Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth)

by S. E. GILCHRIST

  “That’s a pointless exercise. We have to proceed with our mission. That’s all there is to it.”

  “Don’t you ever wish our lives were different?” I held my breath, half expecting my father to shoot me down in flames with one of his legendary brush-offs.

  He crossed the room to stand near the window, hands clasped behind his back. Not that he could see anything because we’d boarded it up the moment we’d moved into the house. “Yes.”

  One word uttered in such a low tone, the hairs on my arms bristled as coldness swept through my veins.

  When my father turned around, there was no trace of any softening to his hard expression. “I don’t dwell on it. Sentimentality will get you killed. And your death will mean you fail your mission.” He pointed to the fine gold chain around Shay’s neck, just visible above his tee-shirt.

  My mate’s hand closed over the tiny locket that, although hidden under his shirt, I knew hung from the chain, as if protecting the memento from my father’s razor sharp gaze. “Because of my lack of diligence, my mark died.”

  “Brooding over it, won’t change the facts,” my father snapped. “Man up, Shay. Focus on the facts. Your mark failed to trust and as a direct consequence, a Mundos Novus operative was able to get close enough to take her out.”

  Anxious to deflect my father’s attention from Shay, I said, “That’s the problem, isn’t it, Sir? Developing the trust factor with our marks.”

  “Exactly. Considering time is not our side, every Warder must do whatever it takes to achieve the desired outcome.”

  I snapped straight in the chair. “Yes, Sir.”

  Shay squared his shoulder and echoed me, although he hadn’t as yet, been assigned a new mark.

  Apparently satisfied, my father crossed to the board again. “Let’s go over everything we know about the people we’ve singled out. With luck, something will pop. Every little detail, no matter how small, must be examined. Somewhere in these reports, is the information we must find.”

  He had no need to state the obvious. Because if we didn’t find it, we’d fail.

  And failure would mean death; for all of us.

  ***

  Tara

  I switched off the car engine and headlights then opened the door. After my friends had scrambled from the car, I locked it and led the way back down the drive to the front of the house. Em and Marnie spoke in low tones, their high heels crunching on the rough gravel as they followed me.

  A feeble light from the lone streetlight trickled down the road while overhead the pale light from the crescent moon made it hard to see my footing. I stepped on a rock. My awesome boots failed me. My ankle turned and pain streaked up my leg. I swore, regained my balance and limped up the three steps to the front door.

  About to insert my key in the lock, a huge roar caused me to spin around to search the shadowed road. My friends squealed and covered their ears in such a girly-girl fashion, I laughed. I glanced over to see them looking up at the night sky checking for a low flying F1-11 from the air-force base located twenty kilometres east of the town.

  “Don’t panic,” I said drily and pointed. “We’re not about to be bombed. It’s my father.”

  Amid a cloud of dust, an immense black Harley Davidson rumbled into view and rolled to a stop near the gate. The engine gunned twice before ceasing. There were two black clad figures riding pillion on the bike.

  I waved a casual hand and stayed where I was, resisting the urge to dash down the path and into my father’s arms. The couple dismounted and pulled off their helmets. Turning back to the door I unlocked it and pushed it wide.

  Light from inside the house spilled down the steps, across the thin stretch of straggling grass and over the gate to reveal my father’s slightly worn face and that of an unknown girl. Just as I suspected. A girl who surely wasn’t that much older than me.

  My mouth compressed as I took in the tattoo on her cheek and the possessive hand she placed on my father’s arm for a moment before leaning back against the bike, her boobs poking up at the sky.

  Dad had his shoulder-length, faded-red hair tied back in a pony tail at the base of his neck. As he strode toward me and my friends, his tall body cast a long shadow over the garden. Looking up and with a broad grin on his close shaven face, he mounted the steps.

  “Hi, kiddo.” He reached out to pull me into his arms but I shoved him aside, ignoring the way his mouth drooped downwards.

  Standing back and holding the door open I peered around him at my friends. “Are you two coming in for a drink?”

