The Battle of Pook Island: Part 4

By JACK LASENBY, Illustrator JENNY COOPER

"The infantile's finished," said Pete. "That's why school's starting again." Joe whispered something in his ear. "Joe wants to know is Morry Taylor all right!"

"Uncle Ted told us last night," Polly told Pete, "while you two went to the dunny. Morry's got one leg crippled by the infantile."

"His mother will look after him."

"She's got Teddy to look after already."

"Maybe she won't have to go down the shed to help with the milking."

"What about Timmy Trent?"

"Uncle Ted said he died."

"A couple of kids died up at Matahina, too," said Bob. "And lots had it in Auckland. Remember the pictures in Uncle Ted's Auckland Weekly?"

"Poor old Timmy!" said Pete. "I wonder if he knew he was going to die?"

"Course not,"said Polly. "Sick people die in their sleep."

They all looked at Bob. "They'd give him oxygen gas. To try to keep him alive," he said. "Maybe they put him in the iron lung."

Publisher: Longacre Press, $14.95
Age group: 8+ years