Daniel heaved the spade into the ground. His blistered hands gripped tighter as he hurled another pile of mud over his aching shoulder. Streaks of sweat dripped from his face, the taste of salt and soil seeping into his mouth. He paused to wipe his brow, sniggering to himself as he looked around – the blokes were as black as the earth they were shovelling, matching the men they deemed beneath them. He guessed it didn’t matter what colour you were when there were trenches to be dug.
At least they’re allowing me this. Though it didn’t count for much when every man on the isthmus had been asked to dig. In the last few days, he’d worked with Chinese and Australians, Salamauans and Europeans – all the men alike in their desire to protect their home. He was still waiting to hear from Mr McKenzie about the NGVR. Daniel was furious the Aussies were making it so difficult; he needed to be doing something. His hands were itching to work as he tried to mask the shame that leached from his skin. So long as he could help, he wouldn’t feel so disgusted with himself for betraying Amelia, for writing that letter pretending he didn’t care.
When he wasn’t digging, he was flying evacuation flights to Moresby. Hundreds of women and children had already gone. He secretly hoped that Amelia would be on one of his flights, but suspected Mr McKenzie had rostered him so that would never eventuate. He took solace in their last encounter together, hoping it’d be enough to sustain him for whatever was to come, though it was getting harder as he witnessed the distress of the women leaving, sobbing as they clutched onto their husbands who stood strong. Daniel could see through the men’s veneer – the way they held their wives and children, as if there was nothing more important than that final embrace. An embrace that Amelia deserved … that he could still give her.
Mr McKenzie would never have to know.
He chucked the spade into the trench and hurried to the hospital. Evelyn was hunched over a patient, diligently changing his bandage, the smell of rotting flesh causing Daniel’s stomach to lurch. He held a hand to his mouth while Evelyn’s face remained placid, her years of experience shining through. While a part of Daniel wished Amelia could stay like Evelyn, it was reassuring to know she’d be far away from here and whatever the Japanese would do.
“Evelyn,” he muttered through his hand.
She looked up at the sound of his voice, surprise on her face. “Daniel? What are you doing here?”
“I need to find Amelia,” he mumbled.
Evelyn glanced at the wound, then back up at him. “Wounds can turn quickly up here.” He tried not to look at the pus oozing out of the patient’s leg as Evelyn delicately picked debris from it. She squeezed the man’s hand, her natural ability to comfort others a reassuring thought for Daniel. “I thought you’d spoken to her?”
“No.”
“But that’s what my father said. He told me you two said goodbye yesterday.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened, the smell of flesh no longer worrying him. “That’s not true. He asked me not to see her. To end things.”
Evelyn bit her lip, before looking back to the patient and applying iodine. The man winced as the liquid stained his flesh orange. She patted it with gauze and wrapped it with a fresh cloth.
“Where is she, Evelyn?”
Evelyn clutched the side of the patient’s bed, unwilling to meet Daniel’s eye. Daniel had always liked Evelyn, found her presence to be reassuring, especially when he felt anything but assured, though her behaviour in that moment was far from assuring.
Her eyes were wet when she finally said, “He promised me that he’d let you two say goodbye. That was our deal to get her on that plane. I even forwent my goodbye so there weren’t any last-minute delays …”
The back of Daniel’s throat burned, acid rising up as he waited for Evelyn to say the unthinkable words.
“She’s gone,” Evelyn finally managed. “On the last flight out of Lae this morning …” her voice trailed off, but Daniel couldn’t bear the burden of Evelyn’s sadness; the weight of his own despair was too heavy.
Amelia was gone, and he had no idea if he’d ever see her again.
Daniel resumed his duties in the trenches, mindlessly shovelling dirt to distract himself from the real pain he felt, his insides sunken like a hollowed-out punching bag. And it was all his own fault for bowing down to Mr McKenzie’s demands when he should’ve fought harder for that goodbye, should’ve insisted to the Scotsman that it was the best thing for Amelia. Instead, he’d cowered, weakened by the white man who held all the power. Daniel had a mind to confront him, tell him of the pain he’d caused, but he still needed Mr McKenzie’s help with the NGVR, and while he’d love to put the man in his place, there was too much at stake.
The trench Daniel was digging was parallel to the runway, and he glanced up to see a Junker landing. He wondered what it was doing here – until he saw Mr and Mrs McKenzie disembark, and a surge of hope rushed through him. But he stiffened as they approached.
Mrs McKenzie’s lip curled in contempt. “Where is she?” she spat in an accusatory tone. “Where are you hiding her?”
Daniel wiped the sweat from his brow. “Where am I hiding who?”
Mrs McKenzie bent down and pointed a finger in Daniel’s face. “Don’t play dumb with me, boi. I know you two hatched a plan so she could stay. Don’t you know it’s illegal for a Kanaka to be with a white woman? I’ll have you arrested!” She was breathing heavily, the normally composed woman apparently losing all control.
“I … I’ve been here, digging, for hours.” Daniel shifted his gaze to Mr McKenzie, suddenly worried. In New Guinea, sexual intercourse between a white woman and a black man who were not married to each other was an offence for both. But if Mrs McKenzie was to have Daniel arrested, then she’d have to have Amelia arrested too. Surely she’d never do that. “I don’t know what she’s talking about, sir. I haven’t spoken to Amelia, like we agreed.” Daniel looked away, a flush of shame overcoming him again.
“Then it appears she’s acted on her own accord, Ruth,” Mr McKenzie said as he pressed his fingers to his brow. “Silly lass. Going to get herself killed by the Kukukuku before the Japs even get here.”
“Kukukuku?” Daniel replied as he climbed out of the trench, realising he looked a mess compared with them, but he hardly cared. “Where did she go?”
“She took off in her Moth—”
“What about the letter? Didn’t it work?”
“Evidently not.”
Daniel exhaled, relieved Amelia couldn’t be so easily fooled. And yet he’d still written the thing, his betrayal likely to break her heart.
Mr McKenzie looked around, then ran to the hangars, and Daniel followed, a tentative smile forming on his face. Amelia wasn’t gone yet; he still had a chance. He could explain himself, how Mr McKenzie forced his hand …
“She isn’t here,” Daniel said.
“Isn’t she?” Mr McKenzie replied as they turned the corner into the last hangar. Amelia’s Moth rested inside. The smile grew on Daniel’s face, but was quickly wiped away when Mr McKenzie glared at him.
“Tell me where she is,” Mr McKenzie demanded.
“I … I don’t know, sir,” Daniel stammered, wishing he knew how to express himself better. “I briefly went to the hospital. She must’ve landed then.”
Mr McKenzie steadied his breath. “Amelia needs to get to Moresby in order to meet the Katoomba before it sails tomorrow. Ruth, go ahead with Sofia. We’ll look for Amelia and I’ll fly her myself. She couldn’t have gone far … the bloody isthmus is only so big.” He turned to Daniel and with a contemptuous stare said, “Find her and you’ll get your goodbye.”
Daniel’s breath was bottled in his chest, a floating sensation taking hold. He would get his goodbye, be able to make things right, and still fight to protect his home. He exhaled as he started to think of all the places she might be, his feet ready to run to the one place he knew to go.
“But Daniel,” Mr McKenzie added before Daniel could leave. “If you don’t bring her to me, then remember this.” He paused, eyes full of disdain. “I won’t do a thing to get you into the NGVR. And I’ll make sure you never fly in New Guinea again.”