  “Yes, please.” Em hastened forward, her bright eyes fixed on my father standing like a great shambling bear on the threshold.

  “Are you sure it’s okay, Tara?” Tilting her head on the side, Marnie added, “You might prefer to be alone.”

  I grimaced. “No, its fine. It’ll be good to kick back over a hot cuppa and catch up. I guess you should come inside, Dad, since you’re here. Your friend too.”

  Head high, I stalked down the hallway and into the kitchen. I didn’t want to admit it, but damn if the sight of him hugging that chickie-babe was like a kick in the gut for me.

  Once upon a time, the only girl he’d hugged like that had been me. Then, there was Mum. I hated the thought she’d have to confront my father’s girlfriend.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” boomed Dad. “Hey, Cissy, wait here. I won’t be long. Cooee, Marion? Mind if I come in?” His voice seemed to bounce around the confines of the narrow hall.

  My shoulders sagged with relief as I sidled past where Mum and Dan were seated at the table with what looked like house plans laid out in front of them. Snatching up the kettle, I filled it with water from the protesting taps, muttering over my shoulder, “Hi Mum. Dan.”

  “Hello, dear. Come into the kitchen, Gary,” Mum said. Paper rustled as she folded the large sheet into a smaller neat square.

  “How ya going, Dan? Wooah, look at the size of him. You’re almost as tall as me.” Dad punched Dan on the shoulder.

  “He’s fun,” whispered Marnie walking up to stand beside me as I turned the kettle on and placed mugs on the kitchen bench.

  “Yeah, he’s a real barrel of laughs.”

  Marnie frowned and stared hard at me, obviously wanting me to explain but I opened the cupboard door and pretended to scan the contents. I really didn’t want to go there, and certainly not in front of Dad. Still, I did manage an apology. “Sorry, I’m a bit on edge lately.”

  Em paused in the doorway, smiling as she greeted everyone.

  “Hi, Dad,” said Dan smiling.

  “Help yourself to a beer, Gary.” Mum pushed her glasses further up her nose and shot a narrowed stare across the room. “You didn’t answer the beeper, Tara.”

  “No, Mum, I didn’t.” I folded my arms.

  “Humph. Have you heard the news?”

  Unfolding my arms, I attended to the drinks, added milk and filled them with hot water from the kettle. “It’s no biggie. A couple of meteors miles from Earth, I don’t see any cause for you to be worried, Mum. The government certainly isn’t.”

  Turning around, I caught the quick look my parents exchanged and Dad’s raised left eyebrow. What was that about?

  “Recalling our armed forces back to home soil is serious.” Mum’s lips tightened as if she’d been sucking lemons.

  I frowned, thinking about it.

  “Do you really think so, Mrs Ferguson?” Still in the doorway and giving the impression she was contemplating a quick getaway, Em’s eyes widened.

  She looks just like a startled rabbit. I handed out mugs of fragrant dandelion tea. Dad shook his head when I offered him one. Instead he opened the fridge door and took out a can of beer which he snapped open and raised to his lips.

  After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he said, “At the observatory, they’ve had their eyes on these meteors for some time. There’s been a lot of chatter twenty-four-seven between NASA and other countries. I know for a fact that a lo
t of time and energy has been spent on analysing trajectory models recently.”

  “Are you certain, Mr Ferguson?” queried Em. “I mean…”

  I knew she wanted to ask how a cleaner would have privy to this information but didn’t know how to word it. It was a good question. I wouldn’t mind learning the answer myself. I had to wait though, while Dad chugged down more beer.

  Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he considered Em before saying, “Cleaners are like servants, people don’t really see us. You’d be surprised at the amount of gossip we pick up.”

  “Then it’s true?” I eyed Dad, wondering whether he’d actually heard this information himself or whether he’d been utilising his awesome computer skills to hack into the observatory’s mainframe.

  Dad placed his right hand over his heart in an almost theatrical gesture.

  “Oh my god!” Em hugged herself. Her voice rose. “They’re going to hit Earth. We have to tell everyone. We have to find shelter!”

