Bush Snipers: Exiled but Unbeaten

By Greg Pius

The civil war in Australia has got nasty. After the UN had removed the vulnerable from the city the war got very hot on both sides. The government of President Philip Dent expels all known rebel families. Concerted and lethal military action is used to move on entrenched rebel communities. Others even suspected of supporting the rebels are also banished from the harbor city. Rebel enclaves suddenly spring up near major Australian cities. The National Security Directorate is tasked with tracking down the location of these enclaves. A cyber war division is set up under the leadership of Adam Champion. Cain Flint must hide from both National Security Director Leopold and his arch enemies the Doras sisters who are all expert snipers. The Feelgood family must also leave the harbor city but for other reasons. Hera, Mossy and Hannah must board up up their luxury harbor side home. It is a time of refugees and exiles. Death is a daily reality for all those fighting in this bitter civil war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: May 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781925819250

Book preview

Summer Entitlements

Arriving at the United Nations refugee camp, the largest one in Australia, Flint went looking for Ivan Shakata.  He was about to introduce himself when Shakata beat him to it by exclaiming,

Why if it isn't the great Cain Flint himself. I thought you were on the run from government trackers.

Flint winced when he recalled the many near misses he had with those self same trackers. But he replied calmly,

Well trackers need a trail but I covered mine up too well.

Shakata laughed but Flint did not see any laughter in his eyes. Instead he heard Shakata ask,

What can I do for you Mr. Flint?

Flint squirmed when he heard the name that he regarded still as representing his father. So he made a request when he said,

Please call me Cain . That other name makes me look for Dad.

Shakata was seeing a softer side to this famous killer. He was puzzled, so he enquired,

How are your father and mother?

Flint went pale as he replied,

Not too good. They are both dead.

Shakata saw the pain in Flint's eye but needed to know how much steel was in his heart, so he pried deeper,

"Sorry to hear that, my condolences. What did they die of?'

The pain in Flint's eyes turned to red hot anger. His tone lowered the temperature of the air inside Shakata's tent.   Flint barked out,

Both of them died of pneumonia. It was the government's fault! That's five lives to get revenge for that are blood debts.  If you add in my childhood mates killed by state police officers, then I still need to kill more government targets. I intend to exact a full revenge on government forces.

Shakata had all he needed now, so he tried to sound wise by saying.

Revenge is a never ending road. Once you start on that road there is no rest.

Flint looked for a long drawn out moment into Shakata's eyes. He then said,

 That suits me. As long as I get to kill more government targets.

A shiver ran down Shakata's spine. He knew that he was standing in the presence of a cold hearted killer. So he quickly came to the main point.

"You have not answered my earlier question?''

Flint looked puzzled but soon worked out what Shakata was referring to, so he softened his tone as he stated,

I am looking for a job with your team.

Now it was Shakata's turned to try to stare down Flint. Another mental stalemate had him replying carefully,

"You will need another identity! Luckily for you I can offer both these things. I need a top security officer. Want the job?'

Flint thought about this offer. He asked for some clarification,

You mean you want a bodyguard?

But Shakata shook his heard. He replied in a firm voice,

"I have bodyguards. No I need someone to handle all my security needs personally. Interested?'

This offer surprised Flint but he grabbed at it anyway,

"Yes.. sure...I am interested>'

Shakata needed a more definite answer, so he said,

You don't seem to happy about the job.

Quick to retain this man's goodwill, Flint said,

Its just that I have never done this work before. I have been a lone wolf most of my working life.

Happy that he had the man he wanted, Shakata was willing to be flexible. So he reassured Flint,

You will pick it up as you go, its okay. I have never been a community leader before. We can do on-the-job training together.

Flint smiled and extended his hand,

I'll be in on that, just don't expect too much.

It was whilst they were shaking hands that Flint heard the footsteps. Lots of them.  Nervously he turned to face this unexpected danger. Few jobs he had done started off with such immediate action. But Flint was determined to prove himself. The many footsteps got closer as the noise of running got louder.

                    Doctor Roman Ruffe was also starting a new job. But he had already had an induction period. The doctor he was replacing was so grateful to have been transferred to Ruffe's city position that she had insisted on showing him the country based hospital. roman did not warn her about what she would face in a civil war ravaged city. He did not even tell her about her new posting. The loss of Freya had change Roman from a young softy into a hardened cynic. Rather uncharitably he thought,

Let her find out for herself that life stinks. I give her two weeks before she realizes that it was better here away from all that shooting.

Roman wore a dark look permanently on his face. The woman doctor who he was replacing was struck with how it wiped away Roman's youth but enhanced his attractiveness. She now wished that her transfer was not taking her hundreds of kilometers away. Still she was going to the big smoke. There would be lots of men there for her to date. So she finished her tour with a polite tone of voice when she asked,

Are there any final questions doctor?

