‘I have orders from the Office of the Prime Minister to investigate whether these premises are being used to produce materials which would stop a citizen from volunteering for the war effort. Such materials are in contra …’ he stumbled over the word.
‘Spit it out, son!’ Mick yelled. The crowd laughed, even a couple of the coppers, and a lot of the soldiers managed smirks. The officer’s face darkened but he did not avert his gaze from O’Hagen. Mick looked pleased with himself.
‘Such materials are in contra-vention of Section 4 of the Commonwealth War Precautions Act Amendments of 1916. I am authorised to search for, seize and destroy any such materials.’ The crowd growled as the troops began to fidget with their rifles. O’Hagen though, looked unperturbed, steadily meeting the younger man’s gaze.
‘You’ll find nothing in there but publications printed by the duly elected Government of the Colony of Queensland,’ he explained. Mick sang out,
‘State! You mean the State of Queensland!’ O’Hagen reddened a little. Of course he did. It’d only become a State sixteen years ago and he’d been a copper close to twenty-five, an easy mistake in the circumstances. Still, he stood firm, confident and calm as all his years’ service had taught.
Joe responded to the tension around him, taking the opportunity to move closer. He reached to take Molly’s hand, squeezing it gently, leaning to her ear,
‘Be ready to bolt if needs be.’
She squeezed back acknowledgement. Joe knew Mick could not see their hands, just them close together, both craning to see.
The eyes and ears of all: the small crowd, his band of coppers and the army coves, followed every movement and every word. It was like watching boxers dance around the ring before the first punch. O’Hagen addressed his adversary as an equal, as though they’d had a spot of unpleasantness at The Queensland Club during an evening of cards.
‘I understand what you’re saying, sir. But there seems to be a bit of a … problem,’ he explained. ‘I must be making myself crystal clear here. I’ve had my orders, from Premier Ryan no less, to ensure that the printing of the proceedings of the Parliament of Queensland, The Hansard, which is taking place inside this building, is protected, and protect it I will, sir,’ before he added, perhaps for effect, ‘by all means necessary!’
It was the Captain’s turn to look perturbed. The tension of this public confrontation, in front of his men, was not what he was trained for. He couldn’t very well shoot the Queensland Police!
‘But blow it all, man!’ he remonstrated. ‘We’re both on the same side. Let us have a look and we’ll be on our way.’ O’Hagen stepped towards the Captain until he was close enough to speak quietly. His constables closed ranks behind him.
‘You and I both know Ryan’s read his “No” case into Hansard and he’s going to hand them out on street corners. It’s a dirty trick, but this is the proceedings of a duly elected Parliament we’re talking about here. Stop them printing it and it will be like the Commonwealth declaring war on the State of Queensland. We can’t have it. Hughes’ll just have to cop it sweet!’
O’Hagen stepped back.
‘I’ve had my orders, sir,’ he repeated.
‘Damn it, man, so have I!’ the Captain yelled. He removed his cap, ran his fingers through brilliantined hair, and conferred with his sergeant. The performance was all too much for Mick,
‘Put in the boot, O’Hagen!’ he yelled loudly. ‘Put in the boot!’
The Captain swung back to fix Mick with a murderous look. The crowd agreed, catcalling and goading. Some of the soldiers and plods looked perplexed but most seemed ready to go a couple of rounds.
‘Let me deal with the public, sir,’ O’Hagen suggested above the noise. ‘Law and order’s my job.’
He nodded to his men. A couple of coppers advanced on Mick and some other rowdies, while a few more strolled meaningfully towards the crowd. Joe stepped back, pulling on Molly’s hand. She resisted, pulling back.
‘Molly we need to go,’ Joe urged.
‘I’ll be waiting for Mick and Tomas to get down and come with us,’ she insisted.
‘They’ll catch up,’ Joe said pulling her hand hard. ‘You know Mick’ll land us all in hot water again. I’m tired. Come on.’
‘You’ll be letting me go this instant, Joseph Hill,’ she hissed, twisting her hand from his. ‘I’ll not be told what to do by any man.’
From the corner of his eye Joe caught Mick watching. He released his grip, stepping away, but his temper was frayed by too much argy-bargy and too much lovey-dovey.
The Captain calmed a little at the police action and O’Hagen took the opportunity of the turn of mood and the product of a few moments’ unpressured thought.
‘Might we consider a compromise, sir?’ he suggested.
The Captain, nonplussed, nodded.
‘What say I take you and a couple of your men for a guided tour of the Government Printing Offices and we’ll see what this is all about?’ Adding in a stage whisper,
‘Honour will be satisfied. All orders carried out.’
The Captain agreed with a preemptive nod, his voice belying his relief as he issued his orders,
‘You two men with me. Corporal stand your men easy.’
The policemen circulated through the crowd.
‘Nothing more to see here. Move on now. Home you go.’
‘What? So that’s it?’ Mick shouted at O’Hagen. ‘Hopeless! Bloody hopeless!’
O’Hagen smiled back at him.
‘I’ll know you’ve done some growing up when you understand the fine art of compromise,’ O’Hagen responded. ‘Now get, or I’ll have you arrested.’
‘I’ll second that, you mob of smart Alecs!’ one of the constables at their feet agreed. ‘Hop it like kangaroos!’ But before he began to climb down Mick nodded up the street.
‘What’s he still doing here?’ he asked.
Lounging against a lamppost, cane-in-hand and with a fag-end smirking from the corner of his lips, stood Harry Winterson.
‘What he does best,’ Molly suggested. ‘Loitering with intent.’
‘Let’s go job him one,’ Mick said.
‘You said you’d have Molly and Tomfool home by dark and so did I,’ Joe reminded him. ‘He’ll keep.’
‘Maybe you’d like to take Molly home while I clean up here?’ Mick said, his voice an accusation. Joe knew the tone,
‘For crying out loud Mick,’ he said, feigning exasperation. ‘I wanted her away so she wouldn’t get hurt, but she wanted to stay …
