.

‘What did she say?' asked Josh hopefully.

Dad shrugged. ‘Nuthin' new.' He took another mouthful. He didn't pick off any of the pineapple.

Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Josh screamed in his mind.
Why don't you talk to me? Can't you see I'm worried? Can't you tell I'm scared? Can't you see I miss my mum?

Josh bit into his pizza angrily, tore a piece off, and chewed until his teeth ground against each other. For a few minutes he was a tense ball of rage, wanting desperately to tell Dad how he felt. But each time he
opened his mouth to shout, he took a bit of pizza instead to stifle his anger.

They finished in silence.

Dad got up to leave the table and Josh looked up into his face. He noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the weary expression. As Dad turned to go, Josh saw the way his shoulders slumped and the tired shuffle of his walk.

Josh's anger drained away.

Things went smoothly at school now that everyone was working together. Marceline was a little resistant at first, still trying to boss the others around, but even she began to get the hang of this cooperation stuff.

Posters were amended and hung up all over the town, especially around the hotels. Flyers were photocopied and a mail drop
was organised, kids putting them into mailboxes each day after school. Marceline even convinced the hotel managers to place flyers into all the welcome packs in each room. The underground rooms were really popular with tourists, so having the flyers there was a good way to get attention.

There seemed to be a general buzz around town about it. Everyone was rallying behind the school and its students.

While Ratchet was still scaring people left, right and centre, Josh noticed that she appeared to be mellowing. And participating more than she originally said she would. She put posters up at the drive-in and handed out flyers to people at all the sessions in the days leading up to the charity screening. She even made announcements prior to the start of each film over the speakers.

Josh went to the drive-in on Tuesday after school to discuss food for the screening and where they could set up. Ratchet looked at him in a weird sort of way, then said, ‘I may set up the popcorn machine.'

‘That's great,' responded Josh. ‘People love popcorn while watching movies.'

‘May!' Ratchet barked. ‘I said
may
. Haven't completely made up my mind yet.'

‘Okay,' said Josh slowly, wondering how to respond without upsetting her more. ‘Well, thanks for thinking about it.'

‘Sure. No worries,' Ratchet replied. Then after a short silence she added in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. ‘I probably will, though.'

Josh smiled.

On the Wednesday before the event, Marceline arranged for their class to go to the drive-in before school and start setting up. She and Josh got there first.

‘Youse can set up the market here,' growled Ratchet, pointing to the back corner of the drive-in. ‘I got some trestle tables in storage. You can use 'em. Needs a bit of a clean up. Skip's over there.' She pointed to a rusty old skip at the back wall of the building.

‘What do you reckon?' asked Josh.

‘Yeah,' said Marceline, nodding. ‘I think we can use this.'

‘Great!' barked Ratchet. ‘Glad you can think.' She turned around and lumbered off muttering something in French.

Marceline stared after her. ‘She's a bit … terrifying.'

‘She's okay when you get used to her,' said Josh. ‘Her bark is worse than her bite. Something Dad used to say about my grandpa. I think it works for Ratchet as well.'

‘And what's with the name?' asked Marceline. ‘Isn't her name actually Rach–'

‘Shhhh,' hissed Josh, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Ratchet had gone. ‘Don't ever call her that. She doesn't like it. And no Ms, Miss or Mrs. It's just Ratchet.'

‘Oh,' Marceline seemed a bit taken aback. ‘Okay.' She kicked at a bit of scrunched-up newspaper on the ground. ‘Um. Sorry about everything.' She didn't look at Josh. ‘You know. The fundraising and stuff. I just wanted to make a difference.'

‘You are,' said Josh. ‘The market idea is great. Lots of people are donating things. It'll be huge. And now it'll be even better.'

Marceline smiled.

‘Hey!'

They turned to see Pete and Sally walking towards them from the gate, followed by the rest of the class.

‘This is the spot,' announced Marceline, waving her arms about and taking charge. ‘We just need to clean it up. So, if everyone gets started straightaway it shouldn't take too long. I've talked to Ms Wright and we're allowed to be a little bit late for class. But only a little bit.'

It looked like the back of the drive-in grounds had been used as some sort of dumping ground. Tree branches,
decomposing cardboard boxes, plastic piping and general rubbish were strewn over the area.

‘Why do we have to do it now?' complained Pete.

‘We've only got two days left,' said Marceline. ‘And Ratchet said we could do it before school today. So here we are.'

‘Well,' said Sally, hands on hips, surveying the area. ‘We better get to it.'

Pete yawned.

But they got to work. There was nothing too large or heavy, so it was reasonably easy. And with the whole class there, it really wasn't going to take long.

Josh walked over the hard-packed gravel, to the back corner. There was a bunch of boxes piled up next to a low scrubby bush.
He grabbed the largest box with both hands and lifted.

Something slithered beneath.

He felt pain flare up in his right leg, as if someone had just whacked him with a stick. Dropping the box he stumbled back with a shout and fell over. He clamped his hand down over the sore bit on his leg.

Pete and Sally came running.

‘What's wrong?' asked Pete.

‘What happened?' asked Sally.

‘I dunno,' said Josh, voice shaky, confused. ‘Something moved under the box and then I got hit in the leg.'

‘Hit in the leg?' asked Pete.

Josh shrugged. ‘That's what it felt like.'

‘Come on,' said Sally. ‘Better give us a look.'

Josh pulled his hands back to reveal two puncture marks and a smear of blood.

‘Yikes!' said Pete. ‘Looks like something bit you.'

‘What's going on?' demanded Marceline. She was walking over with an annoyed look on her face, as if she thought they were slacking off.

‘Josh has been bitten by something,' said Sally with a pointed look at Marceline.

