...
In the event of a small fire, their property was pretty set up with dry lots and big dams for the horses and stock, however, in the event for a raging bushfire that was just jumping roads and spreading rapidly, the area was not ready.
...
"The watch and act issue for the region of grandfall creek has no been updated to a 'to late to leave' issue. Please seek shelter immediately! It is to late to leave!" The radio cracked, not a sound to be heard considering it was 1am.
"Shit-"
"Fuck"
"Fuck me dead..."
The three Myers kids were sitting in the kitchen of their home, watching out the big window at the orange and red glow to the east, that seemed to be glowing brighter by the second. This is the time when having parents who were home came in handy, but instead their parents were in sydney at a big conference, not knowing about the threat their property and family would be in with the fire that at the time wasn't even considered that it could be a threat. The only things that were left at the property were the stock, the horses, one dog and of course the kids.
"Tyler, you're with me in the truck. Kodi, Are you good to go shift the horses? DO NOT leave! I mean it". Matthew was always the even head of the three, he was the point and shoot kinda guy who in these situations was needed, then the three split ways, the two brothers racing off in one of the utes to the CFA shed that was just down the road whilst Kodi stayed behind to help her most prized possessions, her horses.
...
An hour later and it was an anxious wait for the freshly 18 year old who was sitting in one of the utes at 2:07 in the morning, fully dressed with a ute full of important stuff to the family as she waited on the channel, listening in to the CFA crew over the radio. The thing that made it all seem real was when Matthew called, telling her they wouldn't be back that morning and that she needed to get the important stuff and try to go. She didn't know where to go though.
The horses were as safe as she could possibly get them and although she was meant to be in a safer place, her role in the CFA was to wait for instructions. So that she did. She had a suspicion the reason she didn't get a call in was because of Matthew, but she had no time to be mad over that.
Both her brothers were out there, her neighbours were out there, her brothers friends, their siblings, almost three quarters of the region were out there. And it wasn't looking good.
"This is Grandfall truck 4, I'm sitting on the east boundary of the Myers place. The engine has stopped working. I repeat this is Grandfall truck 4 the engine has stopped working, Flames have been spotted".
That was enough to make Kodi's heart stop beating for a split second. That was Colten.
"Truck 4, Backup cannot be assisted! The fire is spreading!" One of the operators called.
Fuck.
...
In life, there is two choices you can make. 1. Step back and watch from the sidelines. 2. Jump right into the flames. That was what caused Kodi to be 5th gear pegging it down the drive in the old landcruiser. Where was she heading? To the East Boundary.
It was the most stupid thing she could possibly do, Considering the fire was heading for the east Boundary, but her question was why was Colten alone. And why was no one going to help.
"Colten, Ditch the truck when i get there." She said, putting the UHF back into the radio holster in the ute, waiting for a reply as she chucked a hard left.
"What the fuck are you doing?! You're meant to be back at the house!" Colten yelled, coughing as he ran over to the ute in the thick smoke. The fire was only 100 metres away now and moving.
"Where the fuck is the crew?!" She yelled, ignoring his question.
"Have you seen how big this fire is?! They're trying to protect the town!" He said, jumping into the passo seat. He knew he shouldn't be leaving the truck, but with no engine working, being on his own and having no water. He was fucked.
"Stop yelling for fucks sake! I just saved your ass!" She snapped, chucking a hard u-turn as the dirt kicked up under the wheels, the V8 engine and turbo kicking in as the wheels fought for traction because of the sheer power of the engine under the good..
"Right whats the plan now?" He asked, heart beat slowing slightly. Now that he wasn't waiting for his death.
"I dunno, I thought the CFA worker would have the plan!" She yelled, keeping both hands on the wheel as she really started to panic.
"There is to much vegetation around the dams, Go back to the house and I'll go back ou-"
"No! What is going through all of your heads to just leave me! I dunno what the fuck to do!" She hissed, chucking a left then a right again as she headed back onto one of the farm tracks, knowing the main road wasn't smart at the moment.
"Shush! I'm trying to think! Matthews job is the looking after everyone!" He snapped, Running his hands through his hair.
...
"I really don't like the look of this-" She said, a waver in her voice as they got back and the flames were coming over one of the ridges in the paddock.
"Just get to the dirt, turn the engine off..." Colten said, glancing over at the girl who was shaking from nerves next to him.
He'd always known Kodi as 'one of the boys'. She was her best mates little sister, the one who would happily go play footy with the boys, go swimming in the dams, play pool at the pub, outdrink any of the guys around a fire, but for once he didn't see 'one of the boys'. He saw his best friends little sister who was bat shit terrified. And he was the only one there to Protect her.
"It'll be ok- We'll be fine-" He muttered, grabbing a thick fleece blanket that was tossed on the ground to cover the two, mainly just there to block out some of the smoke.
"We'll be ok.." He said, grabbing her hand tightly as he watched a tear silently roll down her face. He didn't know if he was trying to just convince her or if he was trying to convince himself at this point to.
...
The spent a good two hours there, neither of them saying nothing. Nothing was to be said. The only thing they could hear was the crackling of the fire, the big bang when the fire reached the fuel tankers and the shaky breath of Kodi.
...
"Easy.. Are you ok-" Colten asked as he took the blanket off the two of them, but Kodi was already outta the ute.
By some miracle. They were alive. By some miracle, the water they had used before Matthew and Tyler went on the big bluestone house and around was enough to protect the house. By some miracle, the big tack room next to the house was still standing. By some miracle all the horses seemed to still be standing.
"Fucking hell.." She said with a shakey breath, dropping to her knees on the ground, feeling light headed over the whole thing.
She was fucking Alive.
They were Alive.
YOU ARE READING
A long way south
Teen FictionP L E A S E R E A D A Small town in outback New south wales where the going is tough isn't just for the faint of heart. It for the wild and kindred spirits that know the ways of the land like the back of their hand. It's for the people who enjoy t...
