He awoke several hours later.
With his pants still around his ankles, Ash sat upright and frantically began to fix his clothing. A rush of blood to his head left him spinning. Fighting through the dizziness, Ash placed a palm over his forehead and tried to collect his thoughts.
He found Ivy sleeping beside him. She too was half naked.
During yet another act of treachery, he’d allowed Ivy to climb onto his body and dominate him. Memories of their romp left him in regret.
Maybe he truly had lost his fight.
Ash had crossed more lines than he cared to keep track of, and now he was too far down the wrong path to turn back now.
Once dressed, Ash stood and looked out the window. The mainland was in view. Before long, they would be making port at Airlie Beach.
Nerves were taking hold. He had no idea what to expect on their arrival.
Ash felt a hand fall over his shoulder, slowly sliding down his arm in a gentle caress. Ivy had awoken.
“We literally screwed ourselves to sleep,” she crooned, followed by a low chuckle.
Ash made no comment. Pushing through the awkwardness, he busied himself in the control room, emptying out draws and cupboards as he looked for useful resources.
Apart from a first-aid kit, he found nothing much at all.
Ivy had followed him. She stood, leaning in the doorway.
“How long were we out for?” she asked.
Ash checked the time, and tapped Morse by stamping his foot on the deck.
Maybe an hour. I can see the mainland.
“Shit, that was quick. How much longer before we make port?”
Not long. Soon.
She fell into silence, but only momentarily.
“Do you think it’s safe? I mean, you know, docking at Airlie Beach?”
Your guess is as good as mine.
For the remainder of the journey, Ash kept to himself. He searched every inch of the boat for other helpful supplies, consciously trying to distract himself from the heavy thoughts weighing down his mind.
On the horizon, there was an ominous glow of light; a distinct orange haze as if the sky had suddenly turned to rust. Panic seized him. Ash could almost smell traces of smoke and the unwelcomed stench of burning debris.
The boat precariously rolled over choppy waves. When their destination was finally in plain view, Ash knew they could not go any further.
He took to the controls and cancelled the remainder of the trip.
Bringing the boat to a halt, he flipped it into reverse. Ash backed the boat behind a headland in an attempt to conceal the vessel before it could be spotted.
Ivy felt the abrupt change of direction.
“Hey, what are you doing?” she asked. “What do you see?”
Airlie Beach is not safe.
“What the hell do you mean?”
Brits. Everywhere. They will kill us.
The main ports were swarming with British soldiers. Flags bearing the Union Jack had been erected from one side of the beach to the other, boasting of the takeover. Boats and yachts that had previously belonged to Australians had been commandeered and reclaimed, and Ash was still travelling in one of them.
If Ash and Ivy dared to make port, no doubt they’d be arrested – or possibly killed – on the spot. With the blood of two fallen soldiers on his hands, Ash would be foolish to think there would be no repercussions for his actions.
When the boat was hidden by the headland, Ash closed his eyes and tried to envisage his next move. Ash would have no choice but to keep a low profile for a while, and with that thought it mind, he began manually driving the boat closer to the headland. He spied a quiet beach, mainly made up of rocks, conveniently tucked away from view.
Ivy hadn’t stopped asking questions, but she was just background noise to him right now – reaching the shore unscathed was his only priority.
Ash edged the boat towards the beach and dropped anchor just twenty metres behind the breaking waves.
Swimming to shore would be relatively easy, but bringing his belongings would be a greater challenge. Ash had collected a large number of supplies, many of which could not get wet. By luck, he found an inflatable life raft on board, which self-inflated the second he opened it from its box. He carefully placed all the items inside and then dragged it to the end of the boat.
Tapping his foot on the ground, he instructed Ivy to get in the water and help pull the raft over the edge. She complied.
Once in the water, Ivy pulled on the life raft while Ash pushed. After several delicate manoeuvres, the life raft gently dipped down and then floated. Ivy held onto the side of the raft as she waited for Ash’s next instruction.
Before abandoning the vessel, he ducked into the control room and erased his fingerprint details from the touchpads. He knew his fingerprints were probably littered from one end of the boat to the other, but even so, it brought him peace of mind.
Finally, Ash picked up his swag and the shotgun and stepped to the end of the boat. He tossed the rest of his belongings into the life raft and then dropped into the ocean. He splashed down beside Ivy.
“Where are we going?” she cried.
Ash was not in a position to communicate, so he hoped she’d just go along with him. He tapped her on the shoulder and then hit the life raft, as if telling her to hold on tight. Ash then grabbed the other end of the life raft and dragged it along as he tried to swim for the shore.
Shifting the life raft over rolling waves was tough – and it came close to capsizing several times – but Ash and Ivy managed to lunge it forward. The whitewash pushed it ahead of them, before making landfall on the beach.
Ash and Ivy followed behind, officially stepping foot on the Australian east coast.
Somewhere in his subconscious, he was revelling in the fact he had now reached the mainland – after so many weeks of uncertainty – but Ash had to keep moving. Although the beach was secluded and barren, it would not be safe for them to stay put. Ash pulled the life raft further onto the sand and picked up his swag and shotgun.
