by Mark Smith
‘No you won’t,’ she says.
‘I won’t?’
‘No. Tomorrow morning you’re giving me my first surfing lesson.’
We dress quickly and climb the dune back to the platform, the same dune Rose and me ran up to escape Ramage that first day. I can’t even begin to think how long ago that was or how much my life has changed since. She brought danger with her but now, with Kas’s hand warm in mine, I’m glad she arrived. I’m glad I helped her. I wish she was here with us, but somehow part of her always will be.
We stop for a while on the platform, me looking to the ocean and Kas gazing back towards town.
‘Finn!’ she says suddenly.
‘What?’ I look around but all I see is the vague outline of the main road, the shadows of houses and ruined buildings—everything as it’s been for three years.
‘Wait,’ she says, both hands locked around my arm. ‘Look.’
All over town the streetlights flicker for an instant, hold their glow, then die.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book was written with the support of a number of organisations and individuals. Thanks to Margaret River Press for the use of their beautiful house and studio; to the National Writers House, Varuna; and to Jason, Anna, Matilda and Harriet for the use of my writing home-away-from-home at Falmouth (again…and again).
Thanks to my coastal support team led by Nicole Maher and Great Escape Books—and to both Nic and Kai for their reading of the early drafts. Your enthusiasm and advocacy for my books has been nothing short of amazing.
Thanks to my fellow writers who have been sounding boards and partners in crime: Jock Serong, and the ‘Class of 2016’, Melanie Cheng, Kate Mildenhall, Rajith Savanadasa and Michelle Wright.
Thanks to all the crew at Text, especially Jane Pearson, editor extraordinaire, Nadja Poljo, the best publicist a writer could wish for, and Shalini Kunahlan for her inspired marketing ideas.
Thanks to St Bernard’s College and the staff at Santa Monica for supporting my work and to the hundreds of boys over the years who unwittingly provided the insights that led to the creation of Finn.
Thanks to Oliver, Maddy and Harley for their love and support, and for reminding me there are sometimes more important things in the world than writing a book—like bluebird days at Vail.
And finally, and most importantly, thanks to Lynne, who has done more than anyone to support my writing. None of this would have been possible without your love and understanding.
Mark Smith lives on Victoria’s Surf Coast with his family. His first book, The Road to Winter, was published in 2016. Wilder Country is his second novel.
PRAISE FOR THE ROAD TO WINTER
‘It’s easy to see why Mark Smith’s dystopian thriller has been compared with John Marsden’s Tomorrow When the War Began. I barely came up for breath as the pages flew. So strap yourself in for a high-action ride.’ Kids Book Review
‘Assured, gripping and leaves you wanting more.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘A riveting story of survival that questions the prices of freedom and safety as well as the value of an individual life…A breakout new series full of romance, danger, and a surprisingly engaging world.’ Kirkus
‘Finn’s strong voice carries the story and leaves you wanting to know what will happen next.’ Books+Publishing
‘This post-apocalyptic tale has heroes and villains, humour and heartache, and plenty of excitement…A brilliant debut from an author to watch.’ BookMooch
‘Whenever I put the book down, I felt as if I’d been holding my breath…The world Smith creates is convincing, perhaps because he takes real-world scenarios and kicks them up a notch.’ New Zealand Listener
‘In the footsteps of John Marsden and Claire Zorn comes Mark Smith’s first post-apocalyptic novel—with two more to follow. Unforgettable.’ Best Books for Kids 2016, NZ Listener
‘A beautiful and intimate story…Like the best YA fiction, The Road to Winter is sure to appeal just as much to an adult audience.’ Otago Daily Times
‘One of those novels that once you start reading, it is nearly impossible to put down again…An unforgettable novel about survival, honour, friendship and love.’ South Coast Register
‘Thought-provoking…insightful and heartbreaking.’ Reading Time
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Copyright © Mark Smith 2017
The moral right of Mark Smith to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright above, no part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.
First published in Australia by The Text Publishing Company, 2017.
Cover and text design by Imogen Stubbs.
Cover photograph by Helen Rushbrook/Stocksy.
Typeset by J&M Typesetters.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication
Creator: Smith, Mark, author.
Title: Wilder country / by Mark Smith.
ISBN: 9781925498530 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781925410778 (ebook)