Icefall Page 11

  Donald flushed. 'You want my daughter to marry a Roman Catholic or a Muslim?' he said heatedly. 'She will marry a good Christian or not at all.'

  David shrugged, 'Can I change the subject?'

  'No more of this claptrap about dog breeding, we are God's people and He will look after us.'

  'If you need somewhere to hold services, you are welcome to use the community hall. Just book it through my daughter Patricia.'

  'It's not consecrated.'

  'I'm sure the local bishop will have a solution. Better than not having anywhere at all.'

  'I came here for help and have got an unwelcome lecture. We need a church and you should be willing to help us build it.'

  'Donald, I am sure you are fundamentally a good man. If you are serious about a place of worship, talk to some of the other denominations here and see if you can come up with a solution. If you came to an accommodation with some other faiths maybe the Muslims could use a jointly-owned facility on Fridays, the Jews on Saturdays, and you could have the use of it on Sundays.'

  The man's face went purple. 'I can't believe I'm hearing this! You want me to share my church with a bunch of heathens?' He stormed out, banging the door behind him.

  Patricia came in just after Donald had left. 'What was all that about?'

  'He wants us to build him a church, but just for the Anglicans. He has some very bigoted ideas. I told him "no go" and suggested he book the community centre for his services.'

  'His wife came to see me last week on a similar mission. She has booked the community centre every Sunday from eleven am for two hours. I wonder what his reaction will be.'

  'Don't know, but I suppose he will preach.' David grinned. 'I also gave him a lecture about inbreeding. He now has visions of hordes of Muslims coming to seduce his daughters.'

  'Naughty!' said Patricia.

  'People need to understand the community will be diverse.'

  'Yes, but you are not running a cattle farm, you are dealing with people who can express their feelings.'

  'Okay, perhaps I was a bit hard on him. But I won't be building churches for him or any other religious groups.'

  Mark sometimes talked to Tanya about his friends' exploits outside The Settlement. 'Rooney has bought a mansion in the south of France.'

  'What the hell is he going to do with that?' asked Tanya laughing, 'He gets tired of his latest shag after one weekend. If he invites a girlfriend to the south of France, I doubt the relationship will last beyond the flight over.'

  'He has been with his latest girlfriend for more than a year,' answered Mark defensively.

  'The south of France will flood, it's a pointless investment,' added Tanya.

  Mark had become more committed to The Settlement after the children were born, especially his second son, Didier. I suppose we are building something for the children's future as well as our own, he reflected. All his life, Mark had found himself in leadership positions, at school and now at the bank; he was even tipped to be managing director at some time in the future. Intellectually, he accepted that Tanya, together with David, were the driving forces behind The Settlement and that he, Mark, should play second fiddle to her in that regard. This was despite the fact that he was the largest contributor in financial terms. Emotionally, he continued to find it difficult. He was inclined to try and take over any initiative, finding he had to consciously hold back, sometimes with difficulty.

  His relationship with Tanya seemed more distant since moving to The Settlement. He thought he was still in love with her, he regarded her as his intellectual equal, and he admired her energy and beauty. They made love less frequently, but Mark thought that was probably normal. After all, they had two healthy, bright children and busy careers.

  Talking one evening with Tanya in their Mosman home, Mark said, 'Security is going to be one of the biggest issues we face. I would like to be responsible for it. I have spoken to Jonathan and he thinks he will probably be able to provide military personnel to help with some training, if that is what we decide. I told Dad I would put something in writing and we can take it from there.'

  'You must find it frustrating not to be in charge … '

  Mark unsuccessfully tried to dismiss the thought with a wave of his hand, 'I don't have any more time to put into The Settlement. I accept you and Dad are the driving forces behind it. Give me the security responsibility and that will keep me out of mischief.'

  Tanya could see he was making a real effort. 'What do you have in mind?'

