The Dog with Seven Names Page 4

  He stroked my head with one gloved hand while I snuffled cold air. The night was clear and I felt Doc’s joy at being in the sky. Like Elsie’s joy when we ran around the sheds together. Then Doc began singing. His voice was deep and sure. As we flew into the darkness, I gave a short accompanying howl. Doc laughed. Being in the sky was amazing.

  Doc’s song grew louder. It was a warm friendly rumble in his chest, right next to my ear. He was singing a throaty human howl to the moon. I rearranged my legs and gave another companionable yowl. Doc laughed again.

  ‘You’re a sweet little thing,’ he said. ‘I wish I could keep you. You’d be good company.’

  I yawned. No one could replace my Elsie, but until I found her, being Doc’s friend could be interesting. I blinked at the stars. They felt closer here. So did Elsie. I snuggled deeper into Doc’s jacket and drifted back to sleep.

  3

  Beth’s Flynn

  Late February 1942

  I dreamt of safety, nestling with my brothers in our birthing box, but then woke to a strange human scent. My paws were squashed. Where was I?

  ‘Hello,’ Doc said as I poked my nose out of his warm jacket. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  We were still in the air. I licked Doc’s chin and he scratched my ears. Then I wriggled, trying to get out. Doc pushed me back.

  ‘Not long to go,’ he muttered. ‘We should see Willoughby’s flares soon.’

  It was the cold, grey time before sunrise. A small map covered Doc’s knees. It crackled as I squirmed.

  ‘Keep still,’ Doc said.

  I tried but being in the sky was too exciting.

  I felt Doc’s feet working the pedals. He pushed levers, shone a torch onto the map and peered ahead while I watched darkness fade.

  ‘Look, there are the flares.’

  Doc dipped the plane’s nose and pointed. I stared past the long wing above us and saw a distant light. Doc moved the stick in front of him and we dropped closer to the ground. Familiar scents tickled my nose. I smelt horses, cattle and smoke. Then I heard human voices. They were calling out to us.

  As the plane circled the airstrip, I saw rows of flames. People were gathered around a truck. Doc’s body braced as our wheels touched the ground, so I braced too. We sped along the airstrip. Then the plane slowed and came to a stop. Doc loosened his zipper and at last I was able to stretch.

  ‘Thanks for coming, Doc,’ a big man yelled. The fires along the airstrip made strange shadows across his face.

  Doc waited for the front propeller to stop turning, then he climbed out. When I tried to follow, Doc told me to stay. I whimpered. I really needed to pee.

  ‘Stay,’ he repeated.

  I rested my paws on the small side window and looked out. A girl lay on the back of a truck. She was moaning. Even from the plane, I could smell her fear.

  ‘Hello,’ Doc said. ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Beth.’

  Doc unwrapped Beth’s bandages and cleaned her leg. The sticky odour of blood was strong.

  ‘You’re being very brave,’ Doc told her. ‘How old are you?’

  ‘Nearly seven.’ She held up more than four fingers.

  ‘Really?’ Doc smiled a pretend smile at Beth as he rewrapped the bandage, but the rest of his body was tense.

  ‘Will she be all right?’ the woman asked.

  ‘It’s a deep gash and I can see bone. I’ll need to take Beth to Hedland as soon as possible. We’ll give her a tetanus injection, stitch the wound and keep her at the hospital for a couple of days.’

  ‘What about the raids?’ the woman asked. ‘We’re packed and ready to leave.’

  Doc stepped away from the girl and lowered his voice. Although he sounded calm, I could smell Doc’s uneasiness. ‘With good care, Beth should make a full recovery, but if her leg becomes infected, there might be complications.’

  ‘What kind of complications, Doc?’

  ‘If the wound turns septic, Beth could lose her leg. We’ll need to keep her at the hospital to make sure everything is fine.’

  How could someone lose a leg, I wondered. The woman began crying, so I knew there must be a way. I felt a strange moment of terror and licked my own front leg.

  ‘I should have been watching her,’ the woman cried, ‘but we’re evacuating and there’s the baby and toddler to mind …’ Two smaller children sat in the front of the truck. Their eyes were wide and frightened. ‘We should have left weeks ago.’

  I sensed that the woman was going to faint, the way Elsie’s mother used to on very hot days, but the man put an arm around her.

  ‘Calm down, Grace,’ he said. ‘Everything will be all right.’

