To Kill a Bunyip

by A R Dent

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Charlie

  Charlie approached the lifeless body of James Pemberton Solicitor Retired at the bottom of the stairs and sniffed it. Charlie sat alongside of the body until he realised this body was not going to move on its own again. This saddened Charlie with disbelief. Charlie was in two minds. Does he sit by the body of the man who beat him and many times did not feed him or does he walk out the front gate to live as he pleases? There is no food and no one to look after him. No humans to love him anymore. Charlie walked slowly to the gate and looked up and down the road. Charlie turned, looked at the stillness of death with bewilderment, slowly walked towards the body of James Pemberton and laid himself full straddle across the dead man and one tear, from each eye, rolled down his face and dropped onto the body. Charlie moved closer to the head of James Pemberton and studied his face - still – motionless – without a blink in his eyes – then Charlie delicately placed each paw onto the ground and his body on the ground alongside of the body.

  After five minutes of quietness, a cloud appeared from nowhere. The cloud moved around Charlie. Charlie gazed intently back at the cloud aware of the deliberateness of its movements.

  ‘Are you grieving Charlie?’ said a voice from the cloud.

  ‘Shove off,’ said Charlie. ‘Shove off and go find another corpse to hover over. Go away. Are you the Grim Reaper?’

  ‘No I am not the Grim Reaper. I am a ghost.’

  ‘So what do you want?’

  ‘I am here because of you Charlie. Do you want to live? Do you want to continue?’

  ‘I know nothing. Nothing makes sense.’

  ‘Charlie, I see your neighbour looking through the fence at you. Shall I call him in to be with us?’

  Charlie slowly looked around to see Jock his friend whining at the side fence urging Charlie to take notice of him.

  ‘Ok, call him in but why is this all happening to me?’

  ‘Jock, stay away from the body and keep near me,’ the ghost said.

  ‘Aye, he does look down in spirits with the dead beast alongside of him. His spirit was high when young Peter lived here but he slowly lost the urge to live. Even taking himself for a walkies was an effort after Peter left.’

  ‘What do you advise Jock?’ asked the ghost.

  ‘I am not one who is used to talking to a cloud but under the circumstances we need to ask Charlie what he wants. It is his life and his desires, that we need to consider before we give advice.’

  Jock and Charlie had shared many an afternoon sitting each side of the wire fence discussing the dilemmas dogs of such fine breeding experience. Jock knew of Charlie losing his young master after the marriage break-up took Peter and his mother to England. Jock selected his words carefully.

  ‘Charlie lad, what is it in your heart you desire now that you have no family? What is it you want?’ Jock said.

  ‘Jock, all I heard was the old man screaming out something about selling the house and taking photos. He was on the stairs above. He screamed out as he tumbled down the stairs and now there he is dead.’

  ‘Aye, dead he is. But what about you? Do you know this ghost?’

  ‘No Jock, I just want to be left alone Jock – why not we call an end to it all – no family – no food – walkies or someone to hug and play with.’

  ‘Charlie, I told you my story a long time ago. This is my second family. Not everything in life is what you want. Do you want another family? Do you want to live again? Do you want to go through the pain of searching for your family? Dogs have the right to choose – but it is tough being selective Charlie – I wondered sometimes if you have the fortitude to experience what I did to find my fine family – life is worth fighting for but you have to fight for the love Charlie. Charlie – it is a difficult moment to say this but – it might be for the best that you have to move on like Peter did. James Pemberton was an evil man Charlie – he tried to be someone he could never be – go from here Charlie before the police and dogcatcher arrives. Search for your family. What do you think my boy? What is your heart telling you?’

  ‘Jock, I can’t - someone might take me in as their new dog.’

  ‘Do not say that. I have told you before – you have to fight for your love and rights – Charlie the question is – are you worthy of the love that you want? Love is a tangible intangible and you Charlie have to be worthy of the love you receive – but are you worthy? You also have to let go of all this – forget it happened and go search for love - have you got the guts to let go of your past and create your future? I taught you many moons ago about using your imagination. “Imagine and you will know it when you see it” – that is what I taught you - have you got the guts to leave here to never return – this house is one you will never see again but to find the one you want you must first – imagine to be the one worthy to be loved.’

