Rudd and Father Norman find the car park heroes in the kitchen getting supplies together for their walk to Mutare.

 “Morning all. A big thank you to whoever did that clearing in the car park.” Rudd’s voice quietens the room.

“May I also pass on my own thanks, and tell you that the mission truck has started.” The pulpit tone of Father Norman reduces the noise even more, allowing replies to jostle towards them.

“Good news.”

“Cheers.”

“No worries.”

Hansie comes over to them. “Glad to hear your wheels are working Father,” he says, then turns to Rudd. “How long do you think it will take to get from here to Mutare on foot?”

“Depends. Not sure what’s out there, but two days at least I reckon. Best plan is to stick to the roads, and I’ll try to arrange for our Mutare transport guys to pick you up.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ve got a solar charger for my mobile if you need to call. We’ll head off ASAP.”

A shoulder knocks past Rudd. “Thanks for nothing, hey Rudd. Ruan, can you carry this for me?”

Rudd, his response swallowed, watches silently as Aneke’s back disappears into the thick of walkers heading outside behind Hansie. He and Father Norman follow them out, past the red truck, and on to where the security gate lies meshed beneath boulders. Bright t-shirts and laughter clamber around the blockage and disappear into the distance, with Aneke and Ruan bringing up the rear.

Once they are all out of sight, Rudd and Father Norman return to the lodge, and are making their way back to the verandah when they hear the rumble of a heavy vehicle approaching. From the entrance they see an old tractor manoeuvring slowly down through the trees. The driver is elderly, and there is a teenager sitting on one of the wheel arches. When the tractor reaches the mangle of boulders and wire by the gate, it is forced to stop, and turns around slowly, a grader blade swinging behind it.

“Good morning,” Rudd shouts, striding across to greet the driver, who waves cheerfully, his teeth gappy beneath a frayed sunhat.

Within minutes the clearing work begins. Rudd, Father Norman and the driver’s assistant work on foot alongside the tractor, with others joining them now and then. They work for hours, so many that the whole day is turned into a disjointed tangle of clearing and shifting, with occasional breaks for the food and drink being prepared for them in the kitchen. Rudd abandons the task only once, and that is to message through to Mutare about getting a bus out to the walkers.

By the end of the afternoon both the lodge’s truck, and the mission truck are parked up at the top of the hill, and the car park itself is cleared of all major obstacles, the last being the small tree that was on top of Fred and Bernard’s car.

It is dark by the time the driver and his grandson leave. As the tractor descends the hill, Rudd and the exhausted work party stand at the top wrapped in stars, watching as the headlights sway back down to the tea factory.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023