  The man turned back to Doc. ‘We trust you to do what’s best. If you think Beth needs to be in hospital, then that’s what we’ll do. Grace, you can start driving to Geraldton with the bubs. I’ll finish moving the stock then ride Blaze into Hedland and wait with Beth until she’s able to be moved.’

  I pricked up my ears. Did he say Geraldton? I looked at the big horse standing by the truck. Blaze reminded me of Dave’s horse. And that reminded me of Elsie and the cattle station. Maybe Beth’s mother would see Elsie in Geraldton. I barked, wishing I could use their language to explain, but the girl was crying and Grace didn’t hear me.

  ‘As soon as Beth is out of danger I’ll arrange an airlift,’ Doc said. ‘It should only be a few days.’

  The woman wrapped her shawl closer and looked from her man to Doc. ‘How will I get to Geraldton on my own? The Japs are coming.’

  Doc took her hand and spoke quietly. ‘You need to be brave, Grace, for Beth’s sake and for your other children. Japanese reconnaissance planes have been seen along the coast, but not over inland areas. The Geraldton track is in good condition. I flew over it last week. I’m sure you’ll be safe.’

  ‘What about my babies? I can’t watch them if I’m driving.’

  Beth’s father spoke to a tall dark man standing to one side. ‘Ernie, would you go with the Missus to drive the truck?’

  ‘Sure, Boss,’ he said. ‘I’ll look after them.’

  ‘Thank you,’ the man replied. ‘I’ll ride Blaze into Hedland and find a way to get Beth to Geraldton. Then I’ll organise a lift back for you, or you could stay down south if you like.’

  ‘I’ll come back.’

  ‘Rightio,’ Doc said, ‘now that’s decided, let’s lift this stretcher onto the plane and get Beth to hospital.’

  The girl clutched her father. ‘I don’t want to go on my own.’

  ‘You need to be brave, Beth.’

  ‘Please don’t leave me,’ the child sobbed.

  ‘It’s only a short flight into town,’ Doc murmured, ‘and your daddy will meet you at hospital. Once I’ve fixed your leg, you can both go south on another plane. You might even get to Geraldton before your brother and sister.’

  ‘Come on, Beth,’ her father said, untangling the girl’s arms. ‘We all need to be strong at the moment.’

  Beth’s father helped Doc carry the little girl’s stretcher over to the plane, then her mother grabbed Doc’s hand.

  ‘Thank you, Doctor,’ she babbled. ‘I’m sorry I’m in such a state. I don’t know what we’d have done without you. And please, if you ever see Reverend Flynn, can you tell him the people of the north-west think he’s a saint.’

  ‘Rightio, Grace,’ her man muttered. He looked embarrassed, but I didn’t know who Reverend Flynn was or what a saint was, so I didn’t understand.

  ‘I’ll send your message on the radio,’ Doc told her. ‘The Reverend will be glad to hear it.’

  The man handed Doc a parcel. ‘You must be hungry, Doc. Here’s some damper and jam. I wish we had more to give you …’

  ‘Damper is my favourite breakfast,’ Doc said. ‘Thank you.’

  My mouth watered. I loved damper and I was very hungry.

  Beth was still whimpering as they opened the door to a tiny cabin between the upper and lower wings. The men lifted the stretc
her into the plane. As Grace tucked a rug around her daughter and Doc tried to settle the girl, Beth shouted, ‘Don’t leave me.’

  I barked again and Beth’s mother stepped back in surprise. ‘Who’s this?’

  I wagged my tail.

  ‘It’s a long story,’ Doc began. ‘Does Beth like dogs?’

  ‘She loves them.’

  Doc stepped onto the lower wing and lifted me into his arms.

  ‘Beth,’ he told the trembling child. ‘This dog has lost her family. She’s frightened and I need someone to look after her in the cabin as we fly back to Hedland. Do you think you could help?’

  The girl looked at me. I looked at her.

  Beth held out her arms. Doc passed me to the girl. I licked her hand and she stopped crying. Then I snuggled next to the leg that wasn’t hurt.

  The quivering woman held my muzzle.

  ‘Bless you, little dog,’ Grace whispered. She reached into her bag and gave me a big chunk of damper. I gobbled it down. It was warm and sweet and delicious.

