Survival - 8. Surv Chapter 8

“Mtu mzima, anadhani Simba kidogo hawezi kufanya hivyo juu ya kibo cha kulala” (Big man thinks little Simba can’t make it to the top of sleeping Kibo), Keto said to the other porters, and they all laughed, as did Uncle Nat and I, as I turned to face the rude Dutchman.

“Well sir, if you count me recently completing the Kokoda Trail in PNG, with Mt Bellamy at a height of 2190 metres, and completing five other long-distance treks, in Australia, I have climbed Mt Cook in New Zealand, at 3724 metres, and Mt Kosciuszko in Australia, at 2228 metres, both are the tallest mountains in those countries.

I have climbed the tallest mountains in each of the five Australian states, that vary from 1253 metres to 2228 metres, plus two other mountains in Australia, Mt Augustus, the world’s biggest monolith, at 1105 metres, and St Mary’s Peak at 1168 metres, as well as climbing to Everest Base Camp at 5364 metres, which I count to be 10 in total.

Also, Mt Cook and EBC do involve snow and ice climbing with ropes, so I think I am qualified enough to climb this magnificent mountain” I responded, which brought laughter and cheers from most of the other climbers, and all the porters.

“Nenda Simba, enda Simba” the porters started to chant, as they walked away from the group for a little while, which really annoyed the Dutch group, and all I could do was smile, and I joined the porters, as they danced around for a little while.

We didn’t hear anymore from that climber, or his two friends, for the whole of the climb up to the top of the summit, as they kept to themselves, especially when they were teased about been out smarted by a teenager, from some of the other climbers.

At some time, during the climb, the Dutch group, where made aware that although I wasn’t born here, I did spend the first four years of my life in Tanzania and spoke fluent Swahili. When we reached the summit, Uncle Nat and I had a photo’s taken a few times by the guide, with our phones, and several group photos were also taken.

When we arrived back at the bungalow, 9 days after starting the trek, there was no sign of Afya, but we found a note on the kitchen bench, “Welcome home, I have gone to do some shopping, I will be back by 3 pm, Afya” the note read, and then I noticed the newspaper, which had avery recent photo of Uncle Nat and I, at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, “Err Uncle Nat you better come and have a look at this” I called out to my uncle, who was sorting our dirty clothes from our trip.

“Australian 16-year-old lad reaches the peak of yet another mountain” “The recent achievement, isthe teenagers 11th peak since he began hiking and climbing, as a 12-year-old, with his Uncle Nathan, a Major in the Australian Army. Although born in Australia, Jacob S Blackwood, spent the first four years of his life in Tanzania, where the family still have a family holiday home.

The teenager has successfully completed the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, and in Australia, the Bibbulmun Track and Cape to Cape trek, in Western Australia, a 99 km trek in the Kosciuszko National Park, the 82 km long Overland Track in Tasmania, and the Fraser Island walk in Queensland.

At 5 895 metres above sea level, Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest peak he has climbed so far, according to a family friend who was a porter on the recent trek, but his toughest mountain climb was last year when he and his uncle climbed to the Mt Everest Base Camp in Nepal, at 5600 metres, and Mt Cook in New Zealand, at 3754 metres. At time of printing, it is not known what the teenagers next achievement will be, but we wish him well”.

“Well it looks like we have a famous teenager now” Uncle Nat said to me after he finished reading the front-page news article, and I just groaned, “I better call your parents to let them know about it” Nathan added as he checked his watch to work out the time difference, and dialled the number, putting the call on loud speaker.

“Hello Nathan, yes we have seen the news, how was it?” my mother said when she answered the call, “It was awesome mum, sorry about the publicity, we had no idea that we were going to be in the news” I responded, “That’s ok dear, as long as you both made it back down safely, that is the main thing.

I remember when your dad and I climbed Kilimanjaro, shortly after we married, it was an amazing experience to look out over the plains and hills of Tanzania and Kenya” Mum said.

After the call ended, I went to relax in my room, and at the end of theday, we had a mini celebration dinner, for yet another successful climb. For the next few days, Uncle Nat and I were busy with painting the inside and outside of all three bungalows, and Nanny had made up new curtains for all the bungalows, plus we had made the necessary repairs to the furniture, so the place is ready for any guests that we may have in the future.

