Humanoid (Dream Warriors Book 1)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Cross-legged in the black of night, I sat upon a tartan picnic rug in front of a bush dance circle, Misty and Blake settled either side of me, about to witness something remarkable. We shared our space with the younger children and relatives of the performers, everyone practically salivating with anticipation, waiting for the next act—the Mala Bilngkumu and guests.

Spotlights, interspersed with UV lightening positioned around the circumference, faced inwards of the makeshift earth packed stage, lighting up the arena. Tension emitted from hordes of expectant spectators, impressing on the growing illusion of an alternative reality materialising before our very eyes.

A wave of elation coursed through my veins as our friends and their clan took to the oval dance floor, tremors tickling my legs. Men pounded the ground with their feet to the beat of the clap-sticks and goose-bump inducing guttural singing engulfed my eardrums. Each performer's exposed skin shone an eerie green in the ultraviolet lights. Neon paint, interspersed with brown/red ochre, formed into continuous crests and curved waves, encircling their limbs and faces in a fluid tribal design.

'Ladies and gentleman, girls and boys, I wish you good evening, and welcome,' William's dulcet voice echoed through the speakers, travelling around an expectant crowd.

He stood on a raised platform, holding a microphone, staring out into a crowd of thousands. An air of authority blazed around his smartly dressed figure, eliciting instant silence from the audience.

'This is a traditional tale of the Mala Bilngkumu of the Daintree.' He paused, looking out at the crowd, before he began his tale. 'Men from the village travelled the creeks and rivers running through the forest to feed the clan.' Male members of the dance troupe performed the narrative, each holding a traditional spear and miming the actions of hunting or rowing in canoes.

JayJay and the younger lads crouched in the dirt, mimicking the actions of animal tracking. 'Crocodiles wallowed in the mud by the banks of a river, as hunters arrived at their traditional hunting grounds.'

Jalun, Jiri and Kiah, joined by Kye, Josh, Ulla and Leif, crawled around in the dirt on their fronts, jerking erratically. JayJay plunged his spear into the dirt floor beside Josh. The younger lad rolled around the dusty ground, then froze, rigid and unresponsive.

JayJay and his band of hunters moved to the side-lines, shadowed by the crocodile performers, signalling the end of their scene. Emily rushed out onto the stage and Jalun bent down on all fours next to the outer ring.

'One day, a young girl collected water at the river and caught the attention of a male crocodile.'

Jalun inspected Emily from his lowered position whilst she mimed collecting water from a creek with a traditional water carrier. 'The crocodile instantly fell in love with the young girl and decided he would take her for his wife. The village girl froze with fright as the crocodile emerged, fearing she would be his next meal.'

Jalun jumped to his feet and snatched his adopted sister around the waist. She pummelled his bare chest with her fists. Unperturbed, he hefted her into his arms and rushed off stage. Several spectators cheered with delight, others wolf-whistled. An unexpected growl rumbled deep in the depths of my chest. Bitch.

Leonie returned to the arena, searching for her daughter. She shaded her eyes and gracefully swayed her hips to the slow rhythmic clack of the clap sticks which exposed the flexibility of her lithe physique.

'The mother searched the riverbank for her lost daughter.' Leonie located the abandoned water container left behind by Emily and showed it to the clansmen, waiting on the side-lines. 'She presented the hunters with the abandoned container. Afraid for the girl's safety, a hunting party gathered to find the missing girl.'