Forest Secrets

by David Laing

  I smiled to myself. Snook was going to need some coaching lessons before talking to Gloria about boy-girl matters. I could see that.

  For the second time that day, Snook and I were sitting in the lounge room. It was nearly six o’clock. The television had been switched off and for the past thirty minutes I’d been drilling Snook on the dos and don’ts of boy-girl etiquette. I was no expert, but I figured I knew more about the subject than Snook. It was proving to be hard work, like wading through mud. ‘Stop squirming and looking at the ceiling, Snook,’ I said for the umpteenth time. ‘It’s not easy trying to turn you into a gentleman.’ I was only joking of course, but all the same I think I was getting a tiny bit exasperated with the whole exercise.

  ‘What are you on about? I am a perfect gentleman.’ Snook pointed to Shadow who was curled at my feet as usual. ‘Ask that dog of yours; he knows I’m a good guy. He’s always trying to lick me.’

  Ignoring his remarks about Shadow, I said, ‘I should ask Gloria whether she thinks you’re a gentleman,’ I said. ‘It might be a different story then. But all jokes aside, try to remember what your mum keeps telling you.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Before your mouth goes walkabout with your brain, think before you say anything.’

  ‘Whatever. I suppose she does say that a bit,’ he mumbled as he reached for the remote. Then, more to himself than me, he added, ‘We might as well watch television for a while. There’s nothin’ better to do.’

  Oh, well, I told myself, looking at the forlorn figure of my cousin. You tried to help him but I guess it just didn’t work. Wondering whether I’d been even remotely successful, I asked, ‘Did you understand anything I said to you?’

  ‘Yeah,’ he replied, as he flicked through the stations. ‘You said somethin’ about me talkin’ to Gloria more proper, and you said I should mind my etiquette. But that’s not what worries me the most.’

  ‘Oh? What does, then?’

  ‘Gloria’s dad. If I go around to her place and talk to her, her dad’ll be there and he’ll wanna talk to me. That’ll be heaps more scary than sayin’ sorry to Gloria. Whenever he sees me he keeps askin’ me things. Like how I feel and whether I’m eatin’ the right stuff. Just ’cause he’s a doctor, he thinks it’s okay to go around askin’ things like that. And then, when you say you’re okay, he shakes his head and gives you the once over with his eyes anyway.’

  ‘It’s Gloria you’re going to see, not her dad,’ I pointed out, not showing any sympathy. I thought Snook was probably exag-gerating anyway. ‘Besides, who’s to say he’ll even be there when you talk to her?’

  ‘Oh, he’ll be there, all right. He’s always there. He hovers around like a hawk that’s after a sparrow. He watches every move I make and then he talks to me using all these big words that I can’t understand. It’s always the same.’

  I had to ask. ‘Don’t you like Gloria’s dad?’

  ‘Yeah, he’s all right. I just hate talkin’ to him.’

  At that moment the front doorbell rang. ‘I’ll go,’ I said, getting up.

  Snook pushed up from his chair. ‘I’m goin’ to the kitchen to get a drink. All that lovey-dovey talk and thinkin’ about Gloria’s dad has made me thirsty.’

  I answered the door, and as soon as I saw who it was, my stomach did a little dance.

  Chapter 6

  * * *

  I was more than a little surprised when I saw Gloria and her father standing on the doorstep, especially since we’d just finished talking about them. Déjà vu, I think they call it. I asked them to come in. Guessing that Gloria probably wanted to talk with Snook – about today’s events maybe – I was about to tell them where he was when there was the sound of broken glass coming from the kitchen. Followed by a short, sharp, very loud curse.

  I rolled my eyes and looked at the ceiling. Snook’s attempt at etiquette had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. Gloria and her dad looked at each other, eyebrows raised, as if to say such language would never be tolerated in our house. They then looked away, not saying anything, trying to pretend that nothing had happened. ‘Er, Snook’s in the kitchen,’ I said, feeling my cheeks burn. ‘We could go through to the lounge room if you like. Snook will join us in a minute, as soon as he’s cleaned up the, er, finished doing what he’s doing.’ I knew I was starting to prattle but for the life of me, I couldn’t stop. ‘I’m afraid my aunt and uncle aren’t here at the moment,’ I went on. ‘Snook’s dad’s still out in the boat fishing and his mum’s at the shop. I expect they’ll be home soon. Er, did you want to see them?’ I willed myself to stop yabbering.

