Great idea Jessica about the aerosol cans. The more the better. So following our stoic Captain Myers he gave orders how to spread out and getting close to the nest Myers laid down a line of aviation fuel but didn't light it, yet. He put a few breaks in the line for our possible retreat. Next came the attack with many hurled Molotov cocktail bombs at the nest. That sent the ants into a frenzy with crackle and popping sounds as the Ants fried, and still they came out in their Legions. Myers ordred a fall back with our fire grenades aimed at the Ants advancing forces, and still they came. "Back behind the fuel line! ordered Myers. As the last man crossed the fuel line Myers set it alight, even dousing the gaps with more petrol, oil and single malt Whiskey. "I'm not crying" yelled Curly, " it's just smoke in my eyes!" From behind the flame barrier the petrol bombs continued to hurled by all. Some Ants got through and many of our small company were attacked and bitten by the Ants but heavy clothes helped greatly. Some of the volunteers even got burnt, having flames everywhere now. Jessica's Aerosol cans made great mini flame throwers frying Ants that got through. They were up in the trees overhead too dropping down to attack. Slowly the tide started to turn and despite burns and bites Myers insisted we push forward to finish them off. People were running up with more fuel and eventually the nest was totally fried and dead. Everyone looked exhausted, dirty and in pain from bites and burns, but still able to smile at the victory. Then, a noise was heard growing louder. It was the first rescue helicopter. Grier opened a bottle of Brandy, took a slug and passed it on.
Captain Wentworth, the remaining soldiers and some able passengers carried the stretchered passengers to the large helicopter while Dr Kildare and his head nurse attended to the worst injured as they were lifted aboard. The helicopter, an American made Pathfinder troop carrier, property of the Australian Army, had room for 6 stretchers and another 6 sitting passengers. The pilot a Lieutenant Swanson and his co pilot Sgt Watson plus a senior medical officer from Butterworth, Dr Bruce Seaton oversaw the loading which took no more than 10 minutes.The passengers watched as the Pathfinder lifted and hovered sending a powerful down draft which blew palm tree fronds plus dust and debris into the eyes of the onlookers, before heading back to the army base.....
"What a great response of Aid we're getting Captain" said Grier half asleep on his feet. "We'll all be out of this madness soon, one way or another. It'd make a great story and several of our passengers and News journalists have been recording events with cameras and a few with 8mm movie reel recordings I reckon, with several cameras whirring .away. Journalists or something like that. I heard one moaning about the Orange Aid...that's silly, Coca Cola, I say! I prefer Pepsi myself." said Grier. "Still, Curly was happy with two almost frozen slabs of Coca Cola .
Other Relief teams came soon by land and air, helicopters, jeeps, Trucks, US ATV's, ... Army Captain Myer said to Flight Captain Wentworth to be the media face, please. His face was red and bulging where he'd been bitten by the Ants, and his hair and skin singed by fire... I don't want my children seeing me so, nor my wife ....
Several days later all of the surviving passengers were safely at Butterworth recuperating from their ordeal while the worst were given the best medical care available at the base before being airlifted to Darwin for specialist treatment. Captain Myers and his soldiers recovered at home with their families for some much needed R&R before returning to Vietnam. All the group survived the war and returned to Australia to face criticism from unknowing people that called them child murderers . It was all a bit too much for Curly who went on the street and lived a hand to mouth existence before being found almost starving to death under a bridge in Sydney. Captain Richard Wentworth had to face an inquiry into the crash but was exonerated from all blame and returned to work six months later along with his good friend and chief stewardess Jessica. He retired five years later and wrote a book about the crash the subsequent three months in the Malayan rain forest, which was published. Colleague and now close friend Grier took time off to travel back to the home of his ancestors, Ireland, even meeting several distant relatives for the first time. He too retired shortly after returning home and continued his travel bug by visiting some of the more remote parts of our wide brown land with his wife and children. He later went into politics and was quite successful.......
Jessica continued her work as an air hostess and she kept in touch with all the cabin crew and friends she had made. Captian Wentworth gave her a signed copy of his book which she treasured. She may well write a book herself one day....
Jake made a discrete stiletto dagger for Molly just in case she ever needed it. One stab with it could be fatal. He made a nice scabbard for it too that could be easily hidden on one's person like strapped to a leg. Jake had several horses of his own and let Molly use a mild one. His was a fiercesome big black Stallion that Jake had different Winter coats for. Even dyes to temorarily slighty change a horse's coat's colour. He knew the tricks. He often rented his nags out too, usually to rich toads that couldn't tell a horse's head from its bum. He told the Reverend and Molly how he could change a horse's appearance. Jake stabled Reverend Flashers steed too and freely as a tithe to the Church. Jake wouldn't broardcast it but he secretly fumed at the excesses of the rich and the desperate lives most poor commoners lived. Eighteenth century England was brutal to the common folk. Reverend Flasher well read Jake's thoughts on the great disparity between the rich and the poor in England. Jake liked the idea of stealing from the rich to give to the poor, to be spent discreetly like credit like here and there and everywhere. Ah, but Molly's the boss. She talked the Reverend and me into this dark venture. With the Reverend signing on I did too. Molly's our quiet behind the scenes leader. She's the one with a sharp mind, engaging personality, and ear for gossip and news. Jake and Flasher knew she was the invisible Queen of Gossip in Romley, and for many lands about. Jake once saw her in deep conversation with a Royal courier. She just smiled at him when she saw him looking.. He didn't need nor want the money for himself, especially a money trail to himself. He was well off enough even caring for his big extended family. He wanted a better England, a better world. This gang of Molly's was a way of soothing Jake's anger at the gross social inequities in England. He'd heard the French proletarians had similar feelings. He hoped like they for a Revolution. Some Australians too, and the Americans. It's a world on fire reaching out for justice... Meanwhile, he was keen to fleece the rich on England's highways and give it to the impoverished masses. Molly knows where to spread the good will, even to grease the palms of discreet landlords... As Jake sharpened his sabre he thought of a better world. Jake was looking forward to melting down their gold and silver pieces in his forge into saleable chunks to sell in mad London town's flea markets and fancy shops including jewellers happy to buy the gems, gold and silver. We planned most coins to go to the most needy first.
Molly loved her stiletto dagger, she had it strapped to her right thigh under her heavy skirts, she could easily whisk it out with her right hand if she felt the need to. She thanked Jake when he presented it to her, she had always had a soft spot for him, he was always enthusiastic and helpful. Molly knew she had to get some information for their next job, she had to get it right if her gang wanted rich pickings. Reverend Flasher would be around soon, he made her laugh as he was fun to be around yet knew when to knuckle down and get on with the job in hand.