Mud sucked at their feet, making the trek in the pitch-black night all the harder. The track was a quagmire from the pouring rain that’d refused to cease since the first droplets had fallen earlier that evening while they were burying Kevin. Daniel had shivered as they lowered his body into the wet ground, even though the air was sticky with heat. He was pleased the lad would at least have a spectacular view of the Huon Gulf as his final resting place, though doubted that would mean much to his wife and children.
At least they’d given Kevin a proper send-off. Would anyone think to do that for him? Amelia would, but without being his wife, what right would she have to lay claim to his final resting place, especially if she was in Australia and he was here? He shook his head and told himself to stop thinking such morbid thoughts – he was alive and so was she … that’s all that mattered. And she was getting out, no thanks to him, but at least there was a plan. He hoped the Japanese didn’t land before they were able to see it through. A report had come through that Kieta had been taken too. Without a coast guard stationed at Salamaua, who knew if the Japanese were within range of the isthmus? And with all the aircraft destroyed, walking really was the only way out, even if the conditions were near impossible.
He squinted through the blinding rain, trying to determine whether Amelia was struggling as she walked ahead of him. She’d never admit it outright, her pride sometimes getting the better of her. It’d hurt that she couldn’t even convey her feelings to him after the raid, and that she’d been so easily comforted by her father when Daniel’s words had seemed to fall short. He needed to get through to her, to find that connection again, like they had in the hut, before everything had turned to shit. Who knew how much time they had left?
“Meels,” he said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the track. A branch scratched at his leg as a line of men marched past, their bodies outlined in the blackened night. He was glad it was near impossible to see, not wanting any prying eyes on them. “You need to talk to me.”
“I don’t need to do anything, Daniel,” she replied, voice hard to hear as the rain fell against the leaves. “My father will have a fit if he discovers I’m no longer behind him.”
Daniel clenched his jaw. She was worse than before; there was a clear shift in her mood that he couldn’t put a finger on. He wiped the rain from his face and said, “Fine. But when we stop, we need to talk.”
“Stop telling me what to do, too,” she said, before falling back in line with the men.
Daniel let out a heavy sigh. What had changed so dramatically between them? Obviously, the attack had rattled her in a way she was finding hard to shake, but shouldn’t grief and fear bring two people together, rather than pull them apart? And if she wouldn’t turn to him, then who was Daniel supposed to turn to? He had no one without Amelia.
They arrived at Butu in the early morning, the local villagers welcoming them with curious looks as they set up camp, no doubt wondering why more than a hundred men and two women were suddenly thrust upon their village. The white man, or “waitman”, was only seen a few times a year by visiting Administration men called Kiaps, who were assigned to administer the law Niuginians were to abide by as part of the Mandated Territory. So to be suddenly bombarded by more than a hundred of them must’ve been baffling, especially after the attacks. They were supposed to be the ones in charge – and here they were, fleeing.
Daniel tried to reassure the villagers by offering a warm smile, but he still felt the intense scrutiny in their eyes, as if he was the strangest component of it all, his non-conforming skin colour rearing its ugly head again. But with the Japanese on their heels, all that mattered now was getting Amelia to safety. He took a moment to wipe the mud from his face and body, thankful the rain had cleared, even if the humidity had risen in its wake, and went off in search of Amelia. He found her instantly; spotting a woman amidst a hundred men was like finding gold in Edie Creek. But when he realised who she was speaking to, he couldn’t help but stiffen.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Tom said as Daniel approached. Tom was wearing a clean white shirt and khaki shorts, with white knee socks that didn’t have a speck of mud on them.
“Tom. Where did you come from?” Daniel replied, trying to hide the shock in his voice. He hadn’t once thought of his brother after the attack, which he couldn’t help but feel ashamed about. Even if he hated the bloke, he was the only family Daniel had.
Tom refused to look at Daniel, saying to Amelia instead, “I was with the last group who arrived from Lae. We left Salamaua not long after you. The bois helped me find the way.” He turned his head to a group of locals who were resting nearby, mud slicked across their bodies.
Daniel scratched his chin, wondering if the “boys” had carried Tom, which would account for his immaculate appearance. He glanced at Amelia, who looked as if she was thinking the same thing, brows furrowed in suspicion.
“What’s the word in Lae?” Amelia asked. “Was it as badly hit as Salamaua?”
