CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

 

 

Gus Welenski arrived at headquarters just after 6.30 a.m. With Faith still away and Major Hunter not expected to return from the United States for two or three weeks yet, he had come in early to get the jump on a steadily increasing backlog of work. When he entered the liaison office he was surprised to hear sounds coming from the major’s office and went to investigate. When he opened the door he saw a grim-faced Lyle Hunter sitting at his desk talking on the telephone.

Hunter looked up, eyed Gus reproachfully and beckoned him into the room. Gus entered and stood stiffly on the other side of the major’s desk. After a few moments he caught the drift of Hunter’s telephone conversation. An Air Corps traffic officer was calling from somewhere questioning an air travel warrant.

‘It’s all right, Lieutenant.’ Hunter snapped into the mouthpiece. ‘I shall personally forward a properly validated warrant to Moorabbin today. Now, when can you get Miss Brodie on a flight home?’

Gus took a deep breath and waited to face the music. Hunter glared at him as he waited for a reply. After a few moments he banged down the phone.

‘You’ve really outsmarted yourself this time, Welenski. ‘I should have shipped you out the last time you used your position in this office to interfere in other people’s business. I told you to arrange for Faith Brodie to spend her vacation at Point Danger, not for her to fly around the country courtesy of the Army Air Corps. I suppose I’d never have known if I hadn’t been in the office to take that call.’

‘But Miss Brodie wanted to go interstate to visit friends, sir,’ Gus said defensively. ‘And we have planes flying the country practically empty all the time I thought you would want…’

‘Thought I’d want what, Welenski?’ Hunter broke in angrily. ‘That traffic officer said Miss Brodie was in Melbourne visiting a hospitalized American officer. I’m not stupid, you know. I know what you doing.’ Hunter waved an admonishing finger. ‘But that’s not what’s important. What is important is that you have fraudulently issued US forces travel warrants.’ Hunter paused for a few moments and seemed to calm down a little. Then he said, ‘Under the circumstances I won’t press charges. But I’m shipping you out. The boys upstairs are after admin staff in New Guinea. Finish what’s on your desk, then clean it out. I want you on your way to Port Moresby within forty-eight hours. And as far as anyone around here is concerned it’s a normal transfer. Say anything different and you’ll finish up in the stockade.’

*

Within hours Gus was given new orders and a travel warrant for a flight leaving for Port Moresby the following afternoon. By late morning he had his work up to date and was ready to go. The office staff asked him to join them for a farewell lunch but he declined and they went off to the canteen without him.

Gus tapped on Hunter’s door and told him he was leaving for the airport. Hunter was busy wading though a pile of paperwork which had accumulated during his absence overseas. He just mumbled something but didn’t look up from his desk. Gus turned on his heel and left. As he walked out the main office door, a middle-aged civilian in a drab grey business suit was just coming in.

‘My name is Phelps,’ the civilian announced in a loud officious voice. ‘I’m with the Commonwealth Immigration Department. Please direct me to Major Hunter. He is expecting me.’

Gus led the visitor back inside and pointed to Hunter’s open door, then turned to leave again.

‘Major Hunter, how good of you to see me concerning Captain Rivers on such short notice,’ Phelps said as he entered the major’s office.

Gus stopped in his tracks as Phelp's loud voice carried across the general office. He turned, and seeing Hunter’s door had been left slightly ajar, quietly walked back to his desk and pretended to be doing something. From where he stood he could plainly hear what was being said in the private office.

‘Normally, in the case of a serviceman, we discuss the applicant’s general suitability and his service record with his commanding officer,’ Phelps said. ‘However, in Captain Rivers’ case, that hasn’t been possible because he’s no longer attached to a specific unit. So we spoke to Army Air Corps Personnel and they suggested we contact this office because you supplied all the captain’s personal details and background when he was hospitalized. We’ve been waiting for you to return from overseas so we can finalize his file.’

Gus took a couple of steps closer to Hunter’s door.

‘You’ve come to the right place, Mr Phelps,’ he heard Hunter say. ‘Captain Rivers’ is well known here. Now what exactly can I do for you?’