  ‘It’s not Mr and Mrs Kelly we wish to see, Jars,’ Gloria’s father said. ‘We would, however, appreciate a word with Snook.’

  I pointed to a chair. ‘Right, um, have a seat while I go tell him you’re here.’

  Snook beat me to it. He breezed in, not looking surprised that we had visitors. ‘Hi Gloria, hello Mr Huntingdale,’ he said grinning widely, at the same time pointing backwards with his thumb. ‘Did you hear me drop the glass back there? Stupid of me that was. It slipped. Still, never mind.’

  I smiled to myself. It was a good thing Snook’s father hadn’t heard him cursing back there in the kitchen; he would’ve got a good whack on the backside and a reminder that it was only people who don’t have a command of the Queen’s English who swear. Snook wasn’t worried about anything like that, though. Tossing his head in the air, causing his long fair locks to bounce, he said, ‘What’s up?’

  Gloria’s father smiled and said, ‘I’d like a word … about what happened to you last night. You gave Gloria quite a scare.’

  I could see that Snook was about to say something inappropriate and probably not very tactful either. I could see that he was embarrassed; he’d coloured up and his eyes were flashing. His lips had gone all wormy too. I gave him a nudge. ‘You’d appreciate that, wouldn’t you, Snook?’ No response. I gave him another nudge. ‘Wouldn’t you, Snook?’

  ‘Uh? Yeah … sure … whatever.’

  Gloria’s dad nodded. ‘Thank you. I’m sure that what I have to say will be mutually beneficial.’

  Snook looked across at me, eyebrows raised. What’s going on? his mouth, twisted like play dough, was asking. What’s he talkin’ about?

  ‘How are you feeling this evening?’ Gloria’s dad asked Snook. ‘I haven’t seen you for some time and Gloria tells me you’ve been a little out of sorts lately, ever since last night, I believe. Would you like to talk about it? That could be the cause of your abnormal behaviour.’

  What’s goin’ on? he asked again silently.

  Gloria’s father continued. ‘I have to say, you do have a somewhat harried look about you. In fact, you appear quite distraught as if something deep inside is troubling you.’

  ‘Nope, I’m all right. I’m not troubled.’

  I felt sorry for Snook. His voice had gone all twitchy and tiny bubbles of sweat were starting to pop out on his forehead. Glancing across at Gloria, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her as well. Standing beside her father, hands clasped, eyes glued to the floor, she almost looked as down and out as Snook. I wanted to butt in and tell Gloria and her dad about the asteroid and the dinosaurs – to clear the air – but deep down I knew it’d do no good. Who in their right mind would believe a story like that?

  Gloria’s father continued to question Snook. ‘You’re feeling fine, eh? According to Gloria, that wasn’t the case last night. In fact, she was most upset when you had your … whatever it was.’ He pointed to Gloria who was still studying the carpet. ‘The thing is my daughter’s really concerned for you. That’s why I’m here now. She asked me to come and see you – to make sure that you were all right. As I have said, she was worried about you, and quite frankly, after seeing you, so am I.’

  I could almost feel the white heat of Snook’s anger. He didn’t like being talked about publicly like he was now. I was wondering what the best plan of action would be to relieve the tension in the
air that was starting to build up, when Mr Huntingdale’s mobile phone rang; it was a text message. ‘I’m wanted at Sunny Rest Home,’ he said, looking over at Gloria. ‘You’ll have to find your own way home, I’m afraid.’

  ‘She’ll be right,’ I assured Gloria’s dad. ‘My Aunt Irene will be home soon. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind running Gloria home.’

  Looking relieved that the cross examination was over, Snook backed me up, ‘Yep, Mum’ll do that. No worries.’

  ‘Thank you,’ he said putting the phone away. ‘That would be very helpful.’ He then said to Snook, ‘I’d like to see you in my surgery first thing Tuesday. I think a good check-up is in order.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Snook said under his breath as he watched Gloria’s father head for the door. ‘That’ll be the day.’