I was quite sad when the time came for us to fly back to Australia, Uncle Nat had managed to change the flights, so we could possibly avoid any media, when we arrived home, so instead of flying to Cape Town and onto Perth, as originally planned, we boarded a flight bound for Singapore.

Uncle Nat had contacted my school, to let them know that I would be a few days late, and when we arrived in Singapore, just after 6am, the next day, we were both pleased to see no sign of any media, as we gathered our luggage and headed to Customs.

Uncle Nat informed me during the trip that we would be spending 16 hours in Singapore, and that he had booked us into a hotel room, so we could catch up on some sleep, before we go and do some shopping, with our flight to Adelaide, due to leave at 11.45pm.

By the time we landed in Adelaide in the late morning the next day, I was exhausted from all the travelling, and I just wanted to get back to the base, to get some sleep. Once again, there was no sign of any media, as we passed through the large doors into the arrival’s hall, where Uncle Nat gave me a little nudge and smiled.

When I looked up, I too smiled when I saw two men, although dressed in Civvies, they were clearly Army, and we were soon escorted to a waiting vehicle, and whisked away from the airport, thankfully with no media in pursuit. I spent the rest of the day just relaxing in the lounge room, of Uncle Nat’s quarters, while he had to go and report into his commanding officer.

The next morning, Uncle Nat made sure that I was up extra early, since it was the first day back to school for me, and he drove me into the city, to make sure that I was not hassled by anyone, and we arrived at the school at 7.30, just as the administration building was being opened by the deputy headmaster.

“Good morning Mr Blackwood, did you have a good time in Tanzania?” the Deputy asked me with a big smile, “Indio, ndio, ilikuwa ya ajabu – Yes Miss, it was wonderful” I replied in Swahili then English. “What was that language you said just now?” the Deputy Headmaster asked.

“That was Swahili, Miss, it all came back to me when I was reunited with my Nanny, who still looks after my former home, on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania” I replied, “That sounds like an interesting story, I look forward to hearing about it, for now, you better head to the library, where you can stay out of sight till first bell” the Deputy Headmaster said to me, and I smiled, and headed for the library.

“Hey Blackwood, get your scrawny arse outside” I heard someone said, and as I looked up, I saw one of the Librarians giving a student, a lecture on manners and staying quiet in the library. I stayed where I was until the first bell sounded, before I reluctantly headed out of the library, where I spotted Miss Hampton and another teacher chatting close by, and when they began to walk ahead of me, I smiled, as I was being discreetly escorted to my first class.

At morning break, and lunch, I retreated to the library to stay away from as many people as possible, and as I was reading a book during lunch, that I noticed a shadow over me, and looking up I saw a new face, who smiled at me. “Hi… I am Langley, I am new here, can I sit beside you?” the boy said shyly, and I nodded my head and kept reading.

I saw in my side vision that he was looking at me, and eventually I put the book down and sighed. “What year are you in err… Lang was it?” I asked, “It’s Langley, and I am in your year, I was in three of your classes this morning” the boy whispered cheerfully, with an unusual accent. “Oh ok, sorry if I didn’t notice, I have been trying to deal with my own problems at the moment” I said back to the lad, as I looked him over properly for the first time.

Just at that moment the PA came to life, “Attention all senior cadets, report to the administration building immediately, that is all”, the headmaster announced.

“I am sorry, but I am one of those, I have to go, nice to meet you” I said as I stood and made my way out of the library and straight to the admin building, where we were directed into the conference room.

As I stepped into the conference room, I was surprised to see Brigadier Purnell in the room, along with our School Cadet Captain - Mr Anderson, both is full dress uniform, and I snapped to attention and saluted to the Brigadier. “At ease boys” the Brigadier said, and everyone was silent. Moments later Miss Hampton walked into the room with Langley, and I was wondering what the heck is going on.

“Senior Cadets, as you are all fully aware you have joined the Army cadets to learn and train in the Australian Army, well now we have been issued a special request coming from the Prime Minister himself, may I introduce Brigadier Purnell, based at Woodside Army Barracks, just out of the city” Miss Hampton said to all of us.