‘My visit is just a formality, Major. The Commonwealth Government is now making plans to relax it’s stringent immigration policy and throw Australia’s doors wide open to massive migration after the war. We are particularly interested in skilled and professional people. Now, Captain Rivers has stated on his application that he wishes to start a construction business here eventually. As a graduate engineer, it seems that he is exceptionally well qualified. He also states that he intends marrying an Australian citizen. We consider his type of application to be the cream of the crop. We understand he is to be discharged from the service very soon. All we need to finalize his application is written confirmation from yourself that he has an exemplary service record.’

‘Captain Rivers has served with distinction, Mr Phelps,’ Hunter said generously, then added surreptitiously, ‘he has been a credit to his people.’

‘How do you mean, Major? A credit to his people.’

‘Captain Rivers was selected to take part in United States Government assimilation initiative which gave indigenous people the opportunity to obtain a tertiary education.’

‘Indigenous people, Major?’ Gus heard a distinct change in Phelps’ tone of voice.

‘He’s an Indian, Mr Phelps. A North American Aborigine.’

For what seemed like a long time, no one spoke inside Hunter’s office. Gus knew the Major had dealt Dan a death blow. He edged a few steps closer to the door.

‘Captain Rivers stated his nationality as a non-Afro-American on his application,’ Phelps said at last. ‘Being a commissioned officer in the United States Armed Forces, it never occurred to us that he wasn’t of European stock. I’m afraid this changes everything. Under the White Australia Policy, his entry as a permanent resident of this country is out of the question.’

Gus drew a deep breath, shook his head and quietly slipped away.

*

‘Can I offer you a ride into town Ma’am?’

Faith turned her head quickly in the direction of the familiar voice as she climbed down from her plane at Archerfield airfield. Lyle Hunter stood on the tarmac smiling in the late afternoon sun.

‘Lyle. What on earth are you doing back in Australia so soon?’

He grinned, took her suitcase and kissed her lightly on the cheek. ‘Couldn’t stay away from you, that’s why.’

She smiled. ‘How did you know to meet me here?

‘Welenski told me,’ Hunter said and steered her in the direction of his car.

Faith’s smile faded. ‘Lyle, it’s all right isn’t it? I mean about the warrants. He’s not in any trouble is he?’

‘Heaven’s no. I’m glad he looked after you. In fact, I thanked him personally before he left for New Guinea yesterday.’

‘New Guinea?’

‘MacArthur’s advance HQ was after staff in Port Moresby. I mentioned it to Gus. He jumped at the chance. His replacement started today, a guy called Peterson. He looks like he knows what he’s doing.’

‘He’ll have to,’ Faith said somberly. ‘He’s got big shoes to fill.’

‘I thought you’d be away much longer,’ Faith said when they reached the car. ‘When did you get back?’

‘Just a couple of days ago.’

‘How did it all go?’

‘Marvelous. The Pentagon is truly an amazing place. It’s enormous, a city unto itself, with over twenty-thousand people under one roof. I spent most of my time there but I was able to get up to Albany for a few days to see my family.’

‘How are they?’

‘Everyone’s well. I told them all about you.’

Faith turned to Lyle in surprise. Before she could say anything, he reached and took her hand. ‘I missed you terribly, Faith. Being away from you made me realize how much you mean to me. That's why I came back as soon as I could.’

Faith took a deep breath. ‘Lyle we have to talk…’

‘Yes, I know. I have so much to tell you.’ He took his hand from hers and glanced at his wrist watch. ‘I’ve made reservation at Lennon’s for dinner. It’s early yet, so we’ll have time to have a couple of drinks first in the bar.’

It was still early when they entered the restaurant at Lennon’s but already it was almost filled with American officers. The maître d’ greeted Lyle warmly and personally showed them to a secluded candle-lit table. A tall crystal vase filled with red roses sat in the centre. Soft music from a five-piece band filtered across the room

‘This is just lovely,’ Faith whispered into Lyle’s ear as they sat down. She was always appreciative of his thoughtfulness and attentiveness but on this occasion he seemed to have excelled himself. ‘Are we to celebrate something special, this evening?’

