by Mark Lingane
“Richards almighty!” the woodsman shouted. He spun to face the crunching through the undergrowth, briefly glancing back to Sebastian. “What on earth’s that?”
“Cyborgs.”
“Cy-what?”
A large black cyborg came striding through the trees, his heavy boots trampling the undergrowth.
“This doesn’t look good,” the woodsman said. He swung his axe at the base of a thin tree next to him. It sliced through in one swing and toppled toward the cyborg, forcing it back.
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 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 over. Sebastian was amazed at the bravery of the man.
“The wife says I’m an ideas man,” the woodsman said to Sebastian, “and 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 down. The cyborg thrashed wildly until a loud buzzing calmed the movements. 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 kicked—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 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. His vision blurred like he was staring underwater, watching the waves roll away. White sparks crawled over the creature and it struggled to flap its wings. The cyborgs stumbled to a halt, some collapsing to their knees. Then the darkness claimed him.
Sebastian blinked open his eyes. Above him a large wooden fan slowly spun, the whispering of the blades filling him with a sense of peace. The face of the woodsman loomed into his vision, shocking him back to reality.
“Bonza, the little tike’s alive,” he said. “You’s been out cold for two days, squirt. Thought we lost you’s 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 again 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 strong jaw was 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, but he couldn’t see either a ball or chain.
“And there’s me little sheila.”
Sebastian turned back to Merv. “Didn’t she just say …”
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. It’s all been so exciting, like axes, guns, weirdy people. Nothing ever happens here.”
“Who said that?” Sebastian peered around the room.
A girl about the same age as Sebastian stepped out from behind Sheila. She was taller than him and skinny. Her hair was tied in 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 was comin’, then you’s shouted and they all stopped dead. Even that great big fiery flappy thing flew away. Then I brought you’s here on account of bein’ out for the count.”
Bindi coughed delicately.
“Then Bindi stayed by your side moppin’ your brow till the fever passed.”
Bindi giggled and glowed 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 Michael being dragged away by the cyborgs came back to him. “They got him. He surrendered himself so I could get away.”
“Fils is a top bloke,” Merv said. “He’s always welcome ’round here.”
“Solid,” said Sheila. They nodded in unison. “Where’s your family?”
“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?” He stifled a yawn.
“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’s need a bit more shut-eye if I’m any judge. Get some rest. We’ve got a roast tonight, and you’s welcome to join us.”
“Food. That sounds great.” He closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.
4
SEBASTIAN WOKE TO distant shouts. He shook the drowsiness from his head and staggered to his feet. Through the window he saw a white steam-utility vehicle chuff up the track toward the house. Steam rushed up through the funnel at the rear of the vehicle letting out a long hiss. The gears clunked and hissed as the doors lifted out and up, like the wings of a great bird. He made his way into the clearing in front of the house where Merv could see him. A couple almost identical to Merv and Sheila descended from the steel machine and started to chat after the customary hugs. He moved over to the group, trying to look friendly and polite. 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’s hand, but was distracted by the strange vehicle behind them.
“You like it?” Bruce asked.
“What is it?”
“You ain’t 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 weight ratio. Produces the same pullin’ power as three hundred and fifty horses. Ah, it’s nothin’. 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 that curved up from above the front wheel into a swoop that rounded over the roof, giving it the appearance of an egg. The sparkling engine sat exposed at the rear of the vehicle, a blossom of metals in the shimmering heat. The raised doors exposed twin levers in the cockpit, surrounded by a dozen brass dials. Tw
o leather seats were positioned one behind the other.
Bruce laughed. “Ah, those Luddies.”
“We’re not Luddites. We’re just cautious about new things, and isolated.”
“We’ve had steam power for more’n a 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 women 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.
The kitchen buzzed with the flurry of activity. The ladies were bustling next to 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 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 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 leaped 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 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 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.
Silence snapped around the table. 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. “You’s 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.
Light erupted, and the wall to Merv’s right exploded, showering debris over the table, narrowly missing everyone. He shouted to everyone to get 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.
“What exactly are you plannin’ to do with that old relic?” Bruce said.
“It’s the best I got. The rifles are out in the coolroom.”
Merv spun and rested the muzzle over the stove, leaning on the hard metal. He gritted his teeth, squinted, and released a volley through the shattered wall. He sat with his back to the stove. “Bloody hell, woman, it’s still hot.”
“Of course it is, love. You complain if the dinner goes cold.”
“As usual, you’s right, love.” He nodded toward Bruce. “This is no good. You’s think you can crawl over to the coolroom and grab the rifles?”
