by Mark Lingane
Sebastian could hear the pounding on the ground, and watched in terror as the cyborg leapt clean over the river, landing solidly on his feet.
The black-clad man turned to look at Sebastian, then looked down at the small black object in his hand. He turned and aimed at a nearby tree. Light lanced out and cut into the base of the trunk. The cyborg walked behind the tree and pushed. The tree fell across the river and the other cyborgs started to make their way over the makeshift bridge.
Sebastian tried to scramble away from the river. There was a deafening screech from the sky and a shadow fell over him. He looked up. Above him roared a great beast with wings the size of houses. Fire erupted from its head and lanced across the sky. Sebastian felt the heat on the ground.
The beast wheeled and glided to the ground. The earth shook as it landed. It turned its head and stared at Sebastian with two glowing, malevolent eyes.
Sebastian gasped. He had seen this creature before, in his nightmares.
The beast roared again, and fire billowed out over the river.
Sebastian turned and fled into the forest, shaking with fear, with the cyborgs unrelenting in their pursuit.
6
ISABELLE HAD NO idea how long she had been lying in the dark. It had felt like an eon, an eternity floating in the infinite blackness deprived of her senses, alone with her shattered memories. She had wept over vague recollections of those she had lost, reinforced by a deep, desperate longing. All the while, the waves gently lapped at her body. Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the darkness, and she could see the water shimmering around her, kissed by the moonlight.
There was a scraping noise to one side. She turned to see if she could make out anything in the darkness. The shadows slowly moved.
“Who’s there?” she whispered.
“It’s us. Me. Ari and Gilly.”
“Huh?”
“We found you in the desert,” said Ari.
“Desert?”
“You had the sickness bad, but we brought you here to the healing caves and gave you the medicine.”
“Medicine?”
“Goanna blood and redtail venom. It flushes the sickness out of you.”
“Venom?”
“Yeah, it makes you good if you survive the venom,” said Gilly.
She rolled onto her back and groaned. Every part of her body ached.
“Lucky you survived. You was so sick you was nearly glowing in the dark,” said Ari.
“I feel like I’ve swallowed glass.” She could smell something sweet. It made her stomach growl. Then she smelled something so disgusting it made her want to vomit. “What’s that awful smell?”
“It’s the sickness that’s been flushed out of you. Don’t worry, it’s the same for everyone.”
“What am I lying in?”
“Better not to know.”
She raised herself up, ran her hands over her body and gasped. “Where are my clothes?” She covered herself with her arms. “Lookawaylookawaylookaway.”
“Flushing the sickness out means just that,” Ari said. “It makes a big mess. And the smell’s pretty bad. Stays in those thick white-fella clothes forever.” He threw her a bundle of soft material: fur. “We skinned some rabbits. You can tie the hide around yourself, but you still got lots of healing to go.”
Isabelle fumbled with the skins. The soft fur felt warm and gentle on her skin. It was never going to be a tailored fit, but for now, as she tightened the ends around her, it was the best and only clothing she had.
She could make out the two figures more clearly now. Her vision was still bad but she could see that they were Aborigines.
“I’m thinking you need some tucker by now,” Ari said.
She could barely make out the arm extended toward her, but her nose did the seeing for her. She grabbed the cooked rabbits and ravenously tore at the meat, wolfing it down.
“How long have I been here?”
“Dunno,” said Ari. “Maybe a bit longer than Gilly’s walk.”
She frowned. “How long’s that?”
“Not much longer than when Uncle Jianara left the cattle by the billabong.”
The two men laughed.
“That was a mess,” said Gilly.
They nodded and watched as Isabelle drifted off into unconsciousness.
*
The woodsman drew back his axe and aimed at the large tree. He had been sharpening his axe all morning and now it could slice silk. It gleamed in the sunlight. He stuck his tongue out the side of his mouth and tensed his muscles.
“Well, ol’ mate, it’s been you and me for years, but it’s time for you to go. And this time it’s for real.”