‘I hope so, Faith. I really hope so.’

She looked at him quizzically across the table. He smiled back at her through the candle light but didn’t elaborate.’

‘Tell me all about you’re trip,’ she said

‘It really was an eye-opener. I’ve only been away eighteen months but the changes in the States are incredible. At the start of our involvement in the war, we were caught flat-footed, with an untrained Army and our Pacific fleet in tatters. Winning this war is only a matter of time now. The American war machine cannot be stopped. It’s as if a sleeping giant has been awakened. Our factories are now producing literally thousands of aircraft and tanks, hundreds of ships and scores of aircraft carriers, while the enemy, with it’s limited natural resources, is incapable of even replacing the military hardware it's losing in battle.’

Lyle paused for a few moments while a waiter set down drinks. ‘In Washington,’ he continued, ‘I saw the whole picture. Here, we tend to think the main game is in the Pacific. Of course it isn’t, we’re just one front in a worldwide war which increasingly is being directed from the Pentagon. And it’s plain to see that when it’s all over, there will be a new world order. The United States will replace Great Britain as the world’s major power.’

Lyle paused and took a swallow of bourbon.

Faith said, ‘You’re beginning to sound like a politician, not a soldier, Lyle.’

‘That’s what my father said when I was in Albany. He was quite serious. He figures the best place for a good public relations man is on Capitol Hill.’

‘My father always said the best place for politicians was in the cemetery,’ Faith said.

Lyle laughed. ‘And he may well have been right. But I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I think I may give it a try. My father has influential friends in New York and Washington that could help pave the way for me.’

Faith smiled and took the swizzle-stick from her gin and tonic. She held it towards Lyle like an interviewer with a microphone ‘And when would you start this political career of yours, Mr Hunter?’

‘Right away, madam,’ he said into the microphone in a deep pretentious voice.

Faith laughed and laid the swizzle-stick down. Another waiter came to their table with menus and a wine list.

‘How are you going to campaign when your still in the Army and twelve-thousand miles away from Washington?’ Faith asked Lyle after he had ordered.

‘Being in the Army is all part of the plan. I’m just in the wrong place.’ He glanced around the restaurant. ‘All the powerful high-ranking officers you see here are merely doing the bidding of the Pentagon. That’s where the real power is. When I was there, I saw ambitious young officers jockeying for a piece of that power. I intend to join them. My tour of duty in Australia ends in a few months. I’ve already applied for a transfer.’

‘To the Pentagon?’

Lyle nodded his head enthusiastically. ‘When America assumes world leadership after the war, a grateful nation will look to the Army for leadership at the highest level. I fully expect General MacArthur or General Eisenhower will become president of the United States. And I’m sure well-connected and politically-minded, young Ivy-Leaguers who have served their country overseas and in the Pentagon, will be shoo-ins at the polls.’ He smiled confidently. ‘The changeover from the military to politics would be easy. After all, it’s only three miles from the Pentagon to Capitol Hill.’

‘You seem to have everything worked out, Lyle. Do you think you’ll get your transfer?’

‘I’m sure of it. With any luck I’ll be in Washington in just a few months.’

‘Then that’s what we’re celebrating here tonight, is it—your plans for the future?’

‘The Pentagon, Capitol Hill, that’s only part of it Faith.’ He reached out and took her hand in his. None of it would mean much without you. I want you to marry me. Will you?’

For a moment Faith was too surprised to say anything.

‘I’ll look after you, Faith. I promise you’ll never want for anything.’

‘Lyle…’ She struggled to find words ‘ I… I didn’t expect this. I don’t know what to say.’

‘Then don’t say anything just now. Take all the time you need. After all, marriage is forever and there’s so much to consider. Moving to a new country, leaving everyone you know behind and starting a new life.’

‘Lyle, I should tell you I went to Victoria to see Dan Rivers.’

‘Yes, I suspected that. But you didn’t make any commitments, did you?’

