THE SKY PILOT FROM BENTLEY PARK - PART 6

THE BY-ELECTION VOTING RESULTS FOR DIVISION 2

YARROW, B.J. (CONS.) 5,434
DUNNYSMORE, T.D. (IND) 2,054
HARMON, REV. M.J. (SWP) 4,713
INF. 219


The Reverend Matthew Harmon knew from the results sent via SMS text from the Cairns Secretary of the Socialist Workers Party that it was all over. His scrutineers had advised the preferences from Dunnysmore were running two to one in favour of Yarrow. The Returning Officer had told him
earlier in the day that there were also approximately 300 Postal Votes.

It wasn't the excited backyard bar-b-que he had envisaged, in the grounds of the Community Baptist Church. Up until the week before the by-election he had fully expected to reduce Cush's influence over the city of Cairns. All the online polls had predicted an easy victory for him
particularly since he had a national profile in leading the public opposition to Australia's participation in the war in Afghanistan. Then had come the Editorial in the local newspaper, The Cairns Post which had hinted that he was a frequent patron of the sleazy strip club, The Red Plum and consorted with strippers. This had been taken up with gloating enthusiasm by the local shock
jock who along with his talk-back contributors had bloated the lie out into astonishing
proportions.

Glumly, silently, he passed his mobile phone to his wife Amber who closed her eyes and
shook her head with disbelief before then passing the phone onto the 60 Minutes journalist who had brought his crew to the Church bar-b-que while waiting for the results.

"We're very sorry mate," said the journalist who had trailled behind the Reverend all day, watching inteviewing and filming the by-election. The journalist's brief had been to follow up with a story on the election of the "Sky Pilot from Cairns" to the Cairns Regional Council. Everyone on the
60 Minutes team had expected the Reverend to win.

The Reverend could only nod. He didn't feel much like talking. However he knew he had to thank his parents, the party officials and members of his congregation who had all volunteered to work for him. With an effort, he shrugged off the bitterness he was feeling. It could wait until he was alone.

"Cush's Conservative Party are holding a Black Tie Celebratory Ball in the CBD at one of the
hotels there," he told the 60 minutes journalist. "You would find Bud Yarrow there, if you
need to interview him."

Someone from the Party told the journalist which hotel is was, and the 60 Minutes crew soon
left.

......................................

Troy (Dougie, because he hated his first name!) Douglas Dunnysmore was almost catatonic with
shock. He sat motionless, scarcely breathing at the dining room table in his unit. How could
his astrology charts be wrong! He had gone over them again and again and each time they
had predicted he would be the winner! Never, never had his charts been wrong before!

He had endured, yes ENDURED such a shit of a day! He had to put a mask on. There were so
many people coming through the gates of the Bentley Park State School where he stood to hand out his "How to Vote" cards. And so many of them coughed, and sneezed, and blew their disgusting
noses right in front of him. Then there were the rugrats, scores and scores of them, all with
wet sticky faces and hands. And they were cheeky little trolls too. "Mummy look at that funny mans with the yellow face!" one of them called out while another little bastard said, "Is that man from the Harry Potter movie?"

Then that creepy arsehole representing Colonel Cush's team came by and shook his hand.
"Hello, I'm Bud Yarrow, nice to meet you!" the creep had said lightly shaking his hand, then
holding his hand up and grimacing in distaste.

Well now the creep was the Councillor for Division 2. Dougie Dunnysmore hoped the voters in Division 2 were all happy with themselves. They had the opportunity to vote in the BEST
man, but they blew it. They blew it big time. Serves the fools right!

After that thought, he felt alive enough to think a cone would go down well. He needed something to help him relax.

.........................................................................

Bartholomew (Bud) Yarrow, newly elected Councillor for Division 2 of the Cairns Regional Council admired himself in the full length mirror of the ensuite in his plush hotel room. He was wearing a full tux, which made him look elegant he thought.

He would enjoy the evening. Having everyone say nice little pleasantries about him, having the
women all hug him and push their breasts against him, and generally being the centre of attention all evening. He didn't mind being the centre of attention.