‘Oh.' She seemed a little guilty. Then her expression changed. ‘Oh my gosh, look.' Marceline was pointing towards the box.

‘What?' demanded Sally.

‘Something moved!' shrieked Marceline. ‘I think it was a snake.'

‘Are you sure?' asked Sally.

‘Yes, I'm sure,' hissed Marceline. And without another word she turned and ran.

‘Fat lot of good she is,' complained Pete. Then he looked down at Josh. ‘You okay?'

‘I guess,' responded Josh. He was staring down at his right leg, wiping away the blood with his hand. There were definitely two marks there, on the left side of his calf. ‘It hurts, but not too badly.'

Some of the other kids, alerted by Marceline's shout, were now starting to gather around.

Josh put his hands on the ground, ready to push himself up to his feet.

‘No, don't,' said Pete urgently. ‘If it is a snakebite, you're not supposed to move. That spreads the venom.'

‘How do you know?' demanded Sally.

‘He saw it in a movie,' Josh chuckled through clenched teeth. The pain was getting worse.

‘Too right.' Pete nodded proudly.

‘Yeah,' mocked Sally. ‘'Cause everything in the movies is real.'

Pete shrugged.

‘So then, smartypants,' continued Sally, ‘if he can't move, what should we do?'

‘I think you're supposed to suck the poison out,' said Pete, with a grimace.

Sally looked horrified. ‘That's gross!'

‘Well, that's what they did in the film,' insisted Pete. ‘Although the guy died in the end.'

‘Oh great,' said Josh, voice quavering.

‘Don't move!' a gravelly voice demanded.

Everyone turned to see Ratchet and Marceline heading towards them. The crowd of onlookers parted and stepped back.

‘This kid reckons you've been bit by a
snake,' Ratchet went on, concern evident in her voice. ‘If you
have
, you don't want the venom to spread.'

‘See?' Pete looked pointedly at Sally.

‘Ambulance will be here any minute,' said Ratchet. ‘The hospital is just a couple of streets away.'

‘Hospital?' Josh's voice rose. ‘Ambulance?'

‘Ya never take chances with a snake bite,' said Ratchet, her voice softening. ‘I called the ambulance as soon as the word snake got said to me.' She glanced at Marceline. ‘Now, where is it?'

‘Under that box,' said Marceline, pointing.

Ratchet reached down to her tool belt and chose the largest spanner she had. Brandishing it high, she moved to the box.

Everyone else took a couple of steps away.
Josh edged back slowly across the ground, sucking air through his teeth, wincing with the pain, trying not to move his leg too much.

‘We need to get a look at it.' Ratchet's voice was a low growl, like an animal getting ready to pounce. ‘Find out what sort of snake it is.' She gingerly lifted the box.

There was a flash of brown with a cross-hatched pattern sliding across the baked earth and away under the fence.

Marceline screamed.

Ratchet threw the spanner at it. She missed.

‘
Pseudechis Australis
,' announced Ratchet. ‘Also known as the King Brown or the Mulga.' She turned to Josh. ‘You need to get to hospital
now
!'

‘Should we suck the poison out?' asked
Pete, voice high and panicky. ‘Or tie a tourniquet or something?'

Ratchet looked at him like he was a complete idiot. ‘No!' she barked. ‘Do you want to kill him?'

Pete shook his head, a shocked expression on his face.

‘The leg needs to be immobilised and bandaged so that the venom doesn't spread,' explained Ratchet.

‘How do we do that?' asked Marceline.

‘We don't,' said Ratchet. ‘They do.' She pointed back to the gates as an ambulance came charging down the street.

The ambulance pulled up close to them and two paramedics raced out, one carrying a black medical bag. All the kids were now standing around, mouths agape.

The man with the bag crouched down beside Josh, as everyone else stood back to give him room. ‘You would be the patient, I assume,' he said brusquely. ‘Let's see the wound.'

Josh tentatively let go of his leg, revealing the two puncture marks.

‘Uh-huh,' muttered the paramedic. ‘Does look like a snakebite. There's swelling around the marks and they're still bleeding, indicating coagulopathy.'

‘Coagu-whaty?' asked Josh meekly.

But the paramedic didn't hear him. Instead, he raised his voice and asked, ‘Is the snake still around or did anyone get a good look at it.'

‘Snake's gone,' said Ratchet. ‘Went under the fence. But it was definitely a King Brown.'

‘You sure?' asked the paramedic.

‘It was big – at least a metre long, maybe more. Brown colouring, with a tinge of yellow. Crosshatching pattern. I know me snakes. It was
Pseudechis Australis
.'

‘Riiiight,' said the paramedic slowly. ‘We'll need to confirm with a venom detection when we get to the hospital, but we'll assume for the moment that you're correct. If it is a King Brown bite and we have definite envenoming, we'll need to get you to Adelaide.' He turned to his colleague. ‘Matt, better call in and get the RFDS on standby in case we need them. Then we'll bandage him up with a splint.'

As Matt went back to the ambulance, the first paramedic returned his attention to Josh. He waved a pen light directly into his eyes. Josh blinked and squinted.

‘Is that uncomfortable?' asked the paramedic.

‘It's a bit bright,' answered Josh.

‘Hmm. Sensitivity to light.'

The paramedic checked his heart and blood pressure, then shot a rapid-fire array of questions, which Josh did his best to answer.

‘Are you dizzy or light-headed?'

‘A bit dizzy.'

‘Have you vomited?'

‘No.

‘Any feelings of nausea?'

‘No. I don't think so.'

‘Abdominal pain?'

‘No.'

‘Headache?'

‘Yes.'

‘Is it bad?'

‘Not really. Kind of a mild throbbing.'

‘And how is the bite area feeling?'

‘It's hurting. But it's still not too painful. Sort of like someone's hit me. But it is getting worse.'