  Chapter 7

  * * *

  ‘Someone must be sick at the old folks’ home,’ Snook said after Gloria’s father had left.

  ‘Oh, there’s a couple of old folk at Sunny Rest Home who often call him,’ Gloria explained. ‘They’re too old and frail to go to his surgery. He’s probably gone to see them.’ In a more serious tone, she added, ‘I’m sorry about my father asking all those questions earlier, but he means well. I-I guess he was concerned. I suppose I am too. So, tell me, why did you act so standoffish last night? I didn’t know what to think when you ignored me like you did. You were the same today on the bus. I-I really can’t understand what’s going on.’

  Shrugging and putting on a goofy face, Snook looked over at me in a what do I say now? gesture. I must admit, I was in a bit of a quandary too. How do you rationally explain the visions that Snook and I had both had … and at the same time? Like Snook, I just shrugged. I didn’t have the answer. Eventually, he said, ‘Look, Gloria, I wanna explain, but I dunno that you’d understand. It’s kind of complicated.’

  ‘Why don’t you try and tell me, anyway?’

  Yeah, I suppose I could, but first there’s somethin’ I wanna ask you.’

  Sensing that the conversation was about to get mushy, I decided it was time to go. ‘C’mon Shadow,’ I called. ‘It’s time we were out of here.’

  ‘Where’re you off to?’ Snook asked. ‘You don’t have to leave. I’m not gonna go all gooey and do that eti –eti- stuff that you told me about this afternoon. I’m just gonna have a quick word with Gloria.’ Reluctantly, I sat back down again. Shadow curled up at my feet.

  Probably wondering what the quick word was, and after a few moments of silence, Gloria told Snook to get on with it.

  Rubbing the palms of his hands on his jumper, Snook said, ‘I wus just gunna ask you about a photo competition.’

  I couldn’t believe it. I knew darn well what was on his mind, what he wanted to tell Gloria, but he’d squibbed it. Simple as that. I nearly said something but Gloria beat me to it. Just as well, I suppose. She walked over and sat on one of the chairs, the one nearest to Snook. ‘You mean the photo competition that’s advertised in Sam’s shop? I know about that.’

  ‘You know about it? How come?’ he asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

  ‘Quenton told me about it this afternoon,’ she said, looking at her hands as though she had a splinter.

  ‘Did’e now. Well I was … that is, I was wonderin’ … if you’d like to help me win it … the competition I mean.’

  Stroking the back of her neck and biting her lip at the same time, Gloria said, ‘You mean you want me to go with you when you take photos?’ Wringing her hands now, she said, ‘Gee, I didn’t expect you to ask me that. I thought you didn’t like me anymore – especially after last night and this afternoon.’

  I was beginning to feel like an intruder again. I had no business being there. The conversation was getting to the nitty gritty part. I got up to leave, but once again Snook gestured with his hand to stay where I was.

  ‘That’s why I‘ve agreed to go with Quenton,’ Gloria went on to explain. ‘He’s going in the competition too, and he’s asked me to help him win it.’

  Snook’s eyes darted from side to side and his face suddenly turned to a deep crimson colour. Eventually finding his voice, he spluttered, ‘You’re going with Quigley? That phony? You know what he’s like. He can’t be trusted.’

  Gloria started to defend him. ‘Everyone’s saying he’s changed, that he’s not a complete dork anymore, and he’s definitely lost a lot of weight. He’s not so frumpy now.’

  ‘Whatever,’ Snook said as if he were resigned to the situation. ‘But for the record, I didn’t mean to give you the brush off last night or ignore you today, but somethin’ creepy has happened that’s made me … different.’

  ‘How do you mean?’ Gloria asked, her voice suddenly higher.

  Snook didn’t answer. His jaw had dropped and his eyes were wide and staring. He was just standing there at the head of the lobby, not saying a word. I followed his line of sight and saw what had caught his attention.

  It was the kid, standing in the doorway, smiling thinly .