“Cadets, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I am asking you, that during school hours, to become a security detail for young Master Langley Sanders here. His father is His Excellency, Mr Carter Sanders, Consular General of Canada” the Brigadier announced to us five senior cadets in the room. The Cadet Under Officer – CUO, stepped forward, “Sir we would be honoured to do this for you” Christopher Harding stated.

“That is good to hear Cadet Under Officer, now because this is a national matter, we have chosen to select a person to oversee this security detail, and as it happens we have the perfect person for this” the Brigadier said as he looked directly as me, and I gave a small smile and nodded my head in understanding.

I snapped to attention once again, “Sir, if I may have a moment with CUO Harding, outside please” I asked, “Go ahead, Corporal” the Brigadier said stating my honorary rank, and I motioned Chris to follow me out the door.

Once outside, and the door was closed, I retrieved my wallet from my inside pocket of my blazer, “What the hell is going on here Blackwood?” the CUO demanded, and I pulled out my Army ID and showed it to him. CUO Harding stared at it for a few moments looking confused, “this looks like an official Army ID card, and the Brigadier called you Corporal, which it has on this card. I repeat, what the hell is going on?” Harding asked.

“Because of a situation that happened last year, and as you know my uncle is a Major in the Army, I had to assist with a serious situation, as I was unavoidably caught in the middle of it. I am a sworn-in member of the Australian Army. Do you see those small letters and number in the bottom right hand corner?” I began to explain, and Chris nervously nodded his head.

“That means I have an Australian Government level 3 security clearance. Now although I am going to be overseeing this detail, I would like your assistance with running it, but you must not reveal anything that I have just told you, about my security level or my regular Army involvement” I said to the CUO.

“Can we sit down and talk about this some more?” Chris asked me, “Yes mate, we will be having daily briefings, now let’s get back inside” I replied, and I turned and went back into the conference room and nodded my head to the Brigadier. “Right, now CUO Harding and Staff Sergeant Blackwood, will be jointly running this detail, as it happens, at least two of you senior cadets are in all of Mr Sander’s classes, so this will make the job a lot easier, on behalf of the PM, he thanks you for doing this and good luck” the Brigadier said.

“Squad, attention” Chris bellowed, and we all snapped to attention, the Brigadier did the same and saluted, before leaving the room, “Squad, at ease” I said once the Brigadier and school Army officer – Mr Anderson, had left, along with Miss Hampton, and Langley. “Take a seat please lads” I asked, and the other three senior cadets looked at Chris, “Do as he says” Chris snapped, and once everyone was seated, they all looked in my direction.

“Now, I cannot give you any details, but because my uncle is an Army Major, and I am currently living at Woodside Army base, that is part of the reason for my involvement in this, as I have inside knowledge of what happens at the base. CUO Harding – Chris, will have overall command of this detail, which is to remain for our eyes and ears only, no one else in the cadet unit or the school, is to know that Mr Sanders is under our protection.

“We will try and do this as discreetly as possible, and as Miss Hampton stated, at least two of us are in his classes at all times. Chris and I will make up a roster, where we will take it in turns to watch Mr Sanders during morning break, lunch break, and before and after school, while he is on school grounds. I have not been fully briefed by the Army, about this yet, but I am sure I will, as soon as I get back to the base this afternoon.

In the meantime, whoever is in classes with Mr Sanders, just keep a close watch on him, to make sure he comes to no harm from anyone, including our school bullies. That is all for now, except please meet back here, in cadet uniform, at 0755 tomorrow for a briefing, before school starts, thanks” I said and everyone left the room, and I remained in the room.

Langley entered the conference room soon afterwards and smiled to me, “I knew you were a special person, thanks for looking out for me” he said to me, “Look mate, we have just met, and I am under orders to watch you, so don’t think this is a special favour ok, I am just doing what I am being told” I replied, and right away I could see that I had upset him, as he turned and ran out the door.

“What did you just do to Mr Langley?” Miss Hampton demanded a few seconds later, “Damn, I’m sorry Miss, I was a little insensitive. I told him that I was doing this because of orders, and that was all. I will go and apologise to him” I said in response as I stood up and made my way through the door and out of the building, and when I couldn’t see him, I began to panic, as I felt my mobile phone vibrate.