Memories of Life

25. Educated.

25. Educated.

Over the ensuing weeks Robert recovered from his injuries. It took a little longer until his fractured ribs no longer bothered him, and was able to relinquish the pain killers, but eventually his bodies strength returned.

During his recovery Wombat and Al, introduced Robert to the C.P's defences they had installed. Inside the fenced yard were mines armed with pressure detonators so any wildlife unfortunate enough to get in wouldn't activate them. They were placed in such a pattern that made for only two approaches to either exit or enter. The stone driveway from the gate which was booby trapped with an improvised explosive device, or IED at the entrance was one. With the other a clear route from the back door, which led to surrounding bush only a few hundred meters away from the house. This was their fall back position Al informed Robert.

Robert had noticed on his arrival the motion camera sat not far from the main road, alerting the brothers to any uninvited guests. Once every two days either Al or Wombat would check it. Some of the equipment that had sat on the table were motion sensors, and small cameras that Robert helped Wombat install around the veranda. It was a final alarm system if anyone had the guile, or luck to make it that far. Al explained if they were attacked, that a claymore was to be placed by each room entrance, except the door they were to exit from. From there they were to meet at a rendezvous point, which Robert had not yet been informed about.

The house was indeed a fortress, though it also had creature comforts that made it feel that not all had been lost to the world. Rain water tanks, a stand alone solar power system with battery storage, and gas supplying the stove and hot water system made for hot showers and electricity to power lights. And the alarm system made sleeping easier. Secretly Robert begrudged the brother's luck having never found anything similar in his travels with June.

Inside one of the rooms that remained closed were extra supplies of clothing, boots, dozens of packs of bottled water, and hundreds of ration packs. Four other rifles like Wombats, and half a dozen Glock pistols also sat in long green crates' beside two smaller steel boxes containing ammunition for them. Behind one of the other door's was Al's room which remained locked, and which Robert was not introduced too. On some evenings Al would leave them after finishing his meal to retire early, where Robert sometimes heard his muffled voice while passing by the door on his way to bed. It, like many other things made Robert think that all had not been fully revealed to him?

First of these was, what did the people in Kargle have that the brothers wanted? And secondly how had they obtained all their equipment, and transported it there? There was far too much to fit in the jeep which was their only vehicle, and they never seemed worried about using fuel or trying to build up their food stocks? Which between the three of them would only last months. Robert would ponder this laying in his bunk at night, but it was the fueling of his suppressed vengeance that kept him awake, and when would he have it? Closing his eye's, he would not see his families' face's, only the tattooed mans and others that had been there. All the time fearing, they may leave, or worst still be already dead; but Robert reminded himself to have patience.

Waking early one morning he looked at the battery powered clock hanging on the wall which said 5.30am. Putting on a long sleeve shirt to abate the mild air as the summer now turned to autumn he made his way to the kitchen, weapon in hand. Al was already up, boiling a rice meal from a ration pack, and fixing a coffee. Robert had rarely drunk coffee prior to meeting the brothers, but now the mornings always began with one, and it was true that it's stimulating effect boosted the senses to meet the coming day. "How's the body feel?" Al asked stirring the rice.

"Good! I've even put a few kilos' back on." After a month on ration pack's Robert still craved food, and was thankful for every meal.

"Is it up for some work?"