Our ANZAC In The Attic

• Chapter 13 •

{ Elouise Green }
"We've got to do something Elouise, we have to read ahead," Eli proclaimed, shovelling a mouthful of mash potato into his mouth.
"Why would we do that?" I questioned, sipping at my wine. I felt very mature drinking my Cardinham Estate cabernet.
"Because I need to find out more," Eli took a bite of his chop.
"This wine is good, I should order some for our wedding," I drained the glass.
"Don't change the subject, Shearer is more than just a name in a diary, he is a man in a photograph with a fiancé and a baby, we've read a lot of his diary and quite a few letters and we aren't about to find out his name any time soon, I want to go to Canberra, I want to walk into the war memorial that is lined with Mintaro slate and find out everything there is to know about this family," Eli leaned forward, his fists holding himself up.
My mouth gaped open, Eli hated the city. Like I mean he was terrified of the whole idea of 'the city' he's been there twice and both times I almost had to take him to hospital.
"You want to go to Australia's capital city?" I questioned slowly.
Eli's eyes focused on me, "Yes I do because he has been sitting in our attic for what? 100 years? His story untold, I realise that his fears were a lot greater than mine and if Shearer can run onto the beaches of Gallipoli then I can walked the streets of Canberra," he slumped back in his chair.
To say I was shocked was an understatement. This guy had grown up, "ok fair enough we'll read ahead," I stated, almost as soon as I said that Eli was up in the attic.
I grinned, I was going to marry him.
_
"Alright so 24th of May 1915," Eli began.
"Dear Diary, today the boys and I did something equally horrible as it was beautiful. I didn't think I'd have to seeming as I'm a sniper but instead I was asked to go first. The Turks called a temporary armistice, to sort Australian and Turkish soldiers that lay in no-mans-land. Quite the gruesome business but it must be done.
As I poked my head above the parapet my heart began to race.....
______
{ Angus Shearer }
"Right gentlemen, an armistice has been declared," the sergeant announced.
Our hearts stopped, this couldn't be true.
"But only for today," he finished and so did our thoughts.
"You will be sorting the dead to their appropriate sides and we will be burying them, later this afternoon, now we need one volunteer to step over first," his eyes met every single one of ours. They were dark and unsure and I honestly had no trust in this man.
Everyone fell silent, each one of us not wanting to think of this as suicide.
"Yep," I flung my hand up.
"No Jesus!" Ollie ripped it back down.
"Why not? It's an armistice, they're not firing, we're not firing, what's the worst that could happen?" I gulped.
"It could be fake a way of beating us!" Harry exclaimed, the look in his eye frightening me.
"She'll be right mate," I breathed out slowly.
"Right, good on ya Private Shearer," the sergeant seemed hesitant.
"Goodluck Shearer," someone bellowed, his accent was different.
I looked over and saw a man I never thought I'd meet.
There was only 17 Australian snipers on Gallipoli that I knew of and Billy Sing was the best. He could shoot a running rabbit with a one pence pistol from the General store, boy oh boy was he good. He was Chinese-Australian and I had an endless amount of respect for him.
"Oh thanks Billy," I felt my voice shake with nervousness, I wasn't scared, I was standing in front of a legend.
"Mate please it's an honour, I hear you're the best sniper on Gallipoli," he stated, my heart beat a little faster when he said that.
I gulped, "oh well you've probably got that title mate,"
Billy clicked his tongue, "I wish brother, now start climbing," he ordered.
Step by step my feet rose up the ladder, I held my breath the entire way, once my head was over the parapet I swear my heart stopped. Billy's shaking hand held my calf, he was just as scared as me.
"Go for it mate just step up over the wall," he whispered. Harry's and Ollie's eyes were wide with fear, their fingers were crossed and they were counting their lucky stars, or that may have been me.
I had both feet firmly on the battle field, my back was straight and I hadn't had my head shot off. I didn't waste anytime, I began walking a little further. I stopped when I heard shuffling of feet, a young Turkish man, no older than me made his way over to me. He put out his hand, "Hello Australia," he murmured nervously.
"G'day mate," I shook his outstretched hand.
"I speak very little English," he said.
"I speak even less Arabic," I smiled, he laughed.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes from both sides peered over the parapet, watching our every move.
"I learn English at ahhh education," the Turk stuttered.
"School and I only speak Australian," I said making him laugh again.
"I'm Shearer," I told him.
"Altan," he replied.
He was placid and calm as he breathed out his nervous breath.
"Skin darker than their's, dirtier," Altan's fingers touched my cheek.
"Oh i'm aboriginal, indigenous Australian," I explained, trying to find words he understood.
Altan thought for a few moments, "Anatolian, indigenous Turkish, like me" he looked astonished.
I felt my eyes light up, "Oh yeah, yes," I stuttered.
"Your army is very regimented," I stated as we lit a cigarette each.
"Yes well general believes the war will be won with precision, I do not, you Australia are full of pride, Pride will win the war," Altan exclaimed.
"We're really just a bunch of larrikins who wanted to see the world, our morals are very different from what they were 8 months ago," I explained.
Altan grinned, "you to modest Australia," he slapped my shoulder.
One by one soldiers began filing over the top and getting to work.
"My wife she have baby a few week ago, I never meet my daughter yet," he handed me a photograph of a woman holding a tiny baby.
"She's very beautiful, you're very lucky," I said.
"Yes I am, you have family?" He asked. I pulled the photo from my pocket, "this is Lucy, and baby Alistair, he was born on April 25th," I handed it to him.
"1 month tomorrow," he smiled.
"Yes 1 month," I repeated.
"1 month we have been in hell," he whispered under his breath.
I nodded, "If we do make it out of this war who knows how old our kids will be,"
The Turk shook his head, "I tell you, waste of time, you, me we need not be here, our side lose war for sure, your side, stronger, bigger, different tactics, I loose two friends, my war is done," his lips formed a frown.
"Nothin' we can do mate," I told him.
Altan sighed; "you good man Shearer,"
"You're a good man Altan," I smiled and we got to work.