'Dig... I'm okay, just got this s.h.i.t of a headache!'

Francis held his head. He closed his eyes. Within a second, they flew open again.

'Karl... Is he...?'

'He's alive,' Digger said quietly. 'They won't let me see him yet; they're still patchin' him up. I dunno how bad he is, mate.' He lowered his face into his hands.

'Have you phoned Mum and Win?'

Digger looked up quickly. 'Oh s.h.i.t! Francis, no, I haven't even thought of that. What the h.e.l.l will I tell them? This is the livin' end. What the h.e.l.l's next?'

'You have to let them know; they'll be worried sick,' Francis implored.

'You're right, mate. You're right. I'll do it now.'

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

The shrilling phone interrupted the silence at Kia-Ora, startling Win and Ellie as they worriedly watched the inferno out at the Gap.

'I'll get it, Win,' Ellie said soberly.

Win followed her sister through to the hallway. A phone call at this hour would not be delivering good news and both women knew it.

'h.e.l.lo. Kia-Ora,' Ellie said softly.

'Ellie... It's Dig.'

He explained in the calmest way he could the events of the night and about Karl, also adding that he did not know a great deal about Karl's condition just yet.

Ellie was wise enough to answer as calmly as possible... although her knees had turned to jelly and she thought they would give way at any moment. Once he also explained that Francis was safe, she was able to keep a steady voice as an anxious Win was listening to her end of the conversation.

'Right, Dig... We'll come in straight away. Okay, bye.'

Once off the phone, she took a deep breath and turned to Win who was watching Ellie with a stricken look on her face.

'Win... Everything is alright. Now stay calm and come and sit down.'

'Ellie... There's been an accident, hasn't there? Dig's okay, obviously. Francis? Karl?'

Ellie urged Win onto a chair as the three younger women came into the room.

'What's happened, Mum? We heard the phone ring,' Kathy said.

'Everything's alright, Kath, but there's been an accident.' Ellie explained everything to the anxious faces watching her. Tammi began to cry and Beth comforted her.

'We'll all go to the hospital. We must see how badly Karl's hurt. Dig couldn't tell me much at this stage,' Ellie said quietly.

'Come on, Mum.' Kathy helped Win to a standing position and glanced at Ellie worriedly.

'Win... They'll be alright.'

'Oh Ellie, I hope so. I hope so.' Her voice cracked.

'Can't this little s.h.i.t box go faster?' Tammi asked anxiously. They had all squeezed into the Volksie and Ellie was already exceeding the speed limit as they headed into Albury to the hospital.

Ellie couldn't help but laugh at her. 'Tam, this "little s.h.i.t box" is going as fast as it can.'

They were all anxious to see what had happened to the men. They were also afraid of what they might face. Karl's injuries sounded bad.

Ellie pulled the car into the car park a few feet away from the casualty entrance. As she locked it, she glanced at Win and asked her if she was alright. Win nodded and walked into the hospital.

Digger saw them as they entered. Francis was sitting up. He gave Ellie a weak smile.

Ellie rushed over and took him in her arms. She hugged him gently. 'Dig said you have a whopper headache, darling?'

'It's getting better now the painkillers have taken effect. Before that, it was a doozy.'

Win stood with her arms around Digger. He then hugged Kathy and Tammi.

'They dragged you in too, Beth?' Dig said, smiling.

'I couldn't have stayed at home; we were all worried sick. I hope you don't mind me being here?' Beth felt a bit out of place.

'h.e.l.l no, Beth. Come here.' Francis held out his hand to her.

She took it and he held it firmly. She felt tears pick her eyes but quickly blinked them away.

'We have to know about Karl. Have you heard any more?' Win's eyes were pleading with Dig for answers on Karl's condition.

'Yeah... A doctor came in about ten minutes before you arrived. They have him sedated. He's in a lot of pain. The head wound is pretty deep, but it's the burns.' Digger faltered.

'Burns... What burns...? How bad are they, Dig?' Win's voice rose and he took her arm.

Ellie looked up from where she was crouched beside Francis. 'How bad is he, Dig?'

'Well... His face is burned, his arms as well. He got trapped in the truck and it caught fire... The b.l.o.o.d.y thing caught fire with Karl in it!'

He broke down and Francis continued. 'They said he's badly burned and it'll take at least two weeks before they'll know what the outcome will be. They say that if he's a good healer, things will look brighter. He can have skin grafts or something.'

'Skin grafts...!' Win's voice broke on a sob. She finally succ.u.mbed to the shock and tears that had been threatening earlier.

Ellie had tears streaming down her face, as did the three girls. This was all far too much too bear!

Eddie and Kathy were outside Kia-Ora, sitting in his car. 'b.l.o.o.d.y s.h.i.t of a thing ta happen, babe. I'm b.l.o.o.d.y sorry about Karl. He's a good bloke, doesn't deserve this.'

Kathy agreed. 'Yes, it's horrible. Things just seem to be going from bad to worse.' She fidgeted with her bag and sat staring out the window.

'What's up, Kath? You've been off the last few times we've got together,' Eddie said.

