Ancell's Quest by Tony Main

Author:Tony Main
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784628826
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2015-03-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Misty was floated a safe distance from the shore at high tide on the seventh day, patched but proud once more, and that night her crew slept soundly.

Ancell tossed and turned, worrying whether he would be able to keep up on the following day’s trek and whether his resolve to free the children would hold. He worried too, whether he would lead them all to a sorry end.

Jandamarra was already waiting when the sailors rowed ashore at dawn. Capt. Albern drew Ancell aside.

‘We have paid dearly to bring you this far,’ he said. ‘So follow your dream and do what you are called to do.’

Ancell looked into the sea otter’s pale blue eyes, still clouded with sadness.

‘I wish Truegard were here. He wouldn’t fail you.’

‘Think of Truegard at your side, and neither will you,’ replied the captain.

The Cook wished them good luck, while vaguely looking around for Merrie, and an envious Skeet and Doc wished them well. Tam and Thom embraced silently.

‘No heroics!’ Capt. Albern instructed Chad. ‘I’ll be in trouble if I don’t return you to Miss Strait in one piece.’

‘You bet you will; I owe her three months rent,’ said Chad.

Pickle, Jobey, Waff and Chips waved good-bye, Chips doffing his bowler for the occasion.

Jandamarra walked steadily, picking a path through the scrub without pause. Larren, Thom and Ancell followed in single file. Chad plodded after Ancell, insisting he would not have Larren at his back, and Jandamarra’s two friends carrying food and water brought up the rear. The mid-morning sun beat down before Jandamarra allowed a halt. Ancell, Thom and Chad slumped to the ground, quenching their thirst. Larren stood apart, drinking deeply. The Aborigines took a few sips of water and waited to move on. Ancell was wondering if he dared ask how much further they had to go, when Jandamarra motioned everyone to keep quiet. The Aborigines listened and beckoned the sailors behind an outcrop of rock.

‘We’re being followed,’ whispered Jandamarra, adding sombrely that the sailors left many tracks. Ancell could hear nothing but the thumping of his heart; it was beating so loud he was sure it would give them away. Then Jandamarra sighed with exasperation as Merrie staggered into view. The harvest mouse took a few more steps and collapsed into semi-consciousness. Jandamarra’s friends laid him on a litter fashioned from branches and grasses and Jandamarra held a flask of water to his lips.

‘It’s too late to take him back; we’ll carry him,’ he told Ancell.

The sun burned harder and Ancell began to tire. Head bent, sweat stinging his eyes and covered in the red dust kicked up when he stumbled, he concentrated on keeping up with the blurred figure of Thom ahead. If he looked around he saw only the same scorched wilderness unfolding in every direction, and he wondered how the Aborigines knew where they were going. Just as he thought he could go on no longer, Jandamarra waited by an island of rock and pointed to an opening.

‘We’ll rest here until nightfall,’ he said.

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