Clapping his hands, he gave Ivy another instruction.
We made it. We must find shelter. You must carry supplies.
“But where the hell are we?” she snapped, panic-stricken.
He didn’t have the time or patience to go through the finer details.
Trust me.
Ash half expected her to demand a more direct answer, but she didn’t – perhaps this time his word was enough.
Beyond the rocky beach, was a steep incline cluttered with towering trees. Ash knew it would be easy to conceal themselves in the bush land, but hiking off the beaten track meant they would be susceptible to the hidden dangers within. Not to mention the possibility of getting lost – and Ash had no desire to survive the harsh wilderness for a second time.
However, it truly was their only option considering there were swarms of British troops just a few kilometres away.
Ash used Ivy’s knife to deflate the life raft, and then he bunched it together as he secured the contents inside. He then handed it to Ivy. She carried it over her shoulder, without complaints.
He began walking along the beach. She followed. They trudged up the hill and through bush land, feeling like they were endlessly walking in circles.
At last, they stumbled out onto a new terrain – a paved road.
Ivy felt the change beneath her feet.
“Hold on, where are we now?” she asked.
A road. Somewhere.
“You’ll have to be more specific, Ash. You’re my bearings right now,” she said. “Give me the road names and a direction. Maybe then I’ll be able to navigate us somewhere safe.”
Ash knew they were travelling in a south-easterly direction, but he couldn’t see a single street name or sign, but the road was eerily quiet. After mentally weighing up the dangers, he continued on down the road. They walked for ten or so minutes until they spotted a lone double-storey house on the horizon.
Ash took cover, pulling Ivy into line with him. Before she could speak, he covered a hand over her mouth and held it there. She didn’t even struggle. Soon enough, Ash let go and then risked a peep around the corner towards the house.
He stared, trying to detect movement, but there was nothing.
Keen for a closer inspection, Ash tapped a hand on Ivy’s shoulder as if telling her to follow him.
“What do you see?” she whispered.
Ash gave no reply. He gave his shotgun a pump and then held it out in front. Cautiously, he made his way over to the property. It was almost hidden amongst strikingly beautiful trees bearing bright purple flowers. There was also a flashy car parked outside the garage and freshly trimmed hedges lined the driveway. However, the front door was hanging on one loose hinge; dangling in the breeze with only a few screws keeping it from dropping off completely.
Edging nearer, Ash held his breath as he started up the pathway towards the house. Ivy, only a few paces behind, almost tripped over her own feet.
He stopped, half expecting somebody to appear, but the house remained still. Ash continued on his way until he reached the front door. He looked inside, gazing down the corridor to see furniture that had been toppled over and bullet holes in the ceiling.
Ash knocked. He waited. No response.
“Ash?” uttered Ivy. “What are-?”
He put a finger over her lips, silencing her mid-sentence. Ash then placed a firm hand on her shoulder and tapped out a message as quietly as possible.
We are at a house. Stay here.
Ivy looked like she wanted to dispute it, but after mentally deliberating it, she kept her mouth shut.
Ash then crept inside, scoping each room as he walked through. He checked outside, upstairs, in the bedrooms, bathrooms and then wandered back down the corridor. Satisfied with his find, Ash gave Ivy the all clear. She entered the house and dumped the supplies at the front door.
The house was abandoned, and there had obviously been a scuffle.
Ash couldn’t quite pinpoint the exact time, but he estimated the occupants of the house hadn’t been home in quite a few days. A stale cucumber and tomato sandwich had been left rotting on the kitchen table, chairs had been flung from one side of the house to the other and there were even a few shell casings left carelessly on the ground.
There was an overwhelming amount of evidence to suggest that the occupants of the house had left quite abruptly, and probably against their will.
Ash tried to flick on the lights, but the room remained darkened. He tried a few other lamps and appliances but none of them worked either. Ash then raided the fridge. It was clear the power had been switched off, as the contents of the fridge had been laid to waste. His stomach grumbled in pain at the very sight of spoiled food.
He checked the kitchen’s pantry next and bingo – plenty of canned goods. He ripped open a can of sweet corn soup and knocked it back – stone cold – but he’d never tasted anything so great in all his life. Ash then tore the lid off another one and handed it to Ivy. She gave the tinned soup a whiff and scrunched up her nose, but still drank it down.
Looking to quench his thirst, Ash wandered over to the kitchen sink. He turned on the taps. No water. Fortunately, there were cans of soft drink in the pantry. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
Just as he grabbed two cans, Ivy finally broke her silence,
“Can you please tell me what the hell is going on now?” she cried, not caring to keep a civil tone. “Where are we? What are we doing here?”
Although fatigue pulled him in all directions, Ash knew he owed her an explanation. He guided her towards the kitchen table, pulled out a chair and helped Ivy to her seat. He then tapped on the table top,
Give me 5 minutes. I will be back.