Taking one last swallow of a glass of champagne, he left the hotel suite and took the lift
down to the basement where his chauffeur waited. As his lift descended, the adjoining lift
stopped at the floor of his hotel room. Three physically fit men, dressed in almost identical
grey suits stepped out and strode to his door and knocked.

After a few minutes knocking, they twigged. "Shit, we've missed him! He must have just
left to go to the party!" one said. Quickly the three Australian Federal Police Officers
took the lift back to the ground floor.
..............................................................................

The party was in full swing at the Esplanade hotel, where the Conservative Party were
holding their Celebratory Black Tie Ball. Cush was in fine form, throwing down glasses of
merlot, cracking jokes and keeping an eye out for the man of the moment, Bartholomew (Bud)
Yarrow, Councillor for Division 2, to arrive for his moment of glory.

Yarrow's wife Mia had arrived earlier by herself in a long limousine. She had told Cush that
her husband was caught up with a couple of phone calls, and would soon follow her to the
function. That had been over twenty minutes ago, and there was still no sign of the new
Councillor.

Cush noted that there were several television news crews in the room, waiting for the man
of the hour, as well.

Suddenly there was a shout and the MAN himself was walking in through the door. With one
accord, all those present gave out a mighty cheer. "The conquering hero!" shouted the local
radio shock jock who was Master of Ceremonies for the evening. There were more cheers, congratulatory slaps on the back, hands shaken, women hugged and kissed as the Councillor for Division 2 made his way slowly through the crowd to the stage where the M.C. waited for him with a huge smile on his face.

Sitting at a table was the Editor of The Cairns Post who was busily writing Monday's lead story for The Cairns Post on the by-election.

"CUSH DOES IT AGAIN!" he wrote. "Electors in Division 2 gave an overwhelming vote of confidence in the leadership of Colonel Ken Cush in Saturday's by-election. Bud Yarrow, the successful business entrepreneur who is engaged in the medical tourist industry in Vietnam and who owns several backpacker establishments in Bali, received a solid vote of approval from the 12,800 electors. It was the right choice as Bud Yarrow's credentials are exemplary. He is a successful businessman, he knows the tourist industry, he has solid links to Asia and the booming economies there, and as anyone knows, Bud Yarrow is a decent, generous man with scruples and integrity, well liked and admired by many. He will live up to the expectations of voters."
The Editor read it through a second time, and sent the story off via email. It was all done and he was happy with it. He sat there at his table, drinking a glass of wine and smiling. He had helped with this victory. He hoped Yarrow would remember who his friends were.

"Come up here buddy!" roared the M.C. radio shock jock, as Yarrow battled his way through
the surging crowd of well wishers, and made it to the stage.

No-one noticed as three well built men, all dressed in similar grey suits walked into the
ball-room and carefully positioned themselves to the side of the stage.

As Yarrow climbed the stairs to the stage, the radio shock jock grabbed him in a tight bear-hug.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he roared, "I love this man, and I don't care who knows it!"

The three men stared. There was no doubting who they were looking at. They had seen
close ups of him in a video taken on a mobile phone by a very courageous young Balinese boy.

Bartholomew Josiah Yarrow was the Monster of Denpasar.

The radio shock jock continued his spiel. "I've known this man for many years, and I have to
tell you all, he is just the best, and I mean, the best type of person you could ever wish to
meet...."

"Fucking hell!" muttered one of the Australian Federal Police officers. "What have we got here?"

"Bud Yarrow is one of the most generous, community spirited and decent men I have
had the pleasure to know," continued the shock jock, warming to his subject and his voice.
"If you ask him for the shirt off his back, he'll give it to you..........."

"Ooooh, isn't he just gorgeous!" simpered a voice close to the A.F.P. officers. They all spun
around to see a middle aged woman staring at Bud Yarrow.

"Ooooh, he's just divine, he really is," gushed her friend beside her.

To be continued.................................