As the man swung his axe, Sebastian came tearing out of the trees. The woodsman twisted the axe and the back of the blade cracked into his ankle. He hopped around in a small circle, quietly swearing.
“Joshuz, boy! Where did you come from?”
“Help me! I’m being chased,” cried Sebastian.
The lightbeam came low. It landed squarely in the center of the axe head. It bounced up off the angled face into the trees above. It seared through a branch high up, which broke off and fell to the ground, narrowly missing the two of them.
“Richards almighty!” the woodsman shouted. “What was that?” There was a crunching through the undergrowth, and he turned to face the sound. He turned back to Sebastian. “What on earth’s that?”
“Cyborgs.”
“Cy-what?”
A large black cyborg came striding through the trees.
“This doesn’t look good,” the woodsman said.
Another lightbeam shot out.
The woodsman pushed Sebastian behind him, hefted his axe and twisted the head to face the cyborg. “A straight drive through the covers,” he shouted as the beam arced off the shiny blade’s surface.
The cyborg fired again.
“What a shot, over slips,” the woodsman cried. “The crowd goes wild.”
The lightbeam cut through a tree, which toppled to the ground.
“The wife always says I’m an ideas man,” the woodsman said to Sebastian, “and now I have an idea.”
The cyborg fired for the third time. The woodsman intercepted the light and guided it back toward the cyborg. He missed, but the beam cut into a branch, which fell onto the black figure, pinning it to the ground. The cyborg thrashed wildly until there was a loud buzzing sound. Light arced across his body, which went limp.
“Hah! Reflect that, weirdy-black-cyber-person-light-shootin’ thing.”
The woodsman slung his axe over his shoulder and started to strut around the body. “He came, he saw, he got his mule kick—oh, crikey.”
Four more black-clad men emerged out of the bush. A shadow loomed overhead.
The woodsman looked up and was stunned to see the great beast gliding above the trees. “That’s not good.” He turned and ran back to Sebastian. “Boy, we gotta go.”
Sebastian was on his knees, grasping his head. He felt searing pain spread throughout every part of his body. The agony was unbearable. Then darkness claimed him.
*
“Bonza, the little tike’s alive,” Merv said. “You’s been out cold for two days, squirt. Thought we lost you couple a times.”
“I must go, you’re not safe with me here.” Sebastian struggled to sit up but collapsed back onto the soft bed.
“Well, we haven’t seen them cyber-blokes for the last two days. Maybe we’ve got a little time. Or maybe they heard the legend of amazin’ Merv and his mystical axe.”
“Are you Merv?” Sebastian tried to sit up. His placed his hand against his throbbing head.
The man had skin the color of a walnut. His shoulders were broad, and his jaw was chiseled and unshaven. His forearms were tanned and impressively muscled. His thick black hair was swept back over his head. In all ways he was a solid man of the land.
Merv smiled and lines formed around his sparkling eyes. “Yep, and me axe is over there, next to
the ball and chain.”
Standing next to the axe was a woman. She gave Sebastian a little wave. “Hi, love, I’m Sheila.”
She was dressed in a Rosalind suit with full bell sleeves, a shaped bottom hem and a fitted silhouette with lace trimming. The outfit reminded Sebastian of his mother. There was no ball or chain.
“And there’s me little sheila.”
Sebastian turned to Merv. “Didn’t she just say …”
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. It’s all been so exciting, like axes, guns, weird people. Nothing ever happens around here.”
“Who said that?” Sebastian spun around.
A girl about the same age as Sebastian stepped out from behind Sheila. She was taller than him and skinny. Her hair was tied into pigtails and her face was covered in light freckles. She wore a low-cut walking dress bustled at the rear. It was lace-trimmed at the neckline, the hems, and around the oversized sleeves.
“It’s me little sheila, Bindi.”
“Who?”
“Looks like the little darl needs more rest,” said Sheila. “He’s still a bit confused.”
“What happened?” Sebastian asked Merv.
