Ben grabbed his hand and managed to get to his feet as the torrent of water continued to batter them. He was still winded, but at least the soft landing meant no bones were broken. ‘Stop whingeing like a Pom, Jake,’ he panted, ‘and tell Dad to take that flaming bowser somewhere else.’

The jet of water stopped abruptly, and without a word of apology his father drove the bowser away. But as Ben doubled over, hands on knees to try to get his breath back, he heard more warning shouts coming from across the clearing.

He shook his head, blinking away the muck and water in his eyes and stared in horrified fascination as an army of willy-willies went spiralling merrily over the ground, picking up more blazing tumbleweed, bits of fiery twig and fallen leaves, swirling them up into the air and carrying them before the wind.

The youngsters were chasing after them with whoops of excitement, competing with each other to catch and smother them.

Bob Freeman and the big man from Windorah brought this game to an end by shooting down the whirling fireballs with jets of water as if they were on a firing range.

Ben grinned at Jake. ‘It’s like the gunfight at the O.K. Corral,’ he said, ‘only with giant water pistols instead of six-guns.’

He looked around him and noticed how the atmosphere had lightened after this moment of fun. His dad and the man from Windorah were laughing uproariously, the boys were wearing great big grins despite looking like drowned rats and everyone’s humour and energy seemed to be restored. They would see this thing through.

*

Hugh opened his eyes and looked at his family in confusion. ‘What happened?’ he asked, his voice sounding strangely muffled.

‘You had a minor heart attack,’ said Jane, her lovely face grey with weariness and anxiety. ‘Milly and Delilah brought you in an hour ago.’ She took his hand. ‘Terry said you were lucky this time, Hugh, but it’s a strong warning that you’ve been doing too much and must take it easy from now on.’

‘How’s the baby? Are he and Milly all right?’

Her grip on his fingers tightened and her expression became very serious. ‘They’re absolutely fine,’ she said, ‘but I want you to promise you’ll do as you’re told and never scare me like this again.’

He realised he was wearing an oxygen mask and dragged it from his face so he could speak properly. ‘I’m sorry, Jane,’ he rasped through a dry throat. ‘I didn’t do it on purpose.’

Jane’s blue eyes became steely. ‘But you knew you weren’t well, didn’t you? Millicent found these in your pocket.’ She rattled the small brown bottle of pills in front of him. ‘I’m a nurse, Hugh. I know what these are for, so don’t even think about arguing with me.’