Draft:Darkness, Be My Friend (novel)

 Darkness, Be My Friend , is the fourth book in the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. It is a young adult invasion literature novel, detailing the occupation of Australia by an unnamed foreign power. The book followings survivors of an enemy invasion of their homeland; teenaged Ellie Linton and her group of friends return to Australia as guides for soldiers from New Zealand who plan an attack on the Wirrawee airfield.

Plot summary
After being air lifted to New Zealand, Ellie and her group recuperate and receive psychological support under the supervision of the New Zealand military. Ellie is sexually assaulted at party. The New Zealand military wants to send the group back to be guides for Kiwi soldiers, as the enemy has built an airfield in Wirrawee, following the group’s attack on Cobbler’s Bay. Homer, Kevin and Lee immediately agreed, Fi whilst hesitant does also. Ellie is the only reluctant participant.

The group lead the Kiwi’s to Hell, with Ellie as their lead. They then have from Lee and Ellie be their guide through Wirrawee, whilst the rest of the group remain in Hell. Homer is incensed at not being viewed as responsible enough to lead the Kiwis. During their travels to scout out the town and destroy the airbase, Ellie reflects on her past relationship with Lee and realises that she still has lingering feeling for him, made more prominent over her shame from the date rape she experienced in New Zealand.

Downtown Wirrawee is more well lit and well lived in by enemy troops and colonisers. Whilst stalking the streets, PTSD causes Ellie scream when the New Zealand troops kill a troop that may have spotted them. Ellie is made to return to Hell and wait for the Kiwis and Lee to complete their mission.

Ellie, Homer, Fi and Kevin wait several days, but it becomes clear that something has gone wrong. The decide to go into Wirrawee to find Lee and the Kiwi’s. They are spotted by a group of coloniser children whilst crossing farmland. With the enemy now alerted that guerrillas are in the area, a large search patrol attempts to hunt them down. The group escapes via horseback and lighting a bushfire.

Hiding in their abandoned high school, the group is reunited with a very weak and fatigued Lee. He explains that the Kiwi’s left him to try and complete their mission but never returned, unsure whether they have been killed or captured. Lee gives further details of how the enemy has put their families to work as slave labour in the surrounding areas, but Fi’s parents have administrative jobs in town and she can covertly visit them. Lee’s parents were shot and killed at the Showgrounds in front of his siblings and Corrie succumbed to her injuries and died. Lee’s burning desire for vengeance is ignited further, and no longer cares if he dies in an attack, as long as he is able to hurt the enemy. In Lee’s absence, Ellie confirmed that she was still in love with Lee, however after learning of his parents’ murder he is no longer in the right headspace to reciprocate.

The group scheme to sabotage the fuel supply to the enemy’s planes and burn the airfield to damage their base. However, their plan fails on both fronts, with the air field being too technologically advanced and detects their on coming attack. Ellie and Fi take a commanding officer hostage while attempting to tamper with the fuel, though he is killed via gunshot in a car crash.

The group return to Hell having not accomplished and attack on the enemy, a rescue of the Kiwi troops, little knowledge useful to the New Zealand military and news of the death of some of their loved ones. They radio Colonel Finley in New Zealand, but he informs them that he cannot spare the resources to air lift them back to New Zealand presently. The group wait in Hell with morale low, and their future uncertain.

The story continues Burning For Revenge