Ken lowered the hatchet. “No need.”
The vampire fell to its knees and dropped forward onto the floor of the cave. It stayed still, arms motionless by its sides.
“Samara said we had to damage its head. Thanks to you and your stick, it just got a stake through the brain.”
“Fuckin’ A,” said Rick.
The second and final campfire of the trip was built in the cave. They carried kindling from the bush and piled it on the creature. Skye, who’d managed to retrieve her lighter from Samara, did the honours and set the pyre alight. She threw the lighter into the flames, done with starting fires.
Ken watched the body start to burn, wondering what the real story had been behind this unfortunate woman.
“What was it doing here?” said Angela. “This is Australia. Shouldn’t we have run into a bunyip or something?”
Samara shrugged. “People travel to Australia…so why not their monsters?”
Rick snorted. “Now I know Australia has a fuckin’ immigration problem. Come on, let the bitch burn.”
The group turned their backs on the cave and began their hike away from Mount Banjarra. Behind them, smoke the colour of slate curled into the bright morning sky.
Next year, thought Ken. I’m taking the kids surfing.
Penanggalan! An Aussie Vampire Tale Page 4