Memories of Life

4. The New World.

4. The New World.

Outside the world was changing; for many days there had been nothing but the familiar wide open plains with occasional low lying ranges covered in red, and yellow rock. Which hardy wiry trees, and bush clung to for survival in the arid land the girl had always known.

But this place was different, with its endless tree's and mountains the size of which Tash had never seen, creating islands of green nestled between straw yellow plains.

Traversing the disappearing roads along the plateau of the great range they had climbed only days before, the land now absolutely flowed with life. Giant trees so thick in number, it made it difficult to see any distance into there shadowy world, as the hidden road wound between them. The animals too were more plentiful in this rich country. Every few minutes a kangaroo, cow, pig or other small mammal would run into the surrounding bush, or stop to stare at the precession of vehicles passing by

Tash longed to stop and get out – to hear, and smell it all. The sound of squeaking, bending, tapping steel from the old diesel vehicle had been monotonous, and was starting to give her one of the familiar headaches that now visited more frequently.

Her younger brother Skel, had faired far worse since their journeys' beginning. Spending those first few day's pale with nausea, and vomiting from the vehicles endless bouncing during long days of travel. Tash looked at him sitting propped against some bedding, his head leaning on a rolled up sleeping bag. His pallor looked better than it had the previous day, and the brightness in his blue eyes was returning. And like her, they now looked out the window with his typical questioning expression, amazed by the changing country

"Another bridge ahead." The radio crackled, with Coopers voice.

Slowly the convoy came to a halt, and the sound of the outside world started to fill Tashs' ears. "Can I get out dad?" She asked.

"Hang on a minute Tash." Her father said. his ear cocked to the radio along with her mothers', their faces indicating for her to be silent.

Cooper's voice then broke back over the radio. "Take fifteen everyone, it looks good - but Sumir wants to check the structure from below. Message out"

"Now! Can I get out?" Tash asked impatiently.

"Yes, but stay in eyesight, and keep your senses about you." Her father's voice sounded more nervous then she remembered ever hearing it, while he scanned the surrounding bush from the driver's seat. He had been reluctant to agree on taking the journey, convinced only by his wife who was more accustomed to life outside the community.

"Full gear on." Her mother ordered. "Including jacket Tash."

Tash nodded diligently, and opened the door as her father shut down the engine. Instantly the smell was distinctive, wet and earthy, and she breathed in its freshness. The smell of home was completely different, with its dry dustiness she had known all her life, and which now seemed so far away. The sounds too were foreign, with the unfamiliar songs of birds and humming insects. The constant noise should have made her head feel worse, but somehow seemed to sooth it, with each creature taking their turn, as if orchestrated by a hidden conductor. Nothing about it was familiar, but one noise in particular startled Tash. A high pitched whistle echoed out of the bush, growing ever louder before finishing with a whip like crack that bounced of the surrounding bush.

"What! - Was that!" Skel shrilled in amazement joining his sister by the road side, with ever curious eyes peering into the bush. Desperately trying to see where, or what the noise had come from.

"I don't know?" Tash laughed.

"This place is amazing! Even better then what I've read about." Skel gushed.