‘No. None were asked for and none were given. That wasn’t the purpose of my trip. I went to Melbourne to visit an old friend in hospital. ’

‘How is he?’

‘He’s made a good recovery and he’s looking well. He’s being discharged soon, but he’ll need ongoing medical attention.’

‘Then he’ll be going home soon?’

‘Yes, although he said he may stay in Australia if he gets a clean bill of health from the hospital.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’

‘Then he’ll go back to New Mexico, I suppose. Either way he said he’ll come up to Brisbane over Christmas.’

*

The veil of gloom which had hung over the Sharkey household since the tragedy of the Centaur, seemed to lift a little when Faith broached the subject of Dan staying at New Farm over the holiday season. To Faith’s delight, Dick and Helen’s spirits were lifted at the prospect of having a young man in the house again, if only for a short time, and in the days that followed some of the atmosphere reminiscent of when Mike had been alive returned to the family home.

Dan had told Faith in a recent letter that he would arrive a day or two before Christmas. Now, with the holiday just a few days away and still with a hundred and one things to do, Helen was up early, preparing to spend a full day in the kitchen, baking. She was rolling pastry when Faith came into the kitchen for breakfast before going off to work.

‘You’ll be able to have a few extra days off when Dan’s here, won’t you?’ Helen said. She popped some toast under the grill and poured Faith a cup of tea. ‘Even Dick’s getting a extra day or two this year.’

‘I don’t think so, Aunt Helen.’ Faith said. ‘I’m going to be so busy at work. The other two girls in the office are off for ten days from Christmas Eve and this Sergeant Peterson who replaced Gus, spends more time chatting up females than working. Anyway, he’s going to be off for a few days too.’

Helen laid a square of rolled pastry over the pie dish and began trimming the edges. ‘What about Major Hunter?’ she asked without looking up. ‘How’s it going to be with him, you know, having Dan here?’

Faith glanced cautiously at her aunt. Helen avoided her eyes. Faith had told Helen how she had left things with Dan in Melbourne and also about Lyle’s proposal of marriage. Even though Helen didn’t much like Lyle Hunter, Faith knew her aunt thought she had been unfair not giving him an answer one way or the other. But the simple truth was that with so many variables in Faith’s relationship with Dan she just wasn’t sure of what she wanted herself. And Lyle wasn’t pressing her anyway. For some reason he seemed confident she would come around in the end.

Helen looked up from her pastry. ‘I hope you’re not just keeping your options open, young lady. It’s as plain as the nose on your face how you feel about Dan. I just think it’s only fair that you let Major Hunter know where he stands before Dan arrives.’

‘I can’t do that, Aunt Helen, Lyle’s spending a few days at Point Danger. He’s already down there. He went last night.’

‘Well, I suppose that’s convenient, if nothing else.’

Faith was about to say something but decided against it. Instead, she left her toast and tea unfinished and got up. ‘Got to run,’ she said quickly, ‘or I’ll miss my tram to work.’

Faith gazed out the window of the crowded tram as it rattled towards the centre of the city. She couldn’t help but think about what her aunt had said about clearing the air with Lyle before Dan arrived. She remembered one of Lyle’s friends had told her he was going down to the coast that morning and returning the next day. She could catch a ride with him and be back in Brisbane before the rest of the staff went on leave. Before the tram reached her stop, Faith made up her mind to go.

*

Dan got up early on December 22^nd, anxious to be on his way to Queensland. He had been pleased when the airline had offered him a flight a day earlier than expected because of someone’s cancellation. By eight o’clock he had packed his clothes, showered, put on a brand new uniform, eaten a light breakfast and was sitting waiting inside the main entrance of the hospital for transport to the airport.

A week before, he had been given the all clear by his doctors. Except for ongoing treatment to prevent the recurrence of malarial attacks, he had been deemed as sound as any man. Now he couldn’t wait to share the good news with Faith and hopefully start planning their future together.

‘Captain Rivers.’

Dan looked up from his happy thoughts. A hospital orderly approached him waving a brown manila envelope.