  “No need to shriek, young woman. Settle down,” ordered Dad, a heavy scowl wrinkling his forehead. “You’ve got a voice like a train whistle. Never heard anything like it in my life.”

  I couldn’t help it. I laughed and Dad winked at me. If only things could go back the way they used to be; Mum and Dad together, with us.

  “I don’t see any reason to laugh, Tara,” snapped Em, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

  My happy moment snuffed out like a lit match in a thunderstorm. “Sorry, Em. I wasn’t laughing at you.” All I seemed to do these days was apologise. Why couldn’t I learn to think before I acted or spoke?

  “Hey, Astro. Hurry up in there.” The yell from outside came loud and clear through the open window. And female.

  “Astro?” Damn, now both Mum and Dan knew there was a chick waiting for Dad outside.

  My brother ducked his head, thin shoulders hunched, his hands bunched into fists where they lay on the table. I stared down into my mug. I couldn’t bear to see the hurt lining Mum’s face.

  “Yeah, it seemed appropriate. Loved that cartoon show.” Dad swigged more beer then set the empty down. Taking a clean handkerchief from his pocket, he dried his silver ring nose, fiddling it round and round.

  Was he stalling?

  Dad thumped his chest and belched.

  Mum sighed long and loud but her lips were curved upwards; just a tiny bit.

  And for a few seconds, everything was like it used to be; Dad acting the bogan teasing Mum and Mum pretending to be the long-suffering, put-upon wife.

  I blinked away stupid tears as they shared another one of those damned glances that really puzzled me. Like they knew something I didn’t.

  Finally Dad stuffed the cloth away and cleared his throat. “I came over as soon as I heard they were finally going to announce it. You need to know what’s happening and begin preparations.”

  What?

  That word.

  My mouth dropped open. My hand shook and hot tea sloshed over the sides of the mug scalding my skin. My heart thumped filling my ears with its noisy beat. Exchanging my mug into my other hand, I shook my wet hand and tried to concentrate on what Dad was saying.

  “Firstly, there’s some strange magnetic impulses emanating from the meteors and they’re playing havoc with our instrumentation making it hard for us to interpret the data we’re retrieving. In some circles, it’s believed these impulses may affect our weather patterns as the shower approaches Earth.” His gaze swept the room to linger on me.

  I couldn’t work out what the expression in his eyes meant. But a terrible sense of dread swept over me.

  Dad added, “Secondly, at the very least there will be airbursts. Of what magnitude the scientists are unable to gauge at this point.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Em.

  Dan explained, “What Dad is saying is that some or all of the meteor shower will impact on our planet. It will depend on the size of the meteorites as to how much damage it will cause. Many will probably burn up in our atmosphere. Those that are really big may cause large explosions.”

  “Good lad.” Dad ruffled my brother’s hair.

  “This is terrible,” wailed Em. “I have to tell my father. People must be warned.”

  In two strides, my father reached Em’s side and wagged a finger under her nose. “You can’t tell anyone, got it, girlie? Another public announcement will be made soon enough but until then, its closed mouths.”

  I caught yet a third silent communication Dad exchanged with Mum.

  “Is this true, Dad?” Suspicious, I examined both my parents’ bland expressions. They were keeping something from me, but what? Was this one of Mum’s crack pot ideas that Dad, for heaven only knew what reason, had decided to buy into?

  “If you don’t believe me that’s your call.” Looking grumpy and somehow stern at the same time, Dad stomped to the door. One hand on the wall, he tossed a grim warning over his shoulder, “But you must be ready to act when the shit rains down.”

  Thirty seconds later the front door slammed.

  Two minutes later, the quiet was rent with a powerful rumble that faded into the night.

  Chapter 5 – PREPARE

  The next morning, I stood in the shower enjoying the beat of hot water cascading down my back. What was real? What was fantasy?

  Were both my parents crazy?

  Placing my palms on the tiles I leaned my forehead against their coolness fighting tears and my stupid self-pity. I needed to think through what was happening. Sort out the craziness from reality, because my every sense I possessed screamed at me something was wrong.

