Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden Page A

move.
There was no question that we had to try to reach Fi’s house, and
Lee’s. Not because we expected to find anyone, but because five of
us had seen our homes, had seen the emptiness, had been given a
chance to understand, and it was only fair that the last two should
get the same right.
    A truck drove slowly out of the Showground and
to one of the lit buildings, in
    Barker Street
    I think. We stopped talking and watched. It
was the first sign of human life, other than our own, that we’d
seen since the planes.
    Then Homer made an unpopular suggestion. ‘I
think we should split up.’
    There was a whispered howl of protest, if you
can have that. It was different to Kevin and Corrie offering to go
on their own before. They just hadn’t wanted to drag us away from
Homer’s. But now Homer wouldn’t give in.
    ‘We need to be out of town before dawn. A long
way out of town. And we’re running short of time. It’s not going to
be quick and easy, travelling around these streets. We’re getting
tired, and that alone will slow us down, not to mention the care
that we’ll have to take. Also, two people can move more quietly
than seven. And finally, to tell you the truth, if there are
soldiers here and anyone’s caught ... well, again, two’s better
than seven. I hate to mention the fact, but five people free and
two people locked up is a better equation than no people free and
seven locked up. You all know what a whiz I am at Maths.’
    He’d talked us into silence. We knew he was
right, except for the Maths part maybe.
    ‘So what are you suggesting?’ Kevin asked.
    ‘I’ll go with Fi. I’ve always wanted to see
inside one of those rich houses on the hill. This is my big
chance.’ Fi aimed a tired kick at him which he allowed to hit his
shin. ‘Maybe if Robyn and Lee go to Lee’s, what do you think? And
you other three take a closer look at the Showground. All those
lights ... maybe that’s their base. Or it could be where they’re
keeping people even.’
    We digested all this, then Robyn said, ‘Yes,
it’s the best way. How about anyone not wearing dark clothes come
back to the house and help yourselves to some? And we meet back
here on the hill at, say, three o’clock?’
    ‘What if someone’s missing?’ Fi asked quietly.
It was a terrible thought. After a silence Fi answered her own
question. ‘How about we wait till 3.30 if anyone’s not back. Then
move out fast, but come back tomorrow night – I mean tonight. And
if you’re the ones missing and you get back late, lie low for the
day.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Homer. ‘That’s all we can do.’
    Kevin and Corrie and I didn’t need any darker
clothing, so we were ready to go. We stood and hugged everyone and
wished them luck. A minute later, when I looked back, I could no
longer see them. We picked our way down the hill towards
    Warrigle
Street
    , climbed through the Mathers’ front fence and
crept along the side of the road, keeping very close to the
treeline. Kevin was leading. I just hoped he didn’t come across any
creepie-crawlies. It wouldn’t be a good time for him to start
yelling and screaming.
    Although the Showground was on the edge of
town, it was the opposite side to the edge we were on, so we had
quite a walk ahead. But we could move fairly quickly, because we
were well away from the main streets. Not that Wirrawee’s got many
main streets. I was glad that we were moving: it was the only thing
keeping me sane. It was so hard concentrating on walking and
watching and keeping quiet at the same time. Sometimes I forgot and
made a noise, then the other two would turn and look angrily at me.
I’d shrug, spread my arms, roll my eyes. I still couldn’t
comprehend that this might be a matter of life and death, that this
was the most serious thing I’d ever been involved in. Of course I
knew it; I just couldn’t keep remembering it every single second.
My mind wasn’t that well disciplined. And besides, Kevin and Corrie
weren’t as