‘I’m glad I caught you before you left, Captain,’ the orderly said.. ‘This just came in the mail for you.’

Dan took the official looking letter. It was postmarked Canberra and stamped OHMS in thick black ink. At last the long awaited letter from the Australian Immigration Department had arrived. Everything had come together at last. It would be a Christmas to remember. He opened the envelope and took out the letter. The wording was cruelly brief:

 

‘We regret to inform you that under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s

White Australia Policy, your application for permanent residency has been

denied.

 

Dan’s heart sank. He felt the blood drain from his face.

‘Captain Rivers.’

Someone else had called out his name from across the foyer. He looked up from his chair. This time it was the ward sister. He rose ashen-faced from his chair.

‘I just wanted to say goodbye and wish you a Merry Christmas.’ The sister sighed nostalgically. ‘Of course, I’m from Cincinnati and it just doesn’t seem like Christmas without snow on the ground and chestnuts roasting in the fire. Oh well, I suppose it will be even hotter in Queensland than it is here in Melbourne. When is your flight?’

When Dan didn’t answer right away the sister suddenly realized he was as white as a ghost.

‘Are you all right, Captain? You don’t look well.’

‘I’m okay, Sister,’ Dan said softly. ‘I think perhaps it just hit me that I’m about to go out into the real world again.’

The sister took Dan’s arm. ‘Sometimes,’ she said gently, ‘after a long stint in hospital following a lengthy period in combat, servicemen find that being discharged can be quite daunting. All of a sudden taking charge of one’s life again and accepting responsibilities can be very difficult. If you’re not sure you’re ready just yet Captain Rivers, perhaps you should stay with us a little longer. Would you like to talk to the doctor?’

‘I’ll be fine, Sister.’ Dan tried to put on a brave face. His taxi pulled up outside as he spoke. ‘Well, I’d better be going.. They said to be at the airport by nine at the latest. Unlike the Army Air Corps, commercial flights tend to leave exactly on time.’

*

Dan’s plane touched down at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm airport in the early afternoon. The Qantas flight had seemed to last forever. Unable to share the happy holiday mood of his fellow passengers, he had spent the whole time bitterly pondering his situation.

How foolish he had been to think that an education and an American officer’s uniform could make things any different on the other side of the world. White men were the same everywhere. He had known the ugly face of racism all his life. It was not restricted by geography. Suddenly Australia seemed very alien. It was no longer the friendly country his heart had embraced so readily—the country that he had laid his life on the line for. More than once during the flight he had recalled the words of Colonel Toki on Guadalcanal. ‘Ask your self the question, Captain, are such men worthy of your loyalty?’

Dan took a taxi from the airport into town. In Melbourne, he had planned to go straight to the Sharkeys’ house in New Farm and wait for Faith to come home from work. But under he circumstances he wanted to see her straight away and told the cabbie to take him to US headquarters downtown.

Some of his cynicism left him when he saw some of the familiar places which had etched fond memories in his mind. The cab drove along the banks of the muddy Brisbane River, past the docks at Hamilton where he and Dick Sharkey had confronted each other when the Shenandoah had berthed, then past rows of homes in the inner city suburbs, little houses, which like the Sharkey’s, were set up high on stilts to catch the cooling summer breezes.

A guard at the main entrance to headquarters saluted smartly and directed Dan to the third floor. When he entered the liaison office it seemed almost deserted and he stood inside the door for a few moments without anyone noticing him. A staff sergeant stood at the back of the general office, with his back towards Dan, busily talking with two civilian office girls. The conversation was obviously frivolous because it was punctuated by loud laughter from time to time until one of the office girls saw Dan and alerted the sergeant.

He casually walked over to Dan. ‘Can I do something for you, sir?’

‘I’d like to see Miss Brodie, Sergeant.’

‘She’s not here, sir. Won’t be back until tomorrow morning. She went down to the coast this morning to see Major Hunter, our chief liaison officer.’ The sergeant raised his eyebrows and gave Dan a knowing glance. ‘Can I help you in any way?’

‘No, I don’t think so, Sergeant.’