  ‘May I add something?’ the ghost said.

  ‘Aye, if it helps the young lad here.’ Jock said.

  ‘There needs to be something besides love in his life. It is called Passion. Passion to focus on his own artistic things like dance. If I didn’t have my passion, I would not be here. Even ghosts need passion. I can dance. I was once a famous dancer and died. I still dance. Dancing is passion.’ The ghost said, then turned full on face to face with Charlie. ‘Seek nothing but the ability to dance, or play, or write, or paint, or sing. These things bring joy to you. All other things bring sorrow. That is what I have learnt. Bye Charlie.’ The ghost said and then slowly disappeared.

  ‘Charlie, quick, there is an Ambulance. The Police will be here soon. Off with you – quick go eat food – eat it and run. Run, run and run more until the house cannot be smelt on the gentlest breeze. Bye Charlie. . . bye. . . .’ Jock’s eyes were clouded in tears as he saw Charlie scampering down the street into the bushes after eating his last meal at the home of James Pemberton.

  The cover of the bushes and the setting sun brought a shade of darkness and a wildlife Charlie had not seen in his life before. Trees were different and sounds were created by birds flying above him.

  The moon was near full, Charlie’s guidance system finding shadows along a beaten path to a large opening where kangaroos were feeding. Charlie sat down on the edge of this grassed area and looked at the kangaroos. Slowly he crawled along not wanting to disturb them. As his body flinched reacting to a stick poking into his soft under-belly the kangaroos stood upright and their ears turned like antenna, to identify the sound. Slowly Charlie moved and the one sound he made sent the kangaroos hopping into the distant bushes. Charlie then walked to the bushes where the kangaroos disappeared. Charlie then followed their scent into the bushes. Charlie rationalised - if they are safe then so am I. Charlie was not used to using his nose following kangaroos in the bush. Charlie quickly lost their scent. The full moon let Charlie see a cloud in the distance. As he approached the cloud it disappeared only to re-appear in the distance. Though Charlie grew tired and weary, he continued following the cloud through the night, looking for a safe place to sleep. At dawn Charlie saw a hollowed out log, and squeezed himself into the space and went to sleep.

  No sooner than Charlie went to sleep he woke to a new day. The day started with first signs of life. Charlie found comfort in the tightness of his body squeezed into the hollowed out log. At the far end a lizard was asleep and a snake was curled around his tail. The spiders crept long in silhouette portraying a web of waiting. There was life in the hollow log but it was the strangest feeling he had experienced. A slight movement by Charlie sent the snake into the bushes. The Blue Tongue Lizard eyed Charlie as he slowly repositioned himself to gauge the movements of the urban intruder into his log.

  A mist appeared at the end of the hollow log and a voice came from it, ‘Time to move on Charlie, time to move on.’

  Charlie in his depressed bewildered state moved one leg after another until he was free from the log. The path to the road seemed as though he was moving into another dimension.

  ‘This is a world of adventure and a w
orld of discovery,’ was the audible thoughts of Charlie.

  ‘You have a journey today Charlie,’ spoke the ghost, ‘I will lead you to safety and a new way of searching for peace in your life.’

  ‘Why are you doing this ghost? Why me? And – what if I don’t want to go on your journey of discovery?’ Charlie thought back.

  ‘Charlie, it is not for you to question - it is now time for you to trust and be led - go to the road - stand by the roadside - a car will take you south - when the urge arrives – do it – do not hesitate – just do it.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Charlie, imagine was what Jock said - you will know it when you see it – and then just do it.’

  Charlie in his state of shock, in bereavement, in his fish-out-of-water, not knowing what to do state of being, moved to the path leading to the highway. At the highway Charlie sat waiting.

