Chapter 12

Sarge had turned the last page in the last of the books and sat there in the early morning light that was filtering in through the hospital windows. He shook himself as he realised that he had read all night. He turned to see Sarah looking at him with a slight smile. He had no idea had long she had been awake. He wasn’t even aware that a nurse had come in and opened the curtains. Immediately he felt guilty. He had been so wrapped up in his grandfather’s time on an island, that the world around him could have imploded and he wouldn’t have noticed. He rose and walked over to Sarah who slowly removed her oxygen mask and croakily whispered, “What you reading big boy?” her smile widening.

“Something that I will tell you later. I know it’s a stupid question but how are you feeling?” Sarge replied.

“Like shit and I must look like that too,” Sarah said.

This made Sarge feel a bit better because, although Sarah rarely swore and never appeared to care about how she looked, it was a clear signal that she was giving him a message that she was much better.

“How’s Eloise and Katie?” she asked.

“Katie has been worried, but to tell the truth she is loving being with Jess and the twins. As for Eloise, she is doing so much better than you. A thriving gorgeous butterball.” Sarge said proudly.

“Taking after her old man obviously, except for the gorgeous bit. You look exhausted.” Sarah stated.

“Just a tad. Being surrounded by beautiful nurses and them chasing after me has its problems,” Sarge grinned.

“You wish,” Sarah said and looked up at the containers of liquid that were being drip fed into her. “Not happy with the food I’m getting here. Think that I will give this place a low rating. The menu is pretty tasteless. Think you could swap one for some red wine?”

“The more rest you get, the better so if you are a good girl and eat your vegies,” Sarge said pointing to one of the containers, “I’ll give you any special treat you desire.”

“Okay. Can my special treat be holding Eloise?” Sarah said tiredly.

“After your nap you can….” But Sarge never finished the sentence as Sarah’s eyes closed and her breathing resumed the steady rhythm that he’d become used to hearing in the room as she slept.”

Sarge could have done with some sleep himself, but instead made use of the shower in the ensuite and then went to check up on Eloise before going out into gardens outside for some fresh air. He thought that his conversation with Sarah had been the longest he’d had since the birth of Eloise. It had tired her out but it was a sure sign she was getting better. He knew deep down that this was no short-term thing and as he sat down in the warm Cairns sun on a park beneath one of the ubiquitous palms, he decided to ring his boss. Whether it was a good time to call was not even mentioned. The commander at the station had known Sarge for years, knew him well and respected him even more. He would take a call from Sarge even if he was on his death bed. Sarge was not one of those officers who would talk with nothing to say. It was brief simple message Sarge passed on. The commander was not to expect Sarge back into the office for at least a month or maybe longer and therefore some semi-permanent arrangements needed to be made.

Sarge headed for the cafeteria at the hospital and took a plate of mismatched breakfast items to a table. As he munched away at some cereal while he watched his eggs and bacon getting cold, his mind drifted back to what he had read. It all seemed so surreal. His grandfather, as he knew him back on the farm at Croydon, seemed just a shell of the man that had been portrayed in the diaries. He was old, frail and while he was alive very distant not only from his grandchildren, but also from his two sons. Sarge found it hard to equate the two. He couldn’t really imagine his grandfather with a beard and long unkempt hair and certainly not being able to run, swim and take on enemies like the books had said. What Sarge found even more difficult to cope with, was that what he had read was just a brief snapshot of the man. It was told from another man’s perspective and began at a certain point in the life of his grandfather and ended with him still trapped behind enemy lines on an island in the Pacific close to the equator. Frustrated he rang Georgina McWalter on her personal line in New Zealand.

“How’s Sarah?” These were the first words that crackled down the line to Sarge’s ear. He passed on to Georgina what he knew. Sarge laughingly thought as he spoke that there were no state secrets there that the NZSIS could use against the Australian government. He told her of Sarah’s condition and that her recuperation would take quite a while. Not knowing whether her phone was being monitored and aware that she had done something technically illegal, he continued by thanking her for the gift she had sent, saying that it was much appreciated but he would be returning it in a day or so. He asked her if she had the model that came after that one and if so, could he please see it. Without a pause to wonder why Sarge was talking in riddles, she said that she had access to a similar one but not by the same maker and if Sarge wanted to view it she would arrange it to be sent to him. She concluded her cryptic side to the conversation by saying that there was probably more to the collection in New Zealand and she would hunt for things on his behalf. She also said that she was surprised that he was interested in English bone china as much as she was. That threw Sarge completely. Then it dawned on him that she may have been known for her interest in such things and was just covering herself. When they had said their goodbyes, he sat looking at his phone and wondered whether anyone saying anything anywhere was secure. If the head of the Intelligence network in New Zealand couldn’t trust her own phone, then what sort of world were they living in? He sighed as he stood up to head back up towards Sarah’s ward, because he now had two daughters who would be soon caught up in a world where nothing was a secret.

Sarge came up with a plan that he wished he had implemented earlier. He insisted that Eloise now be kept in the room with Sarah. There was some concern expressed by Sarah’s obstetrician saying that Sarah needed lots of rest and that the baby might disturb her. Sarge was a bit more forceful than he normally was with experts who knew a lot more than he did. He raised himself to his full height and said that it was going to happen because Sarah wanted it and her emotional and mental health would help drive her physical recovery. Besides, he pointed out, that he was here and would ensure that he took Eloise out of the room if he felt she was disturbing her mother. He also said that he would take over the feeding, bathing and changing of Eloise. He was her father and had done it before with Katie.

He said that at the moment, Sarah was separated from her daughters and Sarge felt that was slowing her progress. He finished his statement with a challenge by saying to the obstetrician that perhaps Sarah and he would change their specialist if he was not going to accede to his patient’s wishes. Whether it was his physical dominance, his logical analysis, his forthrightness or the obstetrician’s potential embarrassment and loss of some of his fees, Sarah’s obstetrician relented. The eavesdropping nurses didn’t say anything but were inwardly clapping as they thought the separation of mother and baby was hardly ever warranted. The only one who showed any sort of emotion but no-one saw, was Sarah whom everyone assumed was asleep. Her mouthline turned up at both ends and then she fell into a quite contented sleep.

Eloise’s crib was wheeled in and the room set up so that Sarge could manage on his own. The table and office chair had been removed and a comfortable armchair brought in. Sarge was given a refresher course and had some assistance for his first bathing of his new daughter. Gradually over the next couple of days a routine was established. Katie kept up her regular visits and begged to be able to stay longer. That was a bit impractical, but when all four were in the room together, Sarge felt for the first time that his family was complete.

Much of what he had read about his grandfather was sent to the cavernous storage room in the back of his mind, as he dealt with the here and now. His mind was a labyrinth that he had been always been able to successfully navigate most of his life. He was often said to have a photographic memory, but it was more akin to a road map to a variety of storage facilities. All it needed was a starting point and he could find his way. The next starting point arrived in another package from New Zealand. It was addressed to him, this time directly to the hospital. There were a couple of photos and sections of a memoir from a retired and now deceased army officer. Georgina’s letter stated the same terms and conditions as before. The memoir had never been published. Instead it had been held by the NZSIS and needed a number of very senior people to all agree when and if it should be released to the public.

Whenever Sarah and Eloise slept, Sarge slumped into the lounge chair and read.