She sighed loudly and took a deep breath. 'I want to spread my wings, Eddie. I've bought a car and I want to be independent, go it alone. I've got my whole life ahead of me and I want to see what it holds.' She turned to look at him. 'I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not ready for a serious relationship.'

Eddie shifted in his seat and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. 'So, you're breakin' up with me, is that it?'

'I guess so, yes,' replied Kathy softly.

'I kinda thought this was comin' by the way you've been lately. What'd I do, Kath?' he asked, still tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

Tears had formed in her eyes and Kathy quickly blinked them away. 'Eddie, this isn't easy for me by any means, but let's just say I've grown up and am looking at things more clearly.' She knew if she mentioned Dot and the incident at the club it would result in an argument. 'Just leave it at that, please.' She blinked hard again. 'I know it's hard, but we can still be friends, can't we?' Kathy looked at him sadly.

It hadn't taken Kathy much to put two and two together at the club when Eddie and Dot had both been missing for so long. She had decided then that a relationship tainted with deceit wasn't any good for her. She wanted complete trust. Sadly, she didn't have that with Eddie.

Eddie turned to face her and caressed her cheek with his fingers. 'You're a h.e.l.l of a chick, Kathy Miles. You made a better bloke outta me. I'm really gonna miss ya.' He leant forward and brushed his lips on hers. 'Betta head in now, babe.'

'You didn't answer me. Can we still be friends?'

Eddie looked at her with a lopsided smile. 'We'll always be friends, Kath.'

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Smoke hung heavily around Mary's property. The Gap fire had burned for hours and had taken every available man to help the firefighters bring it under control.

Several injuries were sustained, but fortunately, no lives were lost.

Sadly, many wild animals were not so lucky. Baby birds trapped in their nests high in the trees where their mothers had worked tirelessly to build a safe and secure home for their young were now burnt to a crisp. The sky above was blanketed by smoke.

As Mary stood at her kitchen sink gazing out the window, thankful her property was safe, she sighed, willing her phone to ring, hoping to hear Karl's deep voice on the other end.

'Er, missus?' A voice at the back door jerked her out of her reverie.

Mary swung around to face Mick.

'Oh... Mick, please come in. Sit down and I'll get some coffee. You must be exhausted after last night; you were fighting the fire for hours.'

'Yeah, was a h.e.l.luva fire, spread like a beauty she did!'

Mary placed the steaming coffee in front of Mick just as the phone rang, causing her to jump.

'Excuse me a minute, Mick.'

She hurried to the phone, expecting to hear Karl's voice.

'Mary, it's Win. I thought I'd better ring you... It's not good news.' Win paused as Mary interrupted.

'Is it Karl? Emmie? Just tell me!' She was beginning to panic.

'Mary, yes, it's Karl... There's been an accident.'

Win continued to explain what had taken place last night, that Emmie didn't know yet and that only immediate family were allowed in to see Karl.

A devastated Mary hung up the phone after Win promised her faithfully that she would keep her informed about Karl's condition.

Sars hotel was buzzing with the news of the Gap fire and Karl Mason's accident. One drinker in particular was more vocal than the others.

'Strike me pink, I never did like the bloke much, but s.h.i.t, ya'd never wish that on anyone. They say his face is burnt somethin' friggin' terrible!'

Other drinkers nodded in agreement, discussing the accident and fires among themselves. They all agreed whoever was attacking the valley residents wasn't about to give up. He was out to destroy!

The main problem was evident to the cops and the farmers. All the plans, patrols and traps they put in place were useless. This lunatic was going to outsmart them everywhere they turned.

The news about Karl had to be broken to Emmie before she overheard nurses and others in the hospital discussing it. Everyone was talking about the horror that had taken place and all because of the crazed arsonist.

Digger and Francis were back at Kia-Ora, and Sam and Jeff were present as they discussed telling Emmie.

'She has to be told and I think it has to be today. The doctor says Karl is stable, so he's crossed one hurdle. ...Our brother has a few more to cross though.' Sam was visibly upset.

'Yes, you're right, Sam. The doctor said the burns on the side of his face are not as bad as they originally thought. Mum has to know.' Ellie sighed heavily. 'Pray this doesn't kill her.'

The family agreed that Emmie should be told. Sam offered to be the one to break the news. He suggested that Digger, Win and Ellie go with him to help comfort their mother.

Jeff stayed on and chatted with Francis, who had the remainder of the week off work. He was still suffering from headaches after the blow to his head in the accident.

'You know, Francis, anyone would think with all these patrols and stakeouts, we'd sight this b.a.s.t.a.r.d... at least catch a glimpse or somethin',' Jeff said despondently.

'I know. It's like the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's invisible. I'll admit, I'm b.l.o.o.d.y terrified,' Francis added.

Detective Bennett sat at his desk, ma.s.saging his temples, procrastinating over the whole mysterious and frustrating firebug saga.

'Never in all the years of my career as an officer of the law have I been stumped like this! I'm f.u.c.ked if I can think what to do next! The p.r.i.c.k might be insane but he's mighty b.l.o.o.d.y clever... Mighty b.l.o.o.d.y clever... or just sheer lucky... dunno which!'