  The car was returning to Sydney after the family’s annual holidays up the top end of Australia. The children were getting restless after days of car travel. One child demanded to have a rest stop but could not wait for a regular toilet stop. Andrew had sufficient patience to stop for his beloved daughter to go behind a bush. Andrew’s plan was to push on for a stopover in outer Brisbane before attempting the long drive to Sydney. His co-driver wife, Barbara, was asleep and woke as Andrew pulled the car over for Chloe’s toilet stop.

  ‘Barbara, can you get out and stand guard for Chloe please, there might be a big drop bear attacking her whilst she studies the ants on the leaves,’ Andrew said.

  ‘Ok Chloe, out we get and make it quick, we have to reach Burpengary before nightfall and we have a stop-over in Null first.’

  ‘MUM, there is a dog here – look mum – the dog – he will get me and attack me.’ Chloe said.

  ‘Andrew, move on up the road a bit away from the feral dog.’ Barbara called out.’

  ‘Wait mum, the dog is rolling on his back – I think he wants his tummy tickled – he has a collar on him and he is panting with the biggest, hugest eyes,’ Chloe said.

  ‘OK, just wait Chloe – don’t go near the dog – Chloe – stop – don’t let him lick you – he might have rabies.’ Andrew said.

  ‘I will get her away from the dog – move on dog – move on – wait – Andrew – this might be the dog for Chloe – it is hungry – get the water bottle and a plastic bowl from the caravan. This dog needs a home Andrew – oh Andrew, he is such a lovely dog and you did promise the kids a dog.’

  Charlie thought this was what the ghost had planned for him – a family – and it arrived just when ghost left him by the roadside. The family looked him over and decided this dog was going home with them. A spot was worked out on the floor behind the front passenger seat. Blankets, some biscuits to eat and off they went down the highway.

  ‘He stinks,’ Chloe’s brother yelled out.

  ‘He does not – he is just a little smelly – all dogs smell sometimes and I will bath him when we get home – so shut your face and go back to asking – are we there yet?’

  ‘Have you given the dog a name yet Chloe,’ Andrew asked

  ‘Yes, his name is Tiger because he came out of the jungle,’ Chloe said.

  The journey to Null continued. A window was wound down to give Charlie fresh air. Chloe ran her fingers over the head of Charlie to pacify him. When Chloe stopped Charlie quickly moved his head.

  At Null was a cousin of Andrew who had to give him a parcel for Andrew to return to Sydney. The family decided to have a quick meal and pack the parcel into the caravan, and go straight through to Sydney using two drivers. Andrew slowly moved the car through the 50 klm streets until he was at the house.

  Chloe was the first to get out of the car with her new dog.

  ‘Have a walkies Tiger,’ Chloe yelled out as she opened the door.

  The dog leaped from the car and run straight up into a driveway of the house next door. As Charlie raised his hind leg to pee on a flower he fell over. The neighbour saw the whole episode of the car arriving and the dog falling over. Charlie tried to walk but fell with wobbly hind legs. The neighbour, Nell Walker, was in her front garden and called out.

  ‘Quick – the vet – get the dog to the vet.’

  Andrew instantly realised the situation and ran into the house of his cousin, grabbed the parcel and said, ‘I am out of here. I’m not paying Vet bills for a stray dog.’

  The last Nell saw was the car screaming off down the road out of sight.

  Nell Walker in a state of shock screamed out again, ‘Get the dog to a Vet – anybody – just do it – it has a paralysis tick.’

  The quietness of the replies from her neighbours sent shivers into Nell Walker. Nell raced into her house and returned with car keys and purse. Nell then put the dog into her car and sped off to a Vet she had taken her cat to recently.

  Nell Walker stormed into the Vet’s waiting room yelling out, ‘quick, I have a stray dog in my car – he has a paralysis tick in him – shaky legs – retching – wanting to vomit.’

  ‘Where is your car, call out to Leonard, he is out the back with the sick possum.’ The nurse called out.

  Leonard entered the room and stood looking from a distance.