“I’ll give it a go.”
“Good man. I’ll try and distract them.”
As Bruce crawled over to the doorway, Merv leaped to his feet and grabbed a small box off the stove. He pulled out a long flare, lit the end, and launched it into the clearing. The flare burned fiercely in the night sky, casting a brittle deep-blue glow over the surrounding area.
A figure in black stepped back into the darkness of the forest.
Bruce returned with two rifles. He passed one to Merv, who cracked the rifle and checked the chambers were loaded. Two golden bullets glistened in the gaslight.
“That’s more like it.”
Merv leaped up and fired into the clearing. Bruce took a position by the doorway and fired as Merv positioned himself on the other side of what remained of the door.
“The wind’s pickin’ up. Bruce, you take the right flank. See if you’s can force them out into the center.”
Bruce nodded and slipped into the bushes without a sound, as Merv fired a couple of shots into the darkness. He turned to Sheila. “Love, throw me the axe holster.”
Sheila slid over the leather strap. Merv slipped it over his shoulders, then slotted in the axe so it rested against his back. He winked at Sebastian, then disappeared.
Sebastian stayed on the floor, huddled with the women. It was some time before he realized Bindi was holding his hand. She was smiling, but her hands were shaking.
A high-pitched scream echoed through the forest, followed by two more.
Eventually, Merv spoke. “Okay, you lot, you can come out now. The coast’s clear.”
Sebastian walked onto the veranda. “My head doesn’t hurt, so that means they’ve gone.”
“These ones have gone, Seb,” Merv said. “Forever.”
Bruce came running out of the trees and leaped up the stairs. “Looks like first innings goes to us.”
The two men stood together on the veranda looking out into the silent darkness.
Eventually Merv nodded. “Ah, the serenity.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sebastian said. “More might come.”
“Let them. I’ve seen worse.” Merv’s face was impassive as he stared out into the great dark wilderness. He broke into a smile and ruffled Sebastian’s hair. “It takes a lot to get past ol’ Merv; don’t you’s worry about that, sport.”
“I need to go.”
“You’s need to go inside. I’m going to scout ’round, make sure we’re all clear.”
Sebastian felt a great relief when Merv finally returned. Bruce had been talking endlessly about the imminent threat of foreigners.
“What if they come back in numbers?” he was saying. “It could get serious. Might have to cancel the barbie.”
“No need to overreact, Bruce,” Merv said, as he swung the axe off his back He placed his rifle on the table. He picked up his beer to take a sip, only for the bottom to fall off.
“That’s not good,” said Sheila.
“See,” said Bruce, “they’re even
deprivin’ a man of a cold beer for a hard-earned thirst.”
“Let’s all calm down,” Merv said. “It’s been a bit of a shock, but we’ve dealt with worse.”
The others looked at him.
“Like when those local lads were helping Uncle Jianara’s cattle by Westlake billabong.”
They nodded in unison.
“It’s because of me,” Sebastian said. “If I go now, you’ll be safe. What if Bruce’s right and they come back?”
Sheila looked at Merv. “You can’t let the little tike by himself.”
Merv nodded. “Furthest thing from my mind. I’ll take you to the main station at New Toowoomba tomorrow,” he told Sebastian. “We’ll be right till then. Bruce and I’ll watch out overnight. We got that bottle of Bailey’s sittin’ on the shelf, waitin’ to push us through to sunrise. Right, Bruce?”
“Oath, mate.”
“I’d suggest you get your backside on the train to Old Toowoomba and find your mother. I’d take you there myself, but with those things out and about, I don’t want to leave the family alone for too long.”
Sebastian sat and closed his eyes. These people were so kind, and all he had brought was danger and destruction.
5
THE CROWING OF the rooster woke Sebastian. He was surprised to see everyone else up and about.
Bruce was putting the finishing touches on the new front door and repaired wall. Apart from the odd bit of charring, the house had been restored to its former glory.
Merv was sitting at the long table sipping a cup of tea. Steam billowed up from the water as he stared out the window toward the rising sun. Sebastian sat next to him.
“I’ve been thinkin’—”
Sheila smiled. “He’s an ideas man, my Merv.”
“Yeah, thanks, Sheila. Like I was sayin’, those cyber-drongos fire that light thing, which bounces off shiny stuff, vis-à-vis my axe. We got some ol’ flexi-steel sheets lyin’ out back. I reckon we could make some kind of light armor out of it to reflect the light.” He looked at Sebastian. “Could save you’s in a scrape.”