  In full stride, the rhotosaurus ran out of the forest towards the open plain, trying, hoping, to escape the trees as they fell and burned around him. The other dinosaurs were quick to join him. The dinosaur drew to a halt. He had to figure out what the next step should be. What would be best for him and the other dinosaurs that seemed to have adopted him as their leader. It was hard to decide; the obstacles were mounting. In front of him and on every side, the fires, fanned by the wind, were spreading as they raced across the plain, burning everything in their paths. And above the flames, a blue-grey cloud of smoke was blackening everything before it, making it impossible to see.

  The dinosaur shook his head in an effort to get rid of the grime that had lodged in his eyes and mouth and he gagged as the smoke and sooty particles from the fires stuck in his lungs. Trying to ignore his discomfort, he strained to see through the darkening haze, looking for a way out. But all he could see were the formless shapes of the other dinosaurs that had gathered around him.

  Then there were the pterosaurs, which were diving and swooping, one after the other, shrieking and squealing, jabbing at his and the others’ bodies, flying blind. Cringing and shying away once too often from each senseless attack, the rhotosaurus came to a decision. He lifted his head to the sky and roared for the third time that day as the trees exploded behind him and the fires’ flying embers started to penetrate his thick hide.

  It was time to do something. Anything.

  Suddenly an image – vague and indistinct – came to him and with it from somewhere in the back of his tiny brain, there was a thought. He forced himself to remember.

  Then he remembered, and his body trembled with renewed hope; there was a place, a safe place he had once known. Many years ago. And it lay somewhere ahead of him.

  Ignoring the heat and the wind and billowing smoke, the rhotosaurus broke into stride, not stopping until he came to a steep cliff. He drew to a halt and looked over the edge. There was a narrow gorge and at the bottom of the gorge was a river; they looked familiar. Once again he tried to remember, and then, like a slow moving slide show, he saw it form in his mind. There was a place … nearby … a cool, safe place. He was sure of it. And there had been a path that led him there. Willing his tiny brain to respond and swivelling his long neck to the left and right, he scanned the cliff top, looking for the path that would take him to the bottom of the gorge, to the river, to his safe place. He ran along the edge of the cliff, searching, trying to remember. But time was running out.

  Then he saw it. His heart thumped. It was just ahead of him – a narrow track winding down to the floor of the gorge. He was safe. So were the other dinosaurs, who’d been pacing backwards and forwards at the top of the cliff; they could now follow him to the river.

  They were going to make it, too … hopefully.

  Chapter 8

  * * *

  I can’t remember what happened after Snook and I saw the kid earlier on this evening. All I know is that I woke up on the lounge
room couch across from Snook, who was half lying, half sitting, on one of the lounge chairs. Gloria was there too. She was shuffling back and forth between us, feeling our foreheads, checking our pulses – things like that. And lying on the floor, breathing into my face, was Shadow. His head was resting on his outstretched paws and judging from the heavy breathing, he was snoozing, oblivious to the drama going on around him.

  All I can say is that when I woke up, I was in a kind of smoke-screen where I felt only half awake. I guessed that Snook was in one too. I couldn’t have been too dopey, though. After blinking a couple of times to clear my eyes, which were still adjusting to the haze, I saw Gloria sidle over to Snook’s chair and sit on the arm rest. I also saw her reach over and then hold on to his hand whilst gazing into his half-open eyes. She still likes him, I thought and I knew that Snook liked her; so why don’t they both come to a mutual agreement to like each other? Because neither one of them wants to be the first to make a move, I figured.

  I shook my head again in an effort to clear the grey film that kept swirling in front of me like a fog, and then I saw that Snook was coming awake too. At least he was conscious enough to enjoy the attention he was getting from Gloria. His eyes had taken on a distant, dreamy look and his mouth had tilted sideways giving him a sort of cock-eyed, half-potty look.

  Footsteps in the passage interrupted my snooping.

  It was Gloria’s dad. He came into the room carrying a wet cloth. Being the closest and seeing that Snook was being attended to by his daughter, he walked over and applied the damp cloth to my head. He told me that another doctor was taking the callout. ‘When I saw you both lying here when I came back earlier,’ he explained, ‘I could hardly believe my eyes. You were both in a trance as if you’d been hypnotised. Are you feeling better now?’ I nodded. ‘You and Snook were both mumbling something about a young boy. Can you tell me anything about him? If you feel up to it, of course.’