  Mark wondered what she was really thinking. He responded, 'To create a very high quality group within the community, something all or most settlers will aspire to. There will be no discrimination between the sexes.'

  'You cope with playing second fiddle to me at The Settlement now because of your position in the bank,' said Tanya holding his hand. 'How will you deal with it when our world is reduced to three hundred or so people? But I think the security initiative sounds intriguing. I would love to belong to something like that. I am sure there will be support from the board. It's surprising nobody has thought of it before.'

  Tanya's perceptiveness never failed to surprise Mark. He gently squeezed her hand. In his heart of hearts he knew she had put her finger on an issue that was likely to continue to come between them. He had no idea what to do about it.

  Discussing the security proposal during the next board meeting, Tanya had rarely seen Mark so enthusiastic. 'I will spend a week in Canberra with Jonathan. He has set up a whole program to train a high quality group for any settler to join.'

  'Both sexes?' asked Joe.

  'Yes, there is no discrimination.' He smiled good humouredly, 'Anyway I don't see how we would keep Tanya out. I suggest a form of military training for all settlers over age thirteen. This would involve basic discipline, marching drills, and weapons training. Participants would have to be proficient on horseback and able to fire rifles accurately in a variety of situations. Horse riding lessons would be necessary before the age of thirteen, so participants gain enough skills to join the program once they turn eighteen. We can rely on Mum for that; most kids under her tutelage are already good horse riders.'

  'Would this be voluntary?' asked Chloe.

  'Yes, but if we get it right we will have more people than we can cope with trying to join. I am hoping it will be seen as an elite program. Jonathan has suggested calling it The Academy to reinforce that.' Mark paused to think about what he was going to say next. 'It needs to be taken very seriously. This will not be a game. I can foresee a situation, once the Ice Shelf collapses, where deadly force may be necessary to defend ourselves. The training will have to reflect that. With no rule of law, The Academy will be the one group that can help to uphold individuals' rights.'

  The board members silently absorbed Mark's presentation. David thought, My intention was to create a peaceful place. I hadn't planned on an army.

  'What about the older people?' asked Chloe.

  'I'll have to think about that,' answered Mark carefully. 'The main group will have to be very fit and active, difficult for some of the older people. During a real crisis, it may be important to have people at home to defend the place and run regular patrols. Others can extend operations beyond The Settlement.'

  'A home guard!' observed Chloe with a mischievous grin on her face.

  At first there were less than a dozen participants, including Mark and Tanya. David provided uniforms while Mark designed and arranged the building of a gravel parade ground, about one hundred metres square, also used as a landing site for the helicopter. For six months, Mark also spent every weekend building a rifle range large enough for eight participants with a range of up to three hundred metres.

  Soon they had two squads of eighteen people, one group over eighteen and one under. A third group of people over forty-five focussed on weapons training and parade ground drills, with less emphasis on elite physical fitness. Tanya was the only woman at first, but her participation encouraged others to join. Within mon
ths, enlistment was competitive and not everyone was accepted.

  Jonathan had managed to purchase forty 30.06 Savage rifles. 'They will have to do for now. In time, I will try to legitimately get the same weapons we use in the army, the short-barrelled F88 Austeyr. They will be easier to use on horseback. But if people become used to the Savage rifle, using the army weapons will be a breeze,' said Jonathan.

  Mark had returned from his week in Canberra full of plans and enthusiasm. 'I am proposing to set up a command and discipline structure. Some people, including me, will do courses in Canberra, arranged by Jonathan. We will bring in Army people every weekend to help with training. Even if it is a long shot, we aspire to the standards found in the Australian Army. Within the ambit of The Academy, any transgressions will be dealt with in the same way as the military.'

  'What do you mean by that?' asked Chloe.

  'Each person enlisted will sign an agreement to abide by The Academy's disciplinary arrangements while on Academy business. This may involve physical punishment for transgressions regarding their appearance, the condition of their weapons, how they deal with horses under their control, and so on. In bad cases, individuals may have to be expelled from The Academy.'

