Page 36 of Ruby’s Outback Love

Sweat broke out on my face as I carefully bounced her to the ground, or as carefully as I could. Dragging and pulling, we finally reached Kirra and I lay her down beside the child before dropping to the ground myself. I was exhausted and my head felt like it was about to explode – the plane beat my head to it.

The explosion caused the ground to shake, I imagined it was how a small earthquake must feel. Pieces of metallic debris shot up into the air but stayed well clear of where we were. Flames danced towards the sky as metal twisted and popped.

I heard the sound of sirens off in the distance – help was on its way. Feeling relieved, I closed my eyes and tendrils of darkness wrapped around me.

***

PHIL

“Phil! Now! Hurry!” Ann, one of our junior constables was white as a ghost, all semblance of colour gone from her face.

I sprang from the chair, where I’d been seated at my desk doing paperwork and hurried to her side.

Without another word, she grabbed my hand and dragged me through the building until we were outside. When she lifted her hand and pointed, I peered off into the distance. Large orange flames leapt skyward.

“I was at my desk when I heard a loud bang, raced outside and a few minutes later, there was a loud explosion. I think a plane has gone down out near the Wise property. It’s close to the airport and I can’t think of another explanation for it, she said. “

“Fuck!” I dragged a hand over my head as a cold, foreboding sensation wrapped around me. “Call ambulance and fire brigade and ask Mick to meet me out back at the car.”

Ann hurried back inside while I headed for my police vehicle, slid into the driver’s seat and started the motor. Mick slid in beside me seconds later and before he even got a chance to strap in, I took off in the direction of the flames.

“What’s happened, boss?” Mick clicked his belt in place.

I pointed off to my right where the flames had increased in height and were a serious threat to the dry land around them. “Ann heard a loud bang and when she went outside to check it out, there was an explosion. She thinks it was a plane.”

“A plane? Did she see it go down?”

“No, but it’s close to the airport and like her, I can’t think of what else it could be.”

Mick nodded. I flipped on the siren, allowing us an unhindered run as we passed through town. As we approached the scene, I glanced in the rear vision mirror, an ambulance and fire unit followed close behind.

When we came to a cattle gate leading onto the property, Mick climbed out, opened it and once all vehicles were through, closed it again. Mick climbed back into the passenger seat, not bothering with the seatbelt. Cows glanced up, giving us a disinterested stare as we sped past.

Wreckage of what once had been a small aircraft came into view. I prayed no-one had been trapped on board.

“There.” Mick pointed to the left.

About thirty metres from the plane appeared to be bodies lying on the ground. I headed towards them, drew the car to a stop and leapt out. Mick followed close behind as I hightailed it to the passengers.

“Ruby!” I shouted in terror when I first noticed she was one of those on the ground.

She couldn’t be dead. I couldn’t lose her. It couldn’t be too late for me to tell her how’d I felt. How I’d always felt. The burn of tears fogged my eyes.

Racing to her side, I dropped to my knees and noted the gash on her forehead which oozed blood. Her chest rose and fell steadily, assuring me she wasn’t dead.

Functioning on adrenalin and not thinking clearly, I started to pull her into my arms but stopped abruptly when Nathan, one of the ambos yelled at me.

“Phil, don’t move her!”

I immediately stayed my action. Nathan was right, we had no idea what injuries Ruby might have sustained. Kneeling beside her, I gathered her hand into mine and waited.

Nathan flicked his gaze between Ruby and the other woman, who appeared to be more severely injured.

“Otis will take care of Ruby in a few seconds.” Nathan knelt down beside the other woman and began checking her injuries. She had a large plaster across her forehead and a white bandage around one of her thighs. The wound was large, jagged and blood trickled from it onto the ground.

Nathan’s partner – Otis, approached Ruby. He carried a black bag identical to Nathan’s and knelt down beside us. Her eyes flickered open and she gazed at me. I’d never seen a prettier sight and for the first time since I’d arrived, I was able to breathe.

“Is Elouise okay?” she asked quietly. “She severed a major vessel in her leg and lost a lot of blood.”