The Pole Shift

Sean and Lett

The reserve behind the Peanut Butter man's house was about 20 acres. Tall mountain ash with a tangled understory of blackberries, ivy, and various other invasive plant species from the northern hemisphere.  The enormous trees swayed in a breeze as if Europeans had never come.

                 It looked like there had been some initial attempts by the early survivalists to setup in there, but a sign warned that the 'Friends of the Reserve' were vigilant and would report any illegal activity. That might have been an annoying enough thing before the Mad Weekend, but now the Pole Pigs had licence to kill. They had to be very careful. Lett went herself, posing as a hiker, careful not to look too closely at the houses but glancing at them to get an idea of what was where. If they could get a den built they might be able to get a feel for what was going on in the Peanut Butter Man's world. It was a nice spot, the kookaburras were lording it up, and there were rosellas peeping at her.  She sat on a log, and looked at her phone as if she was getting her bearings.

                "What ya filming?" She hadn't even seen the kid snug in the crook of the tree above her. She stood, the hide she had been constructing was a few meters away, under a fern and knee deep into the mushy topsoil. It could be a grave too, she suddenly smiled at the boy and took a step towards him. "A fairy." she said, then lurched.

                Lett had run one hundred meters after stunning the brat with a thunderous slap . She had begun to drag him towards the hole before she contemplated what it would mean to kill an innocent, but it was all she could think to do. Three other kids appeared, and screamed. She was relieved that child murder was not something she would commit. She wheeled wide then swung back quickly, keen to see if any sort of alarm was being raised. She got close enough to the crying kids to realise that some subterfuge was being performed on the Peanut Butter man, they wanted to blame him for the attack and in fact had, The Pole Pigs were on their way. She saw an opportunity. Quickly she skirted the houses and came up the dirt road at the front. She paced up Peanuts driveway and banged on his door hard.

                He swung  the door open, expecting someone else she thought. His angry eyes quickly fled as he took in Lett, eye to eye. She had the feeling he was checking her out and a cold anger arose in her.

                "I hear you've abused the children next door. Beaten them. They've called the Pole Police, might be time for you skedaddle." She made a motion with her shoulder then  waited for his response which was confused, he shifted his feet and took her in again.

                "They are saying I hurt their kids? What next!" Lett made a sarcastic sound then said:

                "The Pole Police will arrest or execute you for aggressive behaviour to neighbours, not a survivalist are you?"

                "Let the fuckers come I didn't hurt their kids and no I am not a fucking survivalist! Do I look like one?" She had to admit that he did not, nor did he look the type to stash a glock with fifty tubs of peanut butter. She started to doubt Clarky but something about this pricks denial stank, there was something here.

                "Not what they say. There's blood,  the girls are saying, things. " Lett's bait was off,  he just shrugged his shoulders.  He wasn't going to fall for it, there was no fear, just tired anger. She thought he might be either brave or stupid and changed tack. "Let me answer the door when they come I'll send 'em packing."

                "Who are you?" His initial interest in her as woman had fled, he eyed her warily and  she decided to rekindle that initial curiosity.

                 "I wondered if you might want some company?"  Her shy smile felt strange, as if she was looking at another woman. The age old question had him flummoxed for a moment, before it dawned on him. Instead of lust spreading across his face there was sadness. His eyes yearned a little, they were filled with deep loneliness and sudden true shyness. She fancied for just a moment they glistened as he beckoned her in.