Tom spat in the mud. “They came in pretty hard, the dirty bastards, thrashing away at the town as if it were theirs to take. The aerodrome was hit badly, the Guinea Airways dispensary and powerhouse were flattened, their aircraft and hangars too. Everyone bar the NGVR evacuated up Markham road. I wanted to check what happened at Salamaua but when I got there the remaining NGVR told me you’d left. I would’ve gone back to Lae, but the Administration decided to destroy it.”
Amelia gasped. “What do you mean, destroy?”
“Scorched-earth policy,” Tom said casually. Daniel carved his hands through his hair, knowing what that meant, but Tom provided an explanation anyway. “The Administration said to burn it all, to leave nothing for the Japs in case they land. It’s gone … all of it.”
Amelia pressed her hand to her mouth, while Daniel shook his head, the thought of Lae being burned to the ground hard to fathom. At least there were parts of Salamaua still intact: the hospital and hotel, and several of the houses and trade stores, which meant there was still a chance of reclaiming it if the Aussies could get enough soldiers back in time. But if the Administration thought it best to burn Lae, then there really mustn’t be any hope for an eventual return.
“Was that McNicoll’s idea?” Daniel asked.
Tom continued to look at Amelia, whose face had blanched. “McNicoll’s gone. Evacuated out of Lae yesterday due to ill health. He left his deputy, Melrose, in charge.”
Daniel released the grip on his hair, not willing to believe it. They really had been abandoned by the Aussies, left to navigate themselves through a dangerous land with the threat of the enemy beating down their necks. Who would help them now?
Mr McKenzie approached, Evelyn in step behind him.
“Right,” Mr McKenzie said, instantly commanding the group’s attention. Tom and Amelia turned towards him. “I’ve spoken to Melrose, and the plan is for the young and fit to head up the range to Wau with Penglase, while the elderly and sick will be led by Melrose down the coast to Buna, then inland to Kokoda airfield for evacuation.”
Daniel exhaled. While he was angry with Mr McKenzie for forcing his hand, at least the man knew how to take charge and get things done, which was exactly what they needed.
“So, then we’ll head up to Wau with you?” Amelia asked.
“Afraid not,” Evelyn replied in lieu of her father. She was dishevelled from the trek, loose strands of hair sticking out of her bun and streaks of mud slicked across her arms. Stepping forward so she was in line with Mr McKenzie, she added, “The sick men will need us on the journey to Kokoda.”
Mr McKenzie squeezed Amelia’s shoulder and added, “Aye, lass. The trek up the Black Cat is much too difficult for those who aren’t young and healthy, which is why we need you and Evelyn to accompany them down the coast. It’ll be much more comfortable for you all.”
Amelia glanced at Daniel. He held her gaze but was unsure of what his eyes would convey. Mr McKenzie’s plan was logical. A clear division of the group would be easier to manage and prevent them from being detected by the Japanese, and yet he knew what that division would mean for the two of them. He was young and fit, and she was needed to care for the sick.
Yet Amelia wouldn’t concede so easily. She looked back to her father and asked, “Why don’t we all go to Kokoda together, then?”
“I need to find out what state Wau is in,” Mr McKenzie replied. “I lost my entire fleet at Salamaua. Who knows what’s happened up in the Highlands. We can’t get much off the wireless, except reports of the occasional Jap sighting. Bulolo was attacked in the raids, but we should be able to fly out of Wau.”
“I don’t want to leave you, Dad,” Amelia said, voice cracking. Daniel’s heart twisted, wishing she’d said his name instead of her father’s.
“Aye, lass,” Mr McKenzie replied as he pulled Amelia to his chest. “But the trek is much too difficult for the lads who are sick. They need you and your sister, and I don’t need you fighting me on this one.”
Amelia nodded and left it at that, which surprised Daniel a little, but he didn’t have time to dwell on her behaviour.
He pulled his shoulders back and stepped forward to say, “Sir, what do you need me to do?”
Mr McKenzie met his eye. “Help Silas and the boys divide the materials. Both parties will need adequate supplies to make the journey. The injured will leave for Laukanu this afternoon.”
Daniel’s heart sank. He now knew how long he had with Amelia. A matter of hours. He swallowed and offered a curt nod in return.
“So … so soon?” Amelia replied, voice wobbling.
Mr McKenzie scratched his beard, puffing out his cheeks as he expelled the air from his chest. “I know, lass, but it’s no longer safe here – for any of us, men included. We need to get you and your sister out before it’s too late. But not to fret, Tom will be with you.”
Daniel jerked his head back. “Tom?” He fixed his gaze on his brother, who was standing there with a smug look on his face.