“Those cyber-blokes were comin’, then you shouted and they all stopped dead. Even that great big fiery flappy thing flew away. Then I brought you here on account of you bein’ out for the count.”
Bindi coughed delicately.
“Then Bindi stayed by your side moppin’ your brow till the fever passed.”
Bindi giggled and turned bright red.
“What you doin’ out here on your own?” Merv asked.
“They came to our village and wiped it out. I was rescued by Dr. Filbert, the vet.” The vision of Dr. Filbert being dragged away by the cyborgs came back to him. “They got him. He surrendered himself so I could get away.”
“Solid,” said Sheila.
“Where’s your family?” Merv asked.
“My dad’s dead, and the doctor took Mom off to the hospital at Toowoomba so she could get better.”
Bindi burst into tears and dabbed delicately at her eyes with a handkerchief.
“That’s a sad state of affairs, make no bones about it. Old or new?” said Merv.
“Huh?”
“Old Toowoomba or New Toowoomba?”
“There’s a New Toowoomba?”
“Yeah. Not too far from here to the north. Old Toowoomba’s a couple of days away to the south. What’s your name?”
“Sebastian … Sebby.”
“Ah, Seb, you need a bit more shut-eye if I’m any judge. Get some rest. We’ve got a roast tonight, and you’re welcome to join us.”
“Food. That sounds great.” He closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
7
THERE WAS A dust cloud on the track. Merv squinted to make out the approaching vehicle. He smiled and turned back to the shed. “Sheila! Bruce!”
“Bruce? Brenda?” shouted Sheila from inside the shed.
Merv shielded his eyes against the sun. “Brenda and Bruce.”
Sheila came running out as the white steam-utility vehicle chuffed up the track. There was a long hiss as steam rushed up through the funnel at the rear of the vehicle. The gears clunked and hissed as the doors lifted out and up, like the wings of a great bird. A man and a woman clambered down from the steel machine.
“Brenda! Bruce!” said Sheila. She hugged Brenda.
“Sheila! Merv!” said Brenda.
“Brenda! Bruuuce!” said Merv.
“Sheila! Merrrv!” said Bruce.
“Little Bruce?” said Sheila.
“Steveo.” They all nodded in shared understanding. “Little Sheila?”
“Bindi!” Merv shouted.
“What!” Bindi shouted back.
“Bruce and Brenda,” he told her. He returned his attention to his guests. “Steveo?”
“Cricket coach. He’s good,” said Bruce.
Merv nodded.
“Bindi!” Sheila shouted over her shoulder.
“What!”
“Bruce and Brenda. Get your pigtailed skinny derrière down here.”
Bindi came loping out the front door with exaggerated strides. “Bruce, Brenda,” she said.
“She’s been padding out her training bra,” said Sheila.
“Mom!” Bindi blushed a bright red and crossed her arms across her chest.
“It’s the boy. She’s got a bit of a crush on him.”
“Mom!” Bindi turned around and ran back into the house.
*
Sebastian woke up to the sound of distant shouting voices. He shook the drowsiness from his head and staggered to his feet. He glanced out the window and saw Merv and Sheila talking to another couple that looked almost identical to them. He made his way into the clearing in front of the house. His mother had always been particular about greeting new people.
“Speak of the devil,” said Merv. “Seb, this is Bruce and Brenda. They’ve come for the roast.”
Sebastian went to shake Bruce hand, but was distracted by the strange vehicle behind them.
“You like it?” Bruce asked.
“What is it?”
“Haven’t you seen an SUV before? Crikey, I’ve had it for years.”
“No. It’s amazing.”
“Three-fifty horses.”
Sebastian gave him a quizzical look. “Horses?”
“Horse power. Power to weigh ratio. Produces the same pullin’ power as three hundred and fifty horses. Ah, it’s nothin’. Just somethin’ we knocked up in the shed with some of the fellas. You really never seen one?”
“No. I’ve seen some pictures, but not a real one.”
