The following morning, Maddy left Limestone Ridge and chugged along a part of the river with lower embankments, and a few gum trees scattered amongst high grasslands. Norman had taken over from Captain, who after a long night of chin-wagging with Slim, decided a good sleep-in was needed.
Mitch entered the wheelhouse wearing a yellow polo shirt, army green cargo shorts and runners. After a quick hello, they chatted for a bit, then Mitch glanced up at the temperature gauge on the wall; forty two degrees.
“Shit it’s hot,” he said, then pointed at the river ahead. “The heatwaves are bouncing off the water. How coool is that?”
Norman gave him a half-hearted smile. He didn’t mind Mitch, but since the trip started, he was paying too much attention to Kristy; which Norman didn’t like. He had always known Kristy thought of him in a brotherly way, but had hoped this cruise may change that... and Mitch hanging around her wasn’t helping.
Unaware of Norman’s sulky attitude, Mitch asked where he got to the previous day, “You missed a great show,”
“I was catching the yabbies’,” Norman mumbled, “an’ I’m not too keen on parties,”
“Those yabbies’ were tasty,”
“Yeah... I cooked some up last night,”
An image of Norman eating alone on Maddy swept Mitch, and he felt a moment of sympathy for him. However the feeling quickly left, when he noticed a flock of emus grazing in the grass, looking as if they were floating amidst the heatwaves. He nudged Norman and pointed.
“Look at that, they’re swimming in the grass,” then thinking he’d give them a scare to see if they were as quick as he’d heard, he reached across Norman to grab the whistle cord. Norman, not happy with Mitch crowding his space, attempted to push his hand away... too late. Mitch gave the cord a jerk, the whistle blew, which startled the birds. Their heads shot up and they bolted, splitting the grass and leaving a passageway of channels in their wake.
“How fast are those suckers,” Mitch chuckled, then noticed Norman’s scornful look; he gave him a meek smile, and left to help Julio get lunch on the move.
By early afternoon Norman had guided Maddy into the wharf of the second town.
Kristy walked to the stage to address the passengers, who were sitting in the dining room to escape the heat.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to enter our second port of call, the township of Emus Edge. Tomorrow we have organised a Fun day at the Fair, with events to run throughout the day. In the morning we will have breakfast at the hotel... you will find programs on the dining room tables with details of the events to be held. As you are aware, we are having a slight heatwave... that’s a Murray River summer for you,” she tittered, “Because we have arrived earlier than expected, we will have time for a cooling swim before we head for the hotel... I would like to invite those who wish to have a splash to join me in the shallow water off a nice sandbar,”
With Maddy comfortably rested against the wharf, Norman was about to rush from the wheelhouse for his gangplank duties when Captain entered.
“You’ve made good time my boy,” he praised. “And I must say, I needed that rest,”
Norman gave a hurried nod then attempted to push past him. He wasn’t happy. Captain had promised he would take over the wheel before the mooring. Earlier Mitch had told him he was keen to have a go at operating the gangplank and Norman wanted to get there before he did something stupid.
Captain noticed Norman’s anxious look and gave him an apologetic smile, “Go on lad your duties await,”
On the pier, Mitch realizing Norman was still in the wheelhouse had looped the mooring lines over the bollards, and extending the gangplank.
He was waiting for Jordie to arrive when he saw the first of the passengers about to disembark. Deciding that someone should perform the departure duties, he raced up the gangplank and reached the deck just as they arrived.
Not having a boatswain pipe whistle and wanting to give them their money’s worth, he stood to attention, placed his thumb and middle finger into his mouth and blew. A high-pitch tune broke the quiet.
The passengers gave him the thumbs up, and a ‘way to go,’ laugh as they filed off heading for the sandbar.
Mitch returned it with a ‘Nothin to it,’ shrug.
Pleased with himself, he decided he’d stay at the gangplank and give the rest a treat... that was until he spotted Norman storming toward him. Mitch gave him a meek smile and moseyed down to the pier.
Having slept late to rest his back, Jordie crawled from his bunk and threw on a Hawaiian flowery shirt, matching board shorts and thongs. He staggered onto the deck and walked down the gangplank. Mitch greeted him and asked if his back was Ok.
“Mmm,” Jordie mumbled and stretched. “I'll survive,”
They were wandering along the pier, when they saw May-lee & Kristy at a nearby sandbar, standing waist deep in the water. Both wore stylish swimsuits. May-lee had on a black one-piece that highlighted the softness of her curves. Kristy wore a deep purple bikini, which complimented her petite figure and tangled auburn hair.
“Hey you two, c’mon in, the water is fabulous.” the girls squealed.
Jordie was about to take up the offer, but another rapid heart flutter changed his mind.
“We’ll check out the pub.” Mitch yelled. He wanted a swim, but thought it best to stay away from Kristy in her scantily clad beauty; worried he may be tempted to steal a kiss, ‘and the last thing I need is my butt kicked,’ he mused.
The girls shrugged and continued to play in the shallows.
Jordie & Mitch amble up the main street. It gave the appearance of an old style American Wild West ghost town, and they half expected tumbleweeds to come rolling toward them.
They stopped at the front of a weatherboard hotel painted Desert Red.
A couple of bench seats were situated on the veranda either side of light-brown double doors. Above the entrance was a caricature of two emus. Their heads were erect and proud; their wings wrapped about each other as if they were dancing.