  Doc checked that Beth was safely strapped onto the bed, then he ruffled my fur and told me to ‘be good’. I stared into his eyes. We both knew that wasn’t necessary.

  ‘I’ll see you in town, Beth,’ the man called. ‘Be brave.’

  Remember Rivette, I thought, but I had no words to tell Beth, so I licked her hand instead.

  Doc climbed into the sitting hole on top of the aeroplane. Then I heard him flick buttons and push pedals. Beth’s father walked to the front of the plane. The propeller creaked and Doc yelled, ‘Stand clear.’

  The little girl clutched my collar as we rumbled along the airstrip. Her squeezing fingers pinched, but I kept still. Once we were in the air, Beth loosened her grip. I put my head on her lap, enjoying the rumble of the engine. Being in the sky was better than anything on earth. And much nicer when I wasn’t squashed inside Doc’s jacket.

  After the plane stopped climbing, Doc shouted, ‘Are you okay?’

  I gave a short cheerful yip while Beth continued whispering sweet words into my ears. I sighed. Beth used the same soap as my Elsie. She smelt of home and knew where best to tickle a dog’s tummy.

  Doc was humming in his perch above us and I understood how hard it would be for him to push his pedals, read the map and watch the girl. If Beth hadn’t settled she might bump the door handle and maybe even fall out!

  ‘What’s the doggie’s name?’ Beth called.

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘What’s the dog’s name?’ she shouted above the noise of the engine.

  Doc said, ‘She doesn’t have one.’

  The girl frowned.

  ‘You can name her if you like.’

  ‘Really?’

  Beth stroked my ears. She called me several names, but none were Princess. After a while she smiled.

  ‘I know,’ she yelled. ‘We could call her Flynn, after the Reverend, my mother would like that. Can Flynn be a girl’s name too?’

  ‘I don’t see why not.’

  ‘Do you like that name?’ Beth asked me.

  I wagged my tail.

  ‘She likes Flynn,’ Beth called.

  ‘Then Flynn it is,’ Doc agreed. ‘It’s a perfect name.’

  I kept watch over Beth and soon she was dozing. The medicine had calmed her. Or maybe it was my soft licking.

  The steady beat of the engine was peaceful. I watched the first glow of daylight touch the edge of the sky and sprawled beside Beth, wondering what a Reverend was and why the girl had named me after one. I missed not having Elsie’s calm voice explaining strange words to me.

  Beth was still sleeping when the engine noise changed. I rested my front legs against the cabin window and peeped out. Behind us, the sky was lighter and as Doc lowered the plane, I saw long shadows spread over the land below. I raised my nose. The air felt warmer and in the distance I could see a strange shining blanket. Doc dipped the plane towards it. The shining blanket looked like the station dam in the wet season. Was this what Elsie meant about water surrounding the shapes on her map?

  ‘Can you see the ocean?’ Doc called to us. I woofed. ‘And those houses are Port Hedland.’

  I wagged my tail. Port Hedland – the place where Elsie could find me.

  Beth clutched me as the aeroplane wheels touched earth. We bounced along the dusty airstrip. Beth held the top of her leg and whimpered, so I licked her hand, showing her that everything was okay.

  Doc rumbled to a stop at a spinifex shack on the airstrip. A man was waiting.

  ‘Hello, Fred,’ Doc called.

  Fred opened the cabin door and helped Doc lift Beth out of the plane. I sprang out too. The ground was hot under my paws. I hurried behind the plane’s tail to squat while the men put Beth onto the back of a truck.

  ‘Flynn,’ she called.

  I ran across and jumped up beside her.

  ‘Who’s this?’ Fred asked as he climbed into the truck.

  ‘I’ll tell you as we drive,’ Doc replied. Then he scratched my chin and said, ‘Good work, Flynn. Maybe you will be handy to have around.’

  Port Hedland smelt strange and the salty air held exciting new sounds. We drove along a bumpy track. It widened as we reached houses. Some buildings were so close together that they touched. Beth and I stared at everything.

  ‘Have you been to town before?’ Fred asked.

  Beth shook her head.

  ‘Mum says Port Hedland isn’t safe,’ she whispered, holding me tight. ‘The Japanese are coming.’

  ‘Not yet,’ Fred replied. ‘You’ll be fine at our hospital, especially with this little terrier to guard you. What’s your dog’s name?’

  ‘Flynn, after the Reverend,’ Beth replied. ‘But she’s not mine.’

