Page 226 of The Storm Boys Series Collection

“Police, ambulance, or fire,” a woman’s voice said.

“Police. Ambulance, coast guard. I don’t know. Someone. I need a medevac—”

“Sir, what’s your emergency?”

“My boyfriend just got struck by lightning,” I said, tears burning in my eyes. “We’re on Oxley Island at the weather station. He’s breathing now, but he’s in a lot of pain. He doesn’t look too good.” I sobbed. “Please send someone. Please hurry.”

* * *

I don’t even knowwhat happened in the minutes after. In the eternity after. I’d never been so happy to hear a helicopter in my life. I cried with relief at the sound. In fear too.

I’d never been so fucking scared.

Jeremiah was a little more aware. He was breathing okay but he still couldn’t seem to speak, and he kept trying to sleep.

He was so damn weak.

By some miracle, the chopper landed up on the beach, and two medics ran over to us. They wore the green overalls and white helmets, just like you saw in the movies.

And they took him, just like you saw in the movies too.

I somehow had the cognizance to ask them where they were taking him.

Royal Darwin Hospital.

I was supposed to wait for the coast guard boat to arrive, but there was no way.

No fuckin’ way.

The coast guard could arrest me or fine me or do what the fuck ever they had to do. But I wasn’t waiting.

I collected the crate and threw it onboard, unmoored the boat, switched off the location beacon, and hit the engines.

I radioed the coast guard as I drove out toward Croker Island. I gave them the boat registration and told them my intended destination. I told them to call off the emergency, the vessel was fine, and I didn’t need their help because I was fine.

I was not fine.

I was so very far from fine.

I steered the boat through the rain and rough swells with more speed and less caution than I probably should have for what felt like hours, and I had to keep remindin’ myself to slow down because I’d be no use to Jeremiah if I capsized.

And I needed to see him.

As I came in south of Melville Island and as my phone beeped with a signal, I dialled my dad.

“Hey, Tull,” he said.

As soon as I heard his voice, I burst into tears. “Dad, Jeremiah’s been taken to the Royal hospital. I’m coming back now. I’m just at Melville Island. I’ll bring the boat into the marina, but I’ll need a car or a lift to the hospital.”

I don’t even know how I managed to speak or how he managed to understand me. But he was on it like I knew he would be.

I came into the main marina dock where he’d told me to go. There was no time for parking and mooring in our allocated bay. I didn’t even shut the engine off. As soon as I got close, Dad stepped on board, I stepped off, and he took over. Mum put her arm around my shoulder and ran me to my waiting car.

“We’ll be right behind you,” she said, opening the passenger door for me.

Ellis was in the driver seat.

Like a military operation, my family had never let me down.

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