Roman stayed silent whilst managing to look even more sad. Misreading this outlook, she softly reassured him.

Look its not too bad here. The teachers at the local school are blow ins like us.

Seeing Roman's quizzical look, she explained,

Sorry that's bush speak for people who are sent here and only stay a short while. Which in this town means less than twenty years.

 Laughing at her own joke, she shook Roman's hand then left the room.

Roman looked around his new office. He had a sickening flashback. In the solitude of that room he groaned out aloud,

Freya! Freya! I will be with you soon my love. Wait for me.

                The Feelgoods were arriving at the family estate. Hera, Hannah, Mossy and Abraham were welcomed like long lost neighbors. The estate manager, Mr. Frank Simmons, had the whole estate staff turn up to welcome this much loved family. Seeing his discomfort when he noticed the physical deterioration of Mr. Feelgood. Hera took charge by saying firmly,

Mr. Simmons my father has a bad case of the flu. He wishes me to thank you and the staff for such a warm welcome. If you give us a few days we will meet with you all for a personal welcome.

Frank Simmons had not been deceived because he had got really close to the man who had hired him decades ago, but he still played along. He remembered Hera as a child. Even then it did not pay to question her motives. So he cheerily said,

We were all looking forward to your arrival so very much. The Feelgood family is cherished in these parts. But let me also say that we were all so sad to hear about Mrs. Feelgood and Miss Hilda. And, of course, her husband. Those rebels have a lot to answer for in my book.

Seeing her father suddenly getting angry at the mention of his son-in-law, Hera quickly concluded with,

Sorry everyone the long trip had taken its toll. Please excuse us. We will see you all tomorrow.

Taking their cue from a signal sent by Frank Simmons, most of the staff made a quick exit. But one elderly woman was not to be put off, she walked right up to Hera and Hannah. Then she said,

What no welcome for your old nanny?

Both girls squealed with delight and hugged this portly woman. They exclaimed,

Nanny? We thought you had retired to your coastal cottage.

Their nanny, baptized Felicia Anne Upright but known locally as Nanny for obvious reasons, pretended to scold her former charges,

Hera have you being using your inhaler like I taught you?   "Hannah what have you done to your hair? Let me comb it for you tonight>'

Both adult woman even sounded like little girls when they replied politely.

Yes Nanny dearest.

Then all three women were lost in hugs and kisses.

Suddenly a small face appeared from behind Hera. Nanny Upright suddenly went white. She exclaimed,

Oh you gave me such a fright. You must be Mosser. Hello dear.  

Hera spoke softly to this much loved woman,

We all call her Mossy.

Nanny Upright showed genuine censure in her look. She exclaimed,

I never approved of your father's nicknames. You know he called me banana? I told him off I can tell you. No this sweet little thing is too beautiful to be called after an insect. We will have to think of a better nickname won't we?

Again the Feelgood women heard themselves chorus,

Yes Nanny dearest.

Nanny Upright took Mossy's little hands and kissed both palms. She spoke in her ultra soft voice, looking right into the girls's eyes when she whispered,

That's my special gift that I give all my special girls.

Mossy gave her a smile that instantly won her heart. But as Hannah took Mossy to show her the gee gees as Mossy called them, Nanny Upright sadly said to Hera,

I knew your mother as a young girl. We were playmates. Its was like I was six again when I looked into your child's eyes.  As for that smile, I remember it from my youth. She is your mother reborn.

Hera felt her heart swell as she said,

I know I see it every day. It has helped me cope this last month. Nanny I miss Mummy so much.

Comforting a crying Hera came natural to this woman, so she said exactly the right thing ,

I know. I miss her too Hera. She was my best friend. Until today I thought that there would never be another Mary Feelgood. Now I know how merciful God really is to us all. He sent us an angel in the form of a child, just like he did all those years ago when your mother was born.

Hera had to admit something to this loved woman,

Nanny I don't believe in God anymore. Sorry but he can't exist as far as I can see.

Nanny Upright was not going to let this go, so she replied in kind,

Luckily he believes in you.  Listen to me Hera Ermentine Feelgood he exists in every good thing in your life. That child of yours is proof of that. Don't think I missed the signs of your old weakness in her breathing. She is asthmatic just like you were at her age. When your sainted mother had to go on those horrid overseas trips with your father, I sat at your bedside every night and prayed for your life. Here you are healthy and cured. You must sit watching your daughter struggle for breath. Well I thought of you as my second daughter. Every time you stopped breathing at night, I stopped breathing.

Now Hera was sobbing but still clutched this woman's hand in a cherished grip. Finally she said,

I loved you as a second mother, Nanny. You could always calm my fears.

Nanny Upright was also crying when she said,

I will always be there for you my little volcano.

Both woman now sat still next to each other as memories flooded their minds.