“Where are you from, son?”
“Talinga.” Sebastian ran his hands over the polished steel.
“Ah, those Luddies.”
“We’re not Luddites. We’re just cautious about new things, and isolated.”
“We’ve had steam power for three thousand years,” said Bruce. “It’s hardly new.”
“We’ve brought a pavlova,” said Brenda in an effort to lighten the mood.
“Ah, you’re a darl, love,” said Sheila.
The two women turned and went into the house. Merv and Bruce stood by the steam-utility vehicle, chatting. Sebastian joined them after his examination of the SUV.
“You know how it works, sport?” Bruce asked Sebastian.
“In theory,” he replied. “Steam expands in the chamber. It’s cool on the other side, and the pressure difference pushes the piston.”
“Correct if this was a piston. But this is a rotary.”
“Boys!” Brenda shouted from the house. “Food’s up.”
“Oup. We’ve been summoned. Inside, mates.” Merv clapped his hands and signaled for them to enter the house.
Merv reached out for Sebastian and held him back. “Best not mention the cyber-blokes. Bruce isn’t one for liking strangers,” he whispered.
There was a flurry of activity in the kitchen. The ladies were bustling around the stove while Bindi set the table.
“Bruce, love, put the drinks in the Esky to keep them cold,” Brenda called out.
“There’s not much room, love,” Bruce replied.
Merv sat at the long oak table and indicated for Sebastian to sit next to him on the bench. He leaned over and whispered, “The eternal battle of meat versus the grog. A death match, resultin’ in the salad being abandoned.”
Bruce sat down and handed Merv a frosty beer, and the two chatted about local sport and what cheats that lot up from South Tamarine were. Sheila and Brenda whirled about the table dishing out the food.
Bindi sat down next to Sebastian and looked at him shyly. He thought she was way too close. There was going to be trouble in the elbow-space department when they tucked into the food. His stomach growled.
“Oh, you poor love,” Bindi said. She placed her hand on his arm and he nearly leapt off the bench. “Dig in. No one will mind.”
Bruce was cutting into his meat
with a stern expression.
“Somethin’ up, Bruce?” Merv asked. He took a sip from his bottle.
Bruce placed his knife and fork on his empty plate and drained his mug. He turned to Merv. “Have you heard about these strange fellas in black shootin’ these lightguns?”
“Er, yeah, I might’ve have heard about them.” Merv looked uncertainly at Sebastian.
“It’s not right. We shouldn’t have those fellas roamin’ the land hurtin’ people.”
“It’s the thin end of the wedge. It’s health and safety gone mad,” said Merv.
It appeared to Sebastian that Merv was gently mocking Bruce.
“I’m livid to the point where I might write a letter,” Bruce said.
Brenda placed her hand on Bruce’s. “Do you think that’s wise, love? Especially after last time.”
“Somethin’s gotta be done, and if it means puttin’ pen to paper, then damn it I’ll do it again. We can’t have these gangs runnin’ round. Before you know it they’ll be takin’ our jobs.”
“They’re only a couple of weird-lookin’ guys,” said Merv. “They bleed just like you and me.”
“They’ll be signin’ them up on the South Tamarine team next.”
Merv paused halfway through his smile. “Did you lot hear anythin’ just then?” He was watching Sebastian, who was rubbing his head with his eyes closed.
“No,” said Bruce.
Merv turned and sat motionless, looking out the window. “Damn it, somethin’s not right.” He got up and went to the front door. He paused with his hand on the doorknob and closed his eyes. “Seb, can you feel—” was as far as he got.
There was an eruption of light as the wall to Merv’s right exploded, showering debris over the table, narrowly missing everyone. He shouted to everyone to get down on the floor. He crawled along the floor until he was safely behind the heavy iron stove. More beams of light sliced through the kitchen. In one movement, he pivoted up onto his heels, grabbed a large blunderbuss from above the stove and returned to the floor. He fumbled with some shot and packed it into the muzzle.