  ‘Well,’ the man said, ‘it looks like you’re very good friends.’

  Beth agreed then cried in pain as the truck hit a ditch. I nuzzled her hand.

  ‘Nearly there,’ Doc said.

  We stopped outside a long building and a tall woman came down from the verandah to meet us.

  ‘Hello, Matron,’ Doc called.

  ‘Hello …’ Matron’s voice changed when she saw me. ‘Who’s this?’

  ‘It’s Beth,’ Doc replied.

  ‘I know who Beth is.’ Matron glared at him. ‘Why is there a dog with her?’

  ‘It’s Flynn,’ Beth said. ‘Her family evacuated and she needs a home. I’ve called her Flynn, after Reverend John Flynn. He began the Flying Doctor Service. My mother says he’s a saint. Do you like that name?’

  Matron’s mouth frowned but her eyes were smiling.

  ‘Yes, I do like that name,’ Matron said, stroking Beth’s shiny forehead. ‘And your mother is right. Reverend Flynn is a visionary, but we need to keep your leg clean and dogs are riddled with germs.’

  Beth clung to me. ‘Flynn is looking after me –’

  ‘That’s my job now,’ Matron said.

  I bristled and Beth began crying. ‘I want Flynn.’

  I tried to follow Beth’s stretcher, but Matron blocked me.

  ‘No you don’t,’ she said. ‘I won’t have dirty station dogs on my nice clean floors.’ Then she turned her attention to Doc. ‘Fleas and germs, Doctor, what were you thinking?’

  ‘How about Flynn waits outside while I fix your leg?’ he asked Beth. ‘Then you can see her when I’ve finished.’

  Beth stopped crying and nodded. Matron raised her eyebrows, but didn’t argue.

  ‘Doctor is right,’ she agreed. ‘Flynn will be safe in the yard and our cook might have a soup bone in the cool box. Do you think Flynn would like a bone?’

  ‘Yes.’ Beth lay back on her stretcher and blew kisses to me as they carried her inside.

  ‘Looks like you’re left with me,’ Fred said with a laugh. ‘Come on, let’s find Lee Wah.’

  Fred led me behind the building to a sandy yard that reeked of cat pee.

  ‘Stay,’ Fred said.

  I re-marked the territory as best I could while I waite
d. The yard was bare, but along one side I saw a bougainvillea bush like the one on Elsie’s station. I squeezed into a cool space beneath the scratchy branches and lay my head on my paws, remembering happy times in Elsie’s hideout.

  A small man came out of the building. ‘Dog,’ he called. ‘Here, doggy dog.’

  The man put a pan of water in the middle of the yard. Then he perched on his feet near the building and waited. It looked like he was ready to wait a long time. I poked my nose out of the shade. The man and I watched each other.

  I drooled and crept closer. When I reached the pan I drank quickly.

  The man smiled. ‘Hello, doggy.’

  He had a strange sing-song voice, but the energy around his body glimmered kindly.

  ‘I’m Lee Wah,’ he said, holding out his hand for me to sniff. ‘What’s your name?’

  I wagged my tail and licked his hand. It tasted spicy.

  ‘You got lucky gold eyes,’ he said.

  I let him scratch my ears, then Lee Wah went back into the building. A few minutes later he came back with a huge bone.

  ‘Gengi,’ he called. ‘Hey, Golden-eyes, come and get it.’

  I scampered across the yard and took the bone from Lee Wah’s hand. Then I crept back to hide behind the bougainvillea. There were juicy scraps of meat on the bone. I gnawed as much as I could then searched for somewhere to bury the rest. By the time I’d finished digging, Lee Wah had gone inside. There was no one else around. I lifted my nose and took a deep sniff. The air was like the fish the Missus had once brought home, but this smell was fresher.

  The ground was too hot for standing still. I scampered under the building and fell asleep as I tried to make sense of the strange hospital sounds. Doc came to find me when the sun was low in the sky.

  ‘Flynn,’ he called.

  I crawled out from under the building and went to him, glad that the ground was cooler under my paws.

  ‘That’s a good place to hide,’ he said, perching on the bottom step.

  Doc lit a pipe and told me that Beth was fine. I rested my nose on his boot. Doc had washed and changed his clothes. I smelt the hands of a woman on his shirt and also a sweet milky smell that reminded me of my mother.