“I … I was injured in the raid,” Tom said, still unwilling to meet Daniel’s eye. “That’s why the natives had to carry me here. George agrees I should be evacuated with the other injured men.”
“You don’t look injured to me,” Daniel said with a snarl.
Tom scowled, finally meeting Daniel’s eye. “What would you know, Danny boi?”
“More than you.”
“It’s fine, Daniel,” Amelia interjected, grabbing his forearm and squeezing, but Daniel snatched it away. He stepped towards Tom, who cut him off.
“You think you’re so clever,” Tom said, head tilting to the side. “A Kanaka who thinks he’s white. Well, think again, boi, because you’re not.”
“That’s enough, lads,” Mr McKenzie interrupted, voice firm. “Your father would be ashamed of your behaviour, especially in a time like this. I’ve agreed Tom can go with the injured men, while Daniel will come with me to Wau. If there are any planes left up there, I’ll need a good pilot to fly them out.”
Daniel glared at Tom for another moment before turning on his heel and storming off, not even bothering to relish the compliment Mr McKenzie had paid him.
“There you are,” Amelia said as she walked up behind Daniel. He was at the edge of the village, fiddling with the packs of stores that would see Amelia and the injured men through the next several weeks as they made their way up the Morobean coast to Buna. It was harsh territory: croc- and mosquito-infested swamplands with long stretches of exposed beach. The group would have to be mindful of not only the elements, but also the threat of Japanese planes flying overhead, especially when they didn’t have the jungle for protection. He wanted to make sure she had everything she needed to make the trip as comfortable as possible, though didn’t know why he was even bothering, since she had Tom to look after her.
Looking over his shoulder, he offered a half smile. “Here I am,” he said as he shoved a raincoat into the pack.
She hovered next to him, biting her fingernails. Daniel opened his mouth, but wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Amelia shifted on her feet, glancing over her shoulder, before finally taking a seat on a patch of grass opposite him. She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them, biting on her lip as she spun a blade of grass between her fingers. A symphony of insects hummed, the only noise between the two of them. She cleared her throat, as if she was going to speak, but no words came.
“I guess we better say goodbye,” Daniel finally offered, trying to break the pulsating tension.
“I’m surprised you want to,” Amelia muttered, gaze still set on the grass.
Daniel tensed. “Why would you say that? Look at the lengths I went to before the raid.”
Amelia looked up. “The lengths you went to? I ran away from my parents so I could see you. Look how much good that’s done me now.”
“You couldn’t have known what was going to happen.”
“No. But I still risked it. You can hardly say the same.”
Daniel flinched, skin tightening. Does she know?
“Why didn’t you tell me my father offered you a place in the NGVR in return for ending things with me?”
She does. Daniel looked away. “I’m sorry, Meels. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
The silence between them stretched on again, the lack of words screeching in Daniel’s ear, like fingernails scraping a chalkboard. He wanted to offer an explanation, to help her understand why he’d betrayed her, but everything he could think of fell short.
“Right, then. I guess I’d better go,” Amelia said as she stood.
Daniel swallowed, throat choking as he tried to think of suitable words. Were they really going to leave it like this? Amelia stared at him, eyes pleading, desperate for recognition of her pain, but he didn’t know how to express himself; his thoughts were muddled. She offered a slow nod – as if she understood that nothing was coming from Daniel’s pathetic mouth – and turned to leave.
“You know …” she said, stopping short. “I don’t regret what happened before the raid. Everything we shared leading up to it, and what … what we did in the hut.” She paused, as if she was remembering that moment, before saying, “But something changed in me when those Zeros swooped in. A realisation of how selfish I’d been. My parents don’t deserve that. No matter how awful my mother can be, she deserves for her daughter to respect her enough to leave when she’s asked. And my father definitely didn’t deserve to worry about whether I’d been killed or not, and certainly doesn’t deserve the stress I’ve now added to the situation. I … I’m lucky he’s even alive.” Her voice choked on the last word.
Daniel rose, ready to comfort her, but she stopped him by adding, “I love you, Daniel. I always have. I was ready to do anything to preserve that love, to fight until the end to give it a chance. But I’m not so sure anymore. There’s too much uncertainty, not only with the war, but with how you feel about me.”
He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to leave things this way, but he couldn’t find the words to change it. She was right. He’d betrayed her when it mattered most. There was so much uncertainty – not just because of the war, but with Daniel himself. How could he be there for her when he didn’t even know how to be there for himself? “Amelia—”
She put her hand up. “Don’t. It’s easier this way.”
And with that she walked off, turning her back on Daniel, just like everyone else in his life had done.