  Prepare.

  What did it mean? Why had everyone begun to mention that word?

  The timer pinged.

  I turned off the taps immediately, knowing how important it was not to waste what water we had left in the tanks. I remained in the shower recalling the conversation I’d had earlier that week with Mum, the moisture slowly drying on my skin.

  Warder.

  Mum had mentioned the sensei but that didn’t explain the tat on Alex. Could he be a Warder too? How many Warders were there anyway?

  Another weird coincidence?

  Then there was the inference we’d spent our entire life hiding from someone or something. Damnit. Why does everything have to be so hard?

  And what, if anything, did any of this have to do with the meteor shower?

  Tapping my short nails against the tiles, I considered the ramifications. My friends had walked home soon after Dad had left last night. Marnie would hold her tongue but there was no way Em would withhold any information from her journalist father. It was only a matter of time, before the news would be all over the local paper.

  Next the internet.

  Then the entire country.

  But if that were the case, wouldn’t that force the government to either refute it or admit it? Hard to say what they’d do, it was an election year after all.

  Really, it was mind boggling that something of this magnitude had remained a secret this long.

  Tension built behind my eyes. Flashes of sparking white light signalled the start of a migraine. I had to unwind and quick. Rubbing the back of my neck I tried to clear my mind of the stress pressing into me.

  The back screen door whined as it closed. In the distance, came the unmistakable noise of a lawn mower. The clownish screech of a flock of galahs cackled through the open window.

  Just another typical Saturday.

  Except this wasn’t going to be a typical day.

  Shivering, I grabbed a towel and wiped off the remaining drops of moisture, slapped on some moisturising lotion in a haphazard fashion and encased in the towel, dashed for my bedroom.

  Saturday. How could I have forgotten?

  Any moment now, the new sensei would be knocking at the door and Mum would be smiling into his stern face.

  It was enough to make any girl cringe. But I guess Mum must have been lonely since Dad left. Lately, I’d had a dry spell too, g
uy wise. Maybe I should cut her some slack.

  This could be exactly what she needed. A new direction in her life. I guess I could make an effort to be civil.

  After perusing my rather limited wardrobe, I pulled on a white tank top and a pair of blue cotton cargo shorts that ended mid-thigh. I ran my fingers through my damp hair, then hung up my wet towel and left my room.

  Pointless slathering my face with makeup when I intended to work in the garden for a couple of hours.

  The sound of voices drew me to the kitchen; that and the smell of brewing coffee. Yeah, I hated to admit it, but I was curious.

  “Oh there you are, Tara,” said Mum. “You remember our new sensei. His name is Bob Garroway, and of course his son, Alex.”

  Two pairs of frigid grey eyes stared at me.

  I don’t believe it. He’s here. In our house. I should have put some make up on.

  Oh crap, I should have put on a bra!

  No sooner did that thought pop into my head, than Alex dropped his gaze to my chest. Face burning, boobs tingling, I mumbled something and jerked open the fridge door, longing to crawl inside. A bottle of soy sauce toppled out and rolled under the table. Now I had to scrabble on my hands and knees to find the bottle.

  Why me?

  Coffee could wait. There was no way I was going to so much as blink an eyelash.

  Only eleven o’clock. Already the day seemed a year long. Where were my friends when I needed them? They’d said they’d be over first thing this morning but it looked as if they’d also taken the opportunity to sleep in.

  I retrieved the sauce, leaned against the cupboard, shoving the bloody thing hastily out of sight behind me. I dithered wondering whether it would be too obvious to dash back to my bedroom then decided it might be better to remain still. No one paid me any attention. Alex had shifted his gaze to the window. The others had their heads bent over some paper which was spread out over the table.

  A puff of hot air lifted the net curtains slightly. The sound of a fighter-plane, high in the sky, droned through the window.

  I relaxed sufficiently to find my voice. “What are you looking at Mum?”

  “Plans of our house.” Dan looked up and smiled. At the sight of the endearing flop of light brown hair hanging over his rich brown eyes, the remainder of my embarrassment fled.