As communicating to Ivy using Morse had grown tiresome, Ash was certain he could find another way to speak with her. After all, most handheld electronics contained language translators these days.
He dashed up the stairs and raided the bedrooms. In the front room he found a palm-sized tablet lying by a bedside table. He tried the power button. The device came to life and it had more than eighty percent of its battery remaining. Better yet, the tablet required no facial recognition or thumbprint to gain access. He unlocked the device and inspected the software.
Ash found exactly what he was looking for – a text to audio converter.
He returned downstairs and took a seat opposite Ivy at the kitchen table. After fiddling about with the touchpad, Ash typed in a brief message and hit the enter key.
“Hello, Ivy,” said the device.
Her reaction was instant. Her lips turned up into a smile.
“Thank fuck,” she exclaimed, still grinning. “I was getting bloody tired of interpreting your codes.”
Ash keyed in another reply,
“Agreed. I found a Skye-Scroll tablet upstairs. I can use this device to talk to you from now on.”
“Great. You don’t have to talk so posh now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind. Just – can you do something about the voice? It has a weird accent. Surely you’re able to customise it?”
The voice, by default, sounded British. Ash logged into the settings and scrolled through a number of vocal tones, and then selected the male Australian accent. Ash gave it a test run, and Ivy approved.
“Now that we’re talking, care to tell me where the hell we are?” she began.
“We’re a few kilometres from Airlie Beach,” said the device. “Once we made landfall, we walked through bush land and came to a road. The road then led us here to an abandoned house. We should be safe here for a while.”
“Hold on, how do you know the house is abandoned?”
Ash explained in further detail. Ivy’s smile fell into a frown.
“We can’t stay here then,” she said. “It sounds like somebody raided this house, namely, British troops. What if the troops come back? They’ll slaughter us.”
“If they’ve raided the house once, I see no reason for them to return.”
“We need to call somebody. There’s bound to be somebody that can help us.”
“There is no power in the house, or running water. It’s already late in the afternoon, so we will stay here for the night and then find a more suitable hideout first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Hideout? I don’t want to hide like a coward,” she snapped, insulted. “I want to fight. If those Pommy bastards have invaded us, we need to retaliate.”
“Ivy, you are in no state to fight. A British soldier almost killed you today. If I hadn’t intervened, you would be dead.”
She slammed a hand down on the table.
“So, what-? Are you saying we should sit back and accept it?”
“No. First we need to assess the situation. If we jump the gun, we won’t stand a chance.”
Ivy wanted to dispute it, but kept her mouth shut. They sat silently for a minute or two, before Ash attempted to break through the awkwardness.
“Hungry? I’ll serve up an early dinner.”
Ivy nodded and pulled off her sunglasses. She sat at the kitchen table as Ash brought over a number of canned goods. They ate, gratefully indulging until they couldn’t eat another bite. Ash then raided a cupboard in the hallway and found a box of matches and a collection of unused candles.
They would come in handy during the indefinite blackout.
Although the sun would still be up for another hour or so, Ash was ready to call it a night. He cleared the kitchen table – not that there was any reason for manners – and led Ivy upstairs. He guided her to the front room.
“You can sleep here,” said Ash’s device as he typed in the message. “Goodnight.”
Ash began walking away.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“There is another bedroom down the hall.”
“Can’t you just stay with me?” she asked, abruptly. “I mean, we’re hardly strangers anymore.”
Ash wanted to say no. Their fling earlier today had been a lapse of judgement on his part and had left him wallowing in regret.
However, for the time being – she was all he had.
“OK. I’ll stay,” he replied, and then placed down the Skye-Scroll tablet on the bedside table.
He also set up candles around the room to give them a few flickers of light. Ivy then pulled off layers of her clothing and felt her hands along the walls until she found the bed. She claimed one side and Ash reluctantly took the other.
From the bed, he could see an ensuite to the left of him. Ash desperately craved a fresh shower, but without running water, he would have to wait a little longer.
Before long, Ivy flung an arm around Ash and tried to pull him into an embrace. His body wanted to fight it, but his mind forced him to save face.
As the sun began to set, the sky plunged into darkness. The candles gave the room an amber glow, so romantically clichéd, but Ivy would never see it.
Although he was exhausted, sleep would not come. Ivy, however, peacefully dozed off in no time at all. Ash remained wide-awake as he tried to consider his options. He wanted nothing more than to re-join the Royal Marines. Ash wanted to put the last few weeks behind him and help his army win the war.
But alas, it was so much easier said than done.
In due time Ash would have to go his separate way and leave Ivy behind. He’d been kind enough to let her live and that was more than she probably deserved.
However, Ivy would always be the loose end.
Ash had been stupid enough to give her his real name when they first met. Although Ivy had never seen his face, his name would always lead to his peril. Ash had made a string of thoughtless errors, and the longer he stayed with her, the greater the risk.
Ivy nestled her head into his chest. After a few minutes, Ash gently rolled her off him and stared up at the ceiling.
He tried to sleep, but the demons played on his mind for hours.