“Those two birds look light on their feet,” Mitch chuckled then pointed to a sign above that read, ‘The Waltzing Emus Inn,’ “Coool name,”
They climbed the stairs and pushed through the doors into the main bar.
On the right sidewall of the barroom was a large mural of a flock of emus running across a deep red sandy desert. It had a silhouetted sunset as a background. They admired it for a moment and then walked over and sat on a couple of barstools.
A tall good-looking aboriginal man, aged in his mid-thirties, entered from a side door of the bar and greeted them with a broad smile.
After a brief hello, Jordie told him they were working onboard Maddy, “We’ve just moored,”
“I’ve been expecting you… would ya care for a couple of cool ales?”
Both nodded, and he pulled two beers then placed them in front of the boys.
“These are on the Publican.”
“And who’s the Publican?” Jordie asked and had a mouthful of beer.
“I am, Bartholomew Illingworth at your service, but you can call me Bart,”
“The others will be here soon,” Jordie said and placed the beer glass down.
“Kristy told them to have a swim to cool off,” Mitch put in.
“Smart move, this heatwave’s knocked the stuffing outta everyone. The locals are hugging their air-conditioners today I reckon, but they’ll turn up when the sun drops,”
They were chatting to Bart about the trip when they heard the cackling laughter of women from beyond a small service window at the end of the bar.
“What’s in there?” Mitch asked.
“The dining room,” Bart told him, then quickly turned his head when a screeching voice yelled for service.
An elderly woman appeared at the small window. She had frizzy sky blue hair which flickered above enlarged eyes that peered through vintage green horn-rimmed glasses.
“The service is as sluggish as my last husband,” she scowled.
Bart moved unhurriedly toward her, oblivious to her obnoxious attitude.
“Who’s that?” Jordie asked when Bart returned.
“Beatrice Applebee, she and her sister Thelma are discussing tomorrow’s events,” Bart said then suggested they go in and introduce themselves.
The boys finished their beers and amble into the dining room.
Bart couldn’t wait to see Captain, Kristy, May-lee and Norman. He hoped what had been organised would be enough to entertain the passengers. Slim had rang from Limestone Ridge and was ecstatic.
“We made a packet,” he had roared into the phone.
Bart had laughed; Slim wasn’t one to get hyper, so it must have been a doozy of a time.
When Kristy first told him she was starting the cruise, Bart had no idea of what to organise for the entertainment. Kristy was unfazed; she already had a plan of action. “I’ve organised emu costumes to be made... sizes to fit all. We’ll have children’s races throughout the day. The main event will be for the men... we’ll throw in a few hurdles for them to jump over, to make it interesting. With other activities, as well as a merry-go-round and jump castles it’ll create a funfair atmosphere. I’ll bring the costumes on my next visit and organise the heavier equipment to be delivered a week before... that will give you plenty of time to set it up,”
On her next visit, Kristy’s car was loaded with the costumes as well as colourful jockey silks. The emu outfits were made from vinyl and stuffed with foam. They had long necks with a tuff of black woolen hair on top of their heads. Leather reins ran from over the beaks, and synthetic feathers covered the body. Small legs with long black boots hung from the side. A hole in the middle of the costumes was lined with elastic to stretch out for the contestants to squeeze into. Oversized, slip on soft rubber feet with three large toes were to be worn by the competitors. Bart chuckled at the idea of the men running along a racetrack in the costume, then he picked up one of the feet and said, “Won’t these make it hard to run, and jump the hurdles,”
“Exactly,” Kristy giggled. “More fun for the spectators,”
Jordie & Mitch entered the dining room and saw the women sitting at one of the many tables that were scattered about. Beatrice chattered at quick fire pace about how much fun they’d have the following day. The other woman, obviously Thelma, was the spitting image of Beatrice.
At first glance, Thelma seemed to be nodding in agreement. But on a closer look they realized she was snoozing. Each time she inhaled a light breeze whistled through her nostrils. When she exhaled, her upper false teeth inched out to rest on her lower lip. All the while Beatrice jabbered on. At one point her screeching escalated to an ear piercing height, Thelma stirred from her slumber with an almighty snore. She sucked her teeth back into their rightful place, adjusted her vintage green glasses, and concentrated on what her sister was saying.
Beatrice continued on none the wiser.
The boys chuckled at what they had seen and moved toward the table.
“Hello ladies,” Jordie said. “Do you mind if we join you?”
“Are you boys thinkin’ about chatting us girls up?” Beatrice asked and shot them a sharp look.
“N… n... no,” he panicked.
“Maybe they have a thing for twins,” Thelma put in.
“We can’t have you fella’s swooning over girls of our age,” Beatrice stated.
“I don’t mind,” Thelma giggled and sent Jordie a wink.
Laughter came from the service window.
“You girls are such teasers,” Bart called.
“We do like a bit of fun.” Beatrice cackled; then she introduced herself and Thelma, and asked after Kristy & Maylee.
“They’re swimming at the sandbar,” Mitch said.
“I can’t wait to see them,” Thelma smiled.
“Those two are such beauties,” Beatrice exclaimed, “You boys should be making a play for them instead of us elderly chicks,”
Jordie blushed, mumbled something incoherent and decided to go to the bar and get everyone a drink.
Mitch ignored their teasing and sat down.
When Jordie returned with the drinks, the girls filled them in on the next day’s events.
“It’ll be a fun day,” Beatrice tittered, “The kiddies will look a treat in their costumes,”
“And the men... I luuuv a hunk with a competitive edge,” Thelma chuckled and sent Jordie another wink.