  'You are talking military mumbo-jumbo,' said an irritated Chloe. 'What do you mean by physical punishment?'

  'Captain Andrews recommends long runs in full battle gear or running round the parade ground holding a rifle above their head,' said Mark evenly.

  'No lash then?' said Chloe, amid laughter from the rest of the board, including Mark.

  Mark continued, 'We can't have people running around with guns and ammunition not knowing what they're doing. Now the armoury has been completed, we can reinforce the existing policy of not allowing anyone to keep weapons at home.'

  The first time weapons were issued to Academy participants, Mark made them line up and sign for their selected weapons. Most were quite happy to comply, although one man in his early forties, Lance, objected, 'I have been around guns all my life; this rigmarole is just a lot of nonsense. I don't see why I can't keep the rifle and ammunition in my house.'

  'Most people here have no knowledge of weapons at all. Can't you see it would be extremely dangerous for everyone to have weapons and ammunition at home? There are children about, and the houses are close together. If we did what you suggest there will be an accident,' Mark replied evenly. 'You either comply or you will be expelled from the programme.'

  Lance signed with bad grace and almost snatched his weapon away.

  During the first sessions with the weapons, the army training officer, Steve Gregory, explained in detail how the weapon worked. He made all the participants strip and clean the weapons and then reassemble them, firstly sighted and then blindfolded.

  'I'm having trouble with Lance,' he confided in Mark after a few sessions. 'If he was in the army he would be on report by now and possibly in detention. That fellow is trouble and an accident waiting to happen.'

  'Put him on report then, and I will deal with him. All Academy members have agreed to be subject to strict discipline.'

  Mark made the rest of the group stand at ease on the sidelines while Lance was put through his paces. As well as his rifle, Lance was made to carry a full pack weighing twenty-five kilograms.

  'Atten-shun!' Mark had waited in front of the hapless Lance till he complied. 'As you were,' he yelled. 'I can make this painful if you want me to, or you can choose to leave The Academy right now.'

  Lance just glowered at him.

  'Atten-shun! Right turn. Rifle at high port—that means hold the rifle above your head. At the double—that means run,' yelled Mark.

  Lance fell over after five minutes and collapsed after fifteen.

  Mark signalled for two of Lance's colleagues, and they revived him with some water. 'Take him to the hospital, then back home. I'll deal with the rifle.'

  Mark went to visit him a few days later, preparing to be conciliatory until he was confronted at the door by a hostile Lance.

  'You either cooperate or you will be expelled from The Academy,' said Mark firmly.

  Lance said nothing.

  'Well?'

  Lance slammed the door in Mark's face.

  'That answers my question,' said a bemused Mark.

  Meanwhile, a number from The Academy approached Tanya after failing to find David. 'We are concerned at the way Lance was handled the other day,' said a spokesman.

  'In what way?' asked Tanya.

  'He was made to run around the parade ground until he collapsed.'

  'So I heard.'

  'It seemed to be a very harsh approach.'

  'We are not running The Academy for fun,' said Tanya. 'When the community becomes isolated we almost certainly will have to defend ourselves. We need a well-trained, disciplined group of people. You saw how Lance was behaving. He does not fit in.'

  'Defend ourselves against what?'

  'The rule of law will cease to exist, so there won't be any police to come to our rescue. There will be people outside The Settlement who, in order to survive, may see us as an easy target. Mark is responsible for security and discipline within The Academy. Lance either behaves or leaves. The Academy is voluntary and if anyone wishes to join then they have to accept the discipline involved. That applies to all of us, including me. I have no influence over Mark's running of the security operation, and nor do I wish to. '

  Later that evening, Tanya mentioned The Academy members' visit.

  Mark started to bridle.

  'Just listen to me for a moment … '

  'Don't interfere, it's my business.'

