tonight so that we are all listed I would be grateful.” He smiles. “Time we got the billy lids off to bed, I can see some very sleepy faces out there. I think a lot of us adults will be glad of a rest too.” He continues.
“Time to conclude this meeting for the night folks. We meet back here after dinner tomorrow night. Until then keep working on your tasks, look after each other and as Jenn has just said, No one will be left behind!” His voice rises on the last part of the statement, but there are smiles and hands clapping in approval.
The group breaks up into smaller groups, all wearily walking back down the hill towards the campsite. The committee stand quietly by and watch as they go. Dennis and Carmel have joined us to pick up the paperwork I had ready to list our exodus group.
Gavin sighs as he watches our friends walk down the hill. “We are leaving so much of our pasts behind here; I do know how hard it is going to be for most of these folk. Some of them have never been more than a few miles from Smithtown during their whole lives.” He speaks quietly so that we all have to lean in to hear his gentle words.
“I think we had better call it a night.” Gavin says. Hugs and smiles were exchanged amongst the group and we all then headed back down the hill to the camp site.
Chapter 16
We settle Caren and the other children when we get back to the tents. I then sit by the fire with the other adults. Conversation is limited during this quiet time as we all need to think and plan. Sandra makes tea for everyone in a billy can over the fire. Nothing like a cup of billy tea in the quiet of the night, the only sounds that we can hear above the crackling of the gum logs as they burn are the quiet chirps of crickets and the occasional sonar beep of the fruit bats as they head into town on their nightly raid.
Sandra looks up at the fruit bats as they fly overhead and sighs. “We really have to do something about getting what fresh fruit and vegetables we can ready for the journey. The non-fiction part of the library has stood up so far, so I am going to go in and get any books I can on preserving, drying and keeping things for longer periods.”
“What a great idea, Sandra. I hope you will be careful though. I am not sure how strong the rest of that building is and we don’t want a repeat of today.” Paul tells his wife.
I will go in alone; I know where to look for these books so will be in and out as fast as I can. I do want to get some other books to help with the teaching of the children too. We can’t forget that they will still need an education when we are settled. I do need some books to be able to teach them with.” Sandra is very emphatic about the need for books and there is no dissuading her from her self-appointed task.
We arrange for Paul to stand outside the library as receiver and watcher over his wife while she is in there. Paul will be able to get the books from Sandra, pile them up and also keep watch over the building. It is the best we can do under the circumstances.
“Paul, do not go in alone if anything goes wrong. Get help as fast as you can, but don’t try to do it alone mate.” Rhys says and Paul nods his head in agreement. We have learned a lesson from last night and today that none of us will ever forget.
Krystal and I are to take over at the tent hospital at 2am so we decide to rest as much as we can and head off to our tents to sleep for a couple of hours. The others sit around the fire talking quietly. No more sleeping under the stars for us for the time being. Tents and tarpaulins had been found and erected during the day. A little comfort for us at last and some shelter from the sun and the rain too.
I must have slept, though I felt as if I had just closed my eyes, when Carrie one of the other nurses came to wake me for my shift. My eyes are gritty from the dust and my muscles scream at me as I roll from my sleeping bag and head off across the hill to the hospital
“Time to conclude this meeting for the night folks. We meet back here after dinner tomorrow night. Until then keep working on your tasks, look after each other and as Jenn has just said, No one will be left behind!” His voice rises on the last part of the statement, but there are smiles and hands clapping in approval.
The group breaks up into smaller groups, all wearily walking back down the hill towards the campsite. The committee stand quietly by and watch as they go. Dennis and Carmel have joined us to pick up the paperwork I had ready to list our exodus group.
Gavin sighs as he watches our friends walk down the hill. “We are leaving so much of our pasts behind here; I do know how hard it is going to be for most of these folk. Some of them have never been more than a few miles from Smithtown during their whole lives.” He speaks quietly so that we all have to lean in to hear his gentle words.
“I think we had better call it a night.” Gavin says. Hugs and smiles were exchanged amongst the group and we all then headed back down the hill to the camp site.
Chapter 16
We settle Caren and the other children when we get back to the tents. I then sit by the fire with the other adults. Conversation is limited during this quiet time as we all need to think and plan. Sandra makes tea for everyone in a billy can over the fire. Nothing like a cup of billy tea in the quiet of the night, the only sounds that we can hear above the crackling of the gum logs as they burn are the quiet chirps of crickets and the occasional sonar beep of the fruit bats as they head into town on their nightly raid.
Sandra looks up at the fruit bats as they fly overhead and sighs. “We really have to do something about getting what fresh fruit and vegetables we can ready for the journey. The non-fiction part of the library has stood up so far, so I am going to go in and get any books I can on preserving, drying and keeping things for longer periods.”
“What a great idea, Sandra. I hope you will be careful though. I am not sure how strong the rest of that building is and we don’t want a repeat of today.” Paul tells his wife.
I will go in alone; I know where to look for these books so will be in and out as fast as I can. I do want to get some other books to help with the teaching of the children too. We can’t forget that they will still need an education when we are settled. I do need some books to be able to teach them with.” Sandra is very emphatic about the need for books and there is no dissuading her from her self-appointed task.
We arrange for Paul to stand outside the library as receiver and watcher over his wife while she is in there. Paul will be able to get the books from Sandra, pile them up and also keep watch over the building. It is the best we can do under the circumstances.
“Paul, do not go in alone if anything goes wrong. Get help as fast as you can, but don’t try to do it alone mate.” Rhys says and Paul nods his head in agreement. We have learned a lesson from last night and today that none of us will ever forget.
Krystal and I are to take over at the tent hospital at 2am so we decide to rest as much as we can and head off to our tents to sleep for a couple of hours. The others sit around the fire talking quietly. No more sleeping under the stars for us for the time being. Tents and tarpaulins had been found and erected during the day. A little comfort for us at last and some shelter from the sun and the rain too.
I must have slept, though I felt as if I had just closed my eyes, when Carrie one of the other nurses came to wake me for my shift. My eyes are gritty from the dust and my muscles scream at me as I roll from my sleeping bag and head off across the hill to the hospital
Similar Books
