Copyright ©2018 Green Dachshund Productions Inc. All rights reserved.. Made With Serif WebPlus. Website Created and Designed by Jay Quinn
Instead of running clear, Peter surprised himself by wrenching off the GAIA jacket and swinging it like a bullfighter’s cloak in front of the flaming animal.
“Peter, no!” Mr Biggs called, too late.
Peter dragged the animal to the ground, smothering and staunching the patches of flames that leapt about its fur and skin.
By the time Mr Biggs had puffed to the scene, Peter was already gingerly pulling up the jacket to show an injured wallaby collapsed on its side. The whites of its eyes glowed. It was only when the thick smell of roasting flesh caught at Peter’s nostrils that he gave up being brave.
“Help! Help! Aa-
“Shh!” Mr Biggs locked his big-
Peter was gulping for air, but the choking smell of smouldering flesh hung thickly around them.
Mr Dean pulled up behind them and sputtered, “What is it? A kangaroo?”
“No, a wallaby!” Peter could tell by the smaller size. It was about four feet long.
“Peter’s right,” confirmed Mr Biggs, kneeling unsteadily on the hard ground. “The poor fellow’s passed out; from the pain, probably. What shall we do?”
“We have to save him!” wailed Peter.
“Oh Geez, what a stench,” complained Mr Dean. “Shut up!” said Peter surprising himself again. “Either help, or go away!”
“All right, all right. Don’t go bush on me; I’ll help. For starters, go and get that so-
“Good thinking,” agreed Mr Biggs, adding, “And don’t let Matron see you.”
But Peter, already sprinting to the house, didn’t hear.
Angel, led by Peter, arrived quickly. She was carrying a medical kit.
Nonna LaRosa and Mrs Millet followed close behind Angel.
“What is it?” squealed Mrs Millet.
Mr Biggs replied, “Shh. It’s a wallaby. … The poor thing was actually on fire … arrived right at Peter’s feet.”
“Is it still alive?” Angel asked doubtfully.
“Of course it’s alive!” sobbed Peter, falling to his knees next to the wallaby’s slender head. “Just a moment ago it was bouncing across the firepit.”
Peter stared hopelessly at the raw gashes that cut deeply into the animal’s blue-
The wallaby’s throat began to contract, emitting a strange sound like the boing-
“Oh Geez,” said Mr Dean, recognising the sound of death.
“We have to save him!” wailed Peter. “We have to!”
“Well, I’m not a vet,” said Angel. “But I can try!”
She produced a syringe from her kit. “Attention, everyone, and hold.”
Instinctively Peter, Mr Biggs and Mr Dean clamped their hands gently onto the wallaby’s hindlegs, while Angel, dodging the most-
Next, she began swabbing antiseptic from a bottle all over the wallaby’s open wounds.
“He is going to make it, isn’t he?” Peter asked.
Angel, feeling for the pulse on the wallaby’s neck, didn’t reply, which Peter took to be a bad sign.
“What do you think?” Mr Dean asked her grimly.
“I … I’m afraid it isn’t good.” Angel looked up sadly. “I’m not a vet, but the wounds are pretty advanced. It’s hard to be hopeful.”
“Please don’t let the wallaby die!” Peter begged.
Nonna exchanged a look with Angel, but neither of them spoke.
“Well, there’s barely a pulse,” Angel said with a sigh, her hand searching for vital signs around the neck artery.
Angel bent her head, putting her mouth close to the animal’s head, then set off into a high-
Peter guessed she was using the ancient language of her people, the Aborigines.
Everyone waited in silence.
Peter reached forward to stroke the blue-
“I’m sorry. It’s time to let its spirit free.” Angel patted Peter’s shoulder.
Peter began to cry. “It’s not fair! It’s not fair! I hate fire! I hate nature! Why does everyone have to die?”
Then, as if in response, an unexpected thing happened.
Buy This Book
Perfect Bound Softcover(B/W)
Price: $24.99
Dust Jacket Hardcover(B/W)
Price: $42.95
E-
Price: $3.99
BOOK III -
The Rescue
Peter stared out into the gathering darkness at the stunted line of trees beyond the firepit. Their crowns had all toppled in the last fire, leaving only severed arms raised towards the sky. Trees are brave, Peter thought. Trees die standing up.
In his dreams, Peter sometimes heard the souls of the trees howl. Suddenly, his senses were alert. He could hear howling now, coming from the bush.
“Did you hear that, Mr Biggs?” Peter called behind him. “Nonna was right. There is something out there!”
Mr Biggs, seated under the porch light, hurriedly folded his newspaper. He set out across the now-
“Something’s coming!” Peter shouted.
A flaming shape lit up the darkness, careering down into the firepit, then up and out again.
“It’s an animal! On fire!”
It was bounding in a direct line towards Peter.
Peter Blue and Pickles
