Our ANZAC In The Attic

• Chapter 15 •

{ Lucy Hamilton }
"The Gallipoli campaign continues to rage on the coasts of Turkey as we speak," Cassie finished, folding the newspaper and placing it on the table. I didn't say anything, all of it was just a huge mistake, a misunderstanding that no one expected or knew anything about.
"Ollie reckons the Light horse men are top blokes, says he's surprised at how well they've gotten used to trench life," Cassie explained.
"Yeah Shearer mentioned them, said one of them thought of him as a hero," I picked up Alistair who was playing with bells on the floor. "C'mon sweet boy," I lifted him up, admiring his sweet light brown curls and pinky brown lips.
"He's so much like Shearer it's insane," Cassie smiled down at the baby in my arms.
"I know even the way he looks at me reminds me of him," I swallowed hard at the thought of Shearer. Everyday I longed for him and the only thing keeping me from going crazy was knowing his love was strong enough to defy anything.
A pounding knock echoed through the house, "Lucy are you home dear?!" Mrs Shearer bellowed.
"Come in Mrs Shearer,"
"LUCY!" Trevor ran in like a bull at a gate.
"Hey little man," I hugged his head with my spare arm.
"G'day Luce," Lincoln and James said in unison.
"G'day boys, say hello to Cassie," I pointed to a shy Cassie.
Once again in unison, the three boys chorused a g'day.
Cassie smiled, "I might head off Luce I've got to go to work at 10, have a great day I'll come and see you tonight," she kissed my temple then Alistair's head before trundling out the door.
"Charlie enlisted, that's five, five of my boys just gone, John, Graham, Louis and Shearer, I just don't see why he did it, he got home from being away and now he's just gone, Charlie's 24," she collapsed against the table.
A tear trickled down my cheek, how do you console a mother who's lost more than anyone can imagine?
"Louis and Graham have been reported missing, they said that they're looking for them but who would know," Lincoln stared at me, the sadness in his eyes building by the second. I pulled him down into a hug,
"They'll find them I promise," I reassured him. He nodded but all of them had a sense of doubt on their faces.
-
{ Angus Shearer }
"Aye Shearer's back, how was the 48 hours of no sleep mate?" Harry chuckled slapping my back almost making me fall over.
I looked up with tired eyes making them all laugh,
"I am absolutely knackered," I yawned,  taking out a cigarette.
"How many did you get today?" Trig questioned pulling out his matches.
"Lost count," I mumbled as he lit my cigarette.
"Your mother sent you a letter, but it blew away down the trench so it may be a little dirty," Ollie handed it to me.
I slumped down against the trench wall, the letter lodged in my hand, my eyes heavy.
"One, yelled at me today," I yawned,  I was delirious for sure.
"Oi! Shearer!" A familiar voice echoed down the trench. A huge hand forced my aching body to my feet, after blinking my eyes into focus my brother stood tall and strong in front of me.
"John, g'day," I felt my mouth hang open slightly.
"Louis and Graham, they're gone," his eyes weren't hard and cold like they usually were, they were worried and I could tell he was scared.
"Dead?!" I questioned frantically.
"No lost, they've disappeared, no one saw them die but we haven't seen em for a good week," John's heart was racing, I could tell.
"And what am I gonna do about it?" I asked, "I'm not going over the top and you sure as hell won't so what's your plan soldier?" I questioned my big brother who stared at me blankly.
"I thought seeming as you're a sniper you co-"
I shook my head as he spoke.
"I promised Mum I'd look after you boys Shearer, we have to find them, please you've got to help me," John pleaded.
"You've never asked me for help before why are you taking notice of me all of a sudden?" I asked, putting him on the spot.
"I'm sorry little mate," he whispered.
I shook my head and picked up my rifle.
-
We walked down to the beach, my eldest brother and I, our minds racing and I was suddenly in need of a really stiff drink. John was fretting which was particularly unusual, since dad died there was nothing we wouldn't do for mum. Well John went to jail but when he got out and found out dad hung himself on the windmill he knew Mum was his first priority.
"How's Luce going?" John asked ducking under a tent once we made it down the cliffs.
I curled my lips in, "she's good I suppose, last letter she sent she said Alistair wasn't sleeping to well,"
"Alistair? Who's that?" he stopped in his tracks.
"Our little boy, he'd be nearly 3 maybe 4 months old," I explained to him.
"You're a father?" John questioned. "Yes," I replied. He burst out laughing, "bullshit, you're so full of crap Shearer," he stated through his laugh.
I furrowed my eyebrows, clenching my fist as I watched my brother laugh his frightful laugh.
"John there is a Turkish sniper just on that ridge and I can guarantee he has his eye on you, now shut your trap or I'll get Trig onto you!" I snarled, John's mouth slamming shut.
"You're not kidding?" he questioned.
"No I'm not kidding, I have a son in Australia named Alistair Henry and all I want to do is go home, you haven't had one thing to be responsible for in your life and now you do and you screwed it up, you don't need to look after me John, I've got by so far have I not? Graham and Lewis aren't on the peninsula in fact they're on their way to Egypt, they have gun shot wounds, Lou to the chest and Grey to the left shoulder," I slammed the clip board into his chest.
"The army have reported them AWOL, so you've just worried mum more, smart one Johnno," I shook my head and his face dropped.
"I could belt you," he clenched his fists.
"Really? I can't believe you John, watch for snipers and I'll probably see ya when you're in strife, fair dinkum," I turned and started stepping back up the path.
"You've changed Shearer, you used to keep your mouth shut," John yelled, slamming the clipboard on the ground.
"Excuse me sir that's an important document-" a doctor explained.
I turned around, his chest was heaving, I snarled, "you know maybe I have, maybe war just wasn't my thing, maybe because I went from being at the bottom to now I'm actually respected, maybe I have become someone I want to be and someone I don't want to be and I don't think I can handle that, so yes I've changed but you sure as hell haven't,"
________
Will Shearer turn into someone he wants to be?
How will Eli and Elouise found out who he is?
What will happen to Frank and Trig?
What about Lucy?
Find out next chapter...maybe
Xoxo Chloe