  'I have no interest in how you run The Academy, but I do have a suggestion to fix all this lily-livered bullshit forever.'

  'That's my girl.'

  'You know that I can do all of what you asked Lance to do yesterday, and more.'

  'Yes … '

  'Put me on a charge. Make me run around the parade ground or whatever. That will really stop this crap and then people will start to understand what it is all about.'

  'Extraordinary. Are you sure? What sort of a charge did you have in mind?'

  'Of course I'm fucking sure, and I have no interest in what the charge is, you'll have to use your imagination.'

  A few days later, as part of the parade discipline, the trainees were made to open the breeches of their rifles for inspection. To her consternation, Tanya found there was a round in the breech of her rifle, which she knew was dangerous and wholly against regulations.

  Steve Gregory looked at the round in horror. 'Tanya Bower, a live round.' He held it up for all to see. 'I have no option but to put you on a charge. You will report here in full battledress, including your rifle, at five this afternoon. The rest of the platoon will attend as witnesses.'

  At the appointed time Mark appeared. 'Lieutenant Gregory is unwell so I will conduct this afternoon's parade. Tanya, step forward. The rest of the platoon may stand at ease.'

  There was a whisper from the rear, 'Bet he will give her an easy time, nothing like Lance.'

  'If anyone else wishes to join Tanya, just say the word,' said Mark, hearing the whispers. 'Atten-shun!' he yelled and Tanya stood crisply to attention.

  He gave her all the same instructions as he had given Lance a few days earlier, with Lance leering from the side of the parade ground. Tanya jogged around the parade ground with the rifle above her head for fifteen minutes. Then, Mark made it more difficult. Still keeping her rifle aloft, he made her run, lifting her knees to the parallel for another fifteen minutes. By this time, half the village was watching and Tanya was pouring with sweat. Mark made her frog hop for five minutes and then run around the parade ground for another fifteen minutes holding the rifle aloft. The final ten minutes she was made to run holding the rifle above her head and lifting her knees to the parallel. Lance was nowhere to be seen. 'Halt, fall in.'

  Tanya returned to her place in the squad, sweating profusely and breathing hard.

  'Are you
alright,' whispered a voice.

  'Of course I'm fucking alright,' said Tanya out of the side of her mouth.

  'Tanya, step forward, talking on parade.'

  He made her run for another ten minutes with the rifle above her head. 'Platoon, Atten-shun! Platoon Dismiss.'

  Once all the rifles had been safely returned to the armoury, the whole platoon crowded around Tanya after Mark had left the parade ground. 'Are you alright? Can we help you in any way?'

  'A jug of water and a beer,' Tanya responded. 'I'll be okay, I feel a bit wobbly though.'

  An hour later an anxious Mark opened the door of their cottage to Tanya. The children had already gone to bed and nanny had made herself scarce. Mark ran to her and held her for a minute. 'You were marvellous. How are you feeling?'

  'I'm in desperate need of a shower, otherwise okay. I seem to be some sort of hero though, so I had a couple of beers with them. You'll be pleased to hear there was absolutely no suggestion that the situation was contrived. I suspect if anyone is put on a charge in future, it will be a matter of honour to be able to complete the punishment.'

  Lance was conspicuously absent from any further Academy training, much to everyone's relief.

  'Are we allowed to have what amounts to a private army?' asked Tanya one day.

  'Probably not,' answered Jonathan, 'but who is going to know. Many schools run army cadets and I don't see any difference to that, but I will try my best to legitimise the situation.'

  Chapter Ten

  Demetriou!

  Tanya made certain she met all the new people coming into The Settlement. Recently, Fred Costas had persuaded David to take on a Charles Smith as Fred said he owed Charles for unspecified favours done in the past.

  'I'm not sure about your friend,' said David. 'He seems uninterested in the science, and his wife has no knowledge of anything rural. Why do they want to come here? If I didn't know you better I would suspect they are running away from something.' David missed Fred's sharp glance.