                    Adam Champion was in deep trouble. His court martial was not going well, with his army appointed lawyer warning him of certain defeat. Then a surprise witness asked the court for permission to give evidence. The prosecuting major saw that it was the spymaster's former pet killer. A commando trained sniper known as Lieutenant Otrera Doras, this sniper had been seconded to the personal service of Australia's spymaster. So the army prosecutor raised no objections to her giving evidence. He was to regret this mistake. 

In the witness box Lieutenant Doras said,

I was there on duty when the spymaster was assassinated!  I saw who shot the fatal bullet.

Forgetting his legal professor's warning about evidence given that has not been first checked, the cocky army prosecutor said,

Good. Please tell the court who that killer was Lieutenant.

Lieutenant looked right at Champion as she exclaimed,

It was Cain Flint!

Summer Revelations

As the sounds of running feet were swamped by the noises of children's laughter, Shakata finally got control of his shaking body. He took pity on Flint by explaining,

                                                Sorry Flint but your facial expression was priceless.

Just then a large bunk of shouting children came racing around the corner of Shakata's tent. It was clear that they were in a race to be the first to touch Shakat's main tent pole. One young female got that honour.  Shakata did not look surprised when he saw this girl be first to his tent. He exclaimed sternly, in a mock tone,

                 Zaheer you are the oldest, you must give the younger ones a head start.

The young girl was not to be deprived of her victory, so she grumpily replied,

I did give them a head start. They are just too slow in running.

Another girl who looked a lot like Zaheer scoffed at this, she interjected,

Hah! You gave us only ten seconds start, I hear you jump from nine to twenty!

Zaheer gave her sister a scolding look and retorted,

Did not.

But her sister felt safe in public, so she shot back,

Did so you big cheater.

The looks on the faces of these two sisters warned of imminent warfare, so Shakata intervened,

"Now you two, what did I say about family fights at school times?'

Both girls were slightly quelled, enough to chorus.

No family fights at school if you want to look cool.

Shakata smiled at these hot tempered girls, he could see they were not yet ready to shake hands so he distracted them both by announcing,

            "Children, today we are lucky to have a visit from one of the rebel army's greatest warriors. I can't tell you his name because its a big secret. You must all promise never to tell anyone, except your Moms, that you have seen him. Never ever. Do you hear me?"

All the children adopted that solemn attitude that kids have when given the trust of a big secret. They all yelled out,

Yes Mister Shakata.

Laughing and smiling to show them how proud he weas of everone of them, Shakata now introduce Flint.

This is Mister Fitzgerald! He has been on the front line in the city. But he will now spend sometime with us. You will see him around my tent a lot. He is not to be considered a stranger but a freedom fighter.

When Flint bowed theatrically to the children they applauded and laughed.

One little boy called out,

"Is he shocking shelled like my Dad?'

Shakata did not need to check to see who spoke, he recognised the voice. This boys father had been caught in the middle of a government bombing raid back in the city. All his father's mates had been killed. His father had survived but was mentally disturbed by all the death he had witnessed. One of the many sick rebel fighters being sheltered by families secretly in the refugee camp, this father did not even regognise his own six year old son. The boy was hurt by his father's refusal to hug him, as he used to do before the war. 

Shakata quickly answered this little voice,

No Simon. Mister Fitzgerald is not shell shocked. He is just resting here with us for a short break.

Seeing the confusion on Flint's face, Shakata explain once he had settled the children down outsidse his tent. He had them all sit down on the grass and get out their tablet computers. These were given to them by UNICEF, a United Nations agency that helped children in refugee camps. Then he got the girl Zaheer to lead the children in their Mathematics drills. This was the prize for coming first in the daily race. Zaheer had not lost a single race that month. It was now getting hot, so all the children wore shorts and sports T-Shirts. The race was long but Zaheer showed no signs of fatigue and/or heat stress.

Shakata drew Flint to a nearby tree, he covered his mouth with an open hand and spoke very softly.

Look Flint you are the most wanted man in this country. The government has you as number one on their black ops hit list. No surprise there really, you have been there since the sports stadium shooting. The shopping mall bombing has also been blamed on you as weel. But lately they became convinced that you killed Machel.

Flint copied Shakata in covering his mouth with an open hand. He was always soft spoken but his voice was very deep. So he deliberately kept if to a little bit above a mumble,

"I wish I had killed Machel. That basta... (remembering the children he cut himself short).....I mean he was a traitor. Machel was doing everything in his power to torpedo the peace talks. He was in on the train bombing, the conference bombing, he organised that stadium shooting not me and he organised the hospital attack.  I know all of that for a fact!'

Shakata looked impressed. He nodded as if it made perfect sense to his way of thinking. Then he whispered,

"I guessed someone was behind all those events. The timing was just to neat to be a list of random acts of terrorism. But even if you show the rebel alliance security people this evidence it won't save you. They now know