Humanoid (Dream Warriors Book 1)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Misty and I jumped into Kiah's Nissan Rogue, aptly named old Rusty, after the last lecture of the week, before Easter break. Headed south of the city to Loganlea, an urban residential suburb of Logan City, we travelled to meet Kiah and Jalun's auntie, Bimay. Whilst we visited, Kiah intended to pack a weekend bag so she could sleep over at the flat because tomorrow night meant 'club night'. Kiah's older brother, JayJay, bagged us three Good Friday VIP tickets for a club in the city where he pulled door security.

'How are you related to Bimay?' Misty asked.

'Bimay is JayJay's auntie, the older sister of mine and Jalun's adopted father, William. They're both Elders of the Mala Bilngkumu Bama, an Indigenous community from Northern Queensland.'

'Are there any clan members settled in other parts of Australia?' I'd read an article about Europeans forcing clans from their traditional soil rich homelands, in the name of progress, to make way for agriculture and the construction of new towns.

'They're scattered from Degarra, in the North and Cairns, in the South. A select few, including Bimay, live and work in the Brisbane area. A smaller group even travelled to other parts of the World, but our relationship with them severed decades ago.'

I leant my head against the backseat and gazed out of the window. We passed by several building projects spread out across Loganlea, evidence of an expanding populace. Misty pressed her nose to the passenger glass window as we drove by a modern plaza complex at a popular retail park, a dreamy quality to her expression. Her mouth practically salivated, probably with thoughts of the thousands of clothes, shoes and accessories housed within. On the outer edge of the bustling urban town, Kiah pointed out a modern Woolworth's superstore where she worked evenings and weekends. Heading out of town, we travelled through a less developed suburb flanked by vast parkland and open bush, fringed by established trees and shrubs.

'We're here,' Kiah announced, pulling onto a gravel driveway.

Long steel lattice fences edged the entire length of the property, providing privacy from the road. Various shrubs and dwarf palm trees lined one side of the driveway and ended at a double-lock garage with white aluminium doors. On the other side, a sprinkler system sprayed a vaporous cloud over the front lawn, leaving behind twinkling pear-shaped droplets dangling from the tips of healthy blades of saturated grass.

Half a dozen rectangular windows, fitted side by side, covered half the length of the first floor of a two storied detached house. Not a typical Queensland timber construction with a corrugated iron roof, but a traditional brick house with a tiled combination roof. A brickwork veranda wrapped around the first floor, offering a panoramic view over the pristine lawn.

A plump petite woman stepped out through the opened front door and bounced onto the driveway. 'Welcome to our home girls, I'm Bimay.' I jumped out of the car into the blazing afternoon sunshine. 'You must be Rayne.'

Pearly-white teeth gleamed against vibrant dark-brown skin and intelligent, twinkling black eyes gave the impression they saw everything. Short arms extended upwards, so I bent at the waist, wrapping my arms around her to accept a welcoming embrace.

Unexpected bolts of lightning penetrated my chest, the sensation easing into a warm trickle of pleasant comfort flowing through my veins. She squeezed me with an unexpected strength which activated a wave of peace over my hyperactive brain. Heaviness weighed upon my eyelids and my eyelashes fluttered onto the tops of my cheeks. Out of character, I willingly immersed myself into the unexpected offer of Bimay's tender affection.