Dan eyes appraised the non-commissioned officer dubiously. He didn’t like the staff sergeant’s attitude and thought he was altogether too familiar. He looked slovenly too. His collar was undone under the knot of his necktie and his shirt sleeves were unbuttoned and untidily rolled up half a turn over his wrists. The sergeant didn’t fit at all the picture Dan had formed in his mind of Gus Welenski, from what Faith had told him.

‘Sergeant, is you’re name Welenski?’

‘No sir, I’m Peterson. I replaced Welenski a little while back. He was transferred to New Guinea.’ The sergeant shrugged his shoulders. ‘Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you, sir?’

‘Can Miss Brodie be reached by phone?’

Dan thought he saw a barely discernible smile on the lips of the before he answered the question.

‘Yeah, I guess so. I’ll get someone to put you through.’ The sergeant beckoned one of the office girls over. ‘Place a call to Point Danger for the captain will you, Jane.‘ He turned back to Dan. ‘Perhaps you’d like to take the call in Major Hunter’s office, sir.’

‘What is this Point Danger place, Sergeant?’ Dan asked as Peterson led the way to the major’s office. ‘Is it an Army installation or something?’

The Sergeant grinned. ‘Hardly, sir. It’s an exclusive beach resort at Coolangatta, on the Gold Coast. Very popular with the brass here at HQ for weekend R and R.’ The sergeant reached the door of Hunter’s office. He turned around to face Dan and gave him the same knowing look as before. ‘Major Hunter and Faith Brodie go down there a lot.’

Dan’s eyes narrowed. ‘You mean they go there together?’

‘What I mean is, Captain.’ Peterson winked his eye. ‘They usually go down there at the same time.’

‘I have the receptionist at Point Danger on the line Captain, the office girl called out. ‘I’ll just transfer it to the major’s office.’

Dan stepped inside the office and closed the door behind him. The phone on the desk rang immediately. He picked it up.

‘Reception, may I help you?’ a cheerful voice asked.

‘Yes, may I speak with Miss Faith Brodie, please.’

‘Hold the line, please. I’ll have to check where she is. We’ve had so many Christmas bookings, a lot of guests are having to share.’

Dan waited several minutes before the operator came back on the line.

‘Miss Brodie is sharing room eighteen. I’ll put you through now, sir.’

‘Hello.’

The phone was answered on the first ring. The voice was female, but American.

‘Faith Brodie, please.’

‘Faith’s not here, I’m sorry.’

‘Can you tell me when she’ll be back?’

‘I don’t think she will be.’

‘Do you mean she’s checked out? Is she on her way back to Brisbane?’

‘No, no, she’s still here at the guest house—try room seven.’

‘Thanks,’ Dan said, then asked cautiously. ‘By the way, do you know who’s room that is?

‘Yes, it’s Major Lyle Hunter’s.’

Stunned by the second body blow of the day, Dan hung up the telephone and walked stiffly from the room.

‘Did you get through to Miss Brodie okay, sir?’ Peterson called out as Dan was heading for the exit.

Dan stopped and turned around. ‘No, I didn’t Sergeant. But it’s all right, it doesn’t matter.’

‘May I give her a message, sir?’

Dan caught a trace of mischief in the sergeant’s eye.

‘No, you may not, Sergeant,’ Dan snapped angrily. ‘You will not even mention anyone was looking for her. And that’s an order.’

Dan hurried downstairs and out onto the street. His head was swimming. In a few short hours, everything he had been looking forward to for so long lay in ruins and the bitterness and alienation he had felt earlier in the day returned with such an intensity that it made his whole body shake. Suddenly he felt very lonely and a total outsider. And for the first time since being posted overseas he just wanted to go home.

Half an hour later, Dan was back at Eagle Farm airfield. The girl at the Qantas desk said she was sorry but there were no tickets available for flights to Melbourne or anywhere else until after the Christmas holiday period. He had better luck at the US Army Air Corps hangar at the other end of the airfield. When Dan said he just wanted a flight out and its destination didn’t really matter, the traffic officer had him aboard a transport bound for Sydney within the hour.