  ‘What do we have here – yes – definitely a tick – scan him – find out who is going to pay for this – we lost 3 strays last year and not one cent for our troubles. Find an owner – prepare him in case you find an owner,’ Leonard said.

  ‘Yes, we found a Micro-Chip. Contacting the data base now. . . the owner’s are in Gladstone. . . no answer. . . wait. . . hang on. . . that dog we had in last week looks identical and he was bred in Gladstone. . . bring up Oscar’s phone number on the computer– yes – Oscar was registered with a Poodle breeder in Gladstone . . . ring that number . . . onto the table out in surgery one – get the dog up and get a catheter into him. . .. no drugs until we have an owner. . .see if you can find the tick,’ Leonard said.

  ‘The woman in Gladstone knows the dog. Family break up and then a family death yesterday. She said she had been driving all over Gladstone looking for the dog – he has a name – Charlie – confirmed – she will pay for the costs of drugs – she said you know her Vet in Gladstone and she will cover all expenses.’

  What happened now was a sequence of many things happening simultaneously. . . following the ordeal. . . .

  ‘Mary, catheter is in - the tick anti serum is in – breathing is increasing – quick – nasal oxygen– we don’t have long with him – urgent – oxygen – quick – he looks like Oscar – remember the dog we had in last week – Charlie is your name – well Charlie, I don’t know if you will get through this one. – ok – put the Pulse Oximeter on – ventilator in – keep him breathing – more oxygen – heart rate is now - 170 and rising – 180 now. . . it is going faster - he is hallucinating – heart beat rising – 190 now – ‘How much can this dog take?’ – oh crap – heartbeat at 230 – oh oh – the serum is working – slowing down to 220 – breathing is getting more laboured again – heart rate increasing again.

  ‘Hold on Charlie - hold on – steady down – breathe Charlie – breathe – get air into your lungs. . .’

  The heart of Charlie laboured on. When many a dog’s heart had given up Charlie’s heart kept pumping. The body was demanding oxygen – the heart had to pump oxygen to the rest of the body with an absence of a desire to live. . . meanwhile the hallucinations of Charlie are visualising the ghost of James Pemberton rising from the body. . .

  ‘Charlie, life is a two edged sword and you can always chose to die Charlie – you can choose to die – the sword of life is an Excalibur but if you chose to live Charlie you will be haunted by me as you pursue your destiny. . . what is it Charlie? Charlie you have a path to follow and I will be part of your journey. You can live Charlie if you so choose – live Charlie and the sword will devour all things you desire – the sword will be part of your quest to find love. I will pursue you with my haunting for the rest of your life if you choose to live
,’ said the ghost of James Pemberton.

  Images of swords with two edges cutting through the air filled the dream Charlie experienced. . . then appeared another visualisation – that of a ghost dancing with a paint brush in its grasp.

  The ghost spoke ‘there are two edges Charlie – both edges can be used for good – the sword is for food and building a defence – not for evil but for good in your life. . . I will protect you Charlie. . . live Charlie – choose life – choose living.’

  Back on the surgery table –

  ‘The heart rate is approaching a limit – he can’t get enough oxygen – heart rate now 250 – how much more can the heart take? I think we will lose him – oh crap – heart rate dropping fast – now below 100 – 90 – 80 – quick put the Atrophine into him. . . see what happens. . .. going lower – oxygen Charlie – oh gawd – I think we have lost him – how is the heart rate now – Adrenaline – hit him with adrenaline – we have another emergency just came in – cancel all appointments – heart rate steadied – it dropped to 65 then came back to 90 – yes – yes – we have him back – now going back to 120 and steady – yes – yes – see if that lady can come in – yes the one who owns the dog like Charlie here – ok – keep him on Nasal Oxygen after you take the Ventilator out – he was so near death I thought we had lost him – congratulations everyone.

  ‘You chose life Charlie. I will haunt you Charlie for choosing life. Your path will be crossed by a two edged sword for the rest of your days. When you leave here Charlie I will see you find death the way I see fit. Today you won Charlie. Let us see what happens next time,’ said the ghost of James Pemberton.