NIGHT RUN TO CHRISTMAS

An excerpt from “Danika and Yatimah from Egypt to the Outback”

By Carmel Rowley

Drawing Robyne Matthews

Part 3 – Trouble Building

A loud rumble of thunder brought them awake, the soft light of morning touching the sky. Yawning, the man got to his feet and scanned the cloudy sky. To the west, the rocky hills loomed large and troublesome. He was worried about the thunder, and knew well the dangerous and violent forked lightning of the outback. To make matters worse, they had a river to cross. He didn’t wait any longer and swung onto Yatimah’s back, questioning if there was a chance to make it home in time for Christmas. ‘Today’s the twenty-fourth, Arab,’ he mumbled.

For the second day in a row, Danika climbed the windmill. She sat perched on the repair platform near the top. Her view stretched as far as her eyes could see and she scanned the horizon. Just a sign, she thought, even a wisp of dust, but there was nothing at all. She hoped her dad would arrive home soon – there were rain clouds building. If it rained, the roads would become boggy and muddy. Nothing could get through to Dalry if it rained! She sighed and leaned against the windmill’s timbers. She would watch a little longer. Maybe, just maybe, they would come…

The man recognised the smell of rain on the dry earth. They moved at a brisk pace as the wind gusted about them. It swirled like a willy-willy; dust was whipped up, and the man’s hat was blown up and away before he could catch it. Yatimah increased her speed instinctively at the rumbling of thunder. The grey landscape was illuminated like a spotlight as the lightning struck the earth with an ear-splitting boom. A rocky outcrop was just ahead and they galloped quickly towards it. There was a sizzling and zapping overhead. The stunted trees loomed above them as they pushed ahead, their gnarled branches heavy with rain appearing to be reaching towards them. Gritting his teeth, the man scanned the blackness, looking ahead, waiting for each lightning flash to illuminate their way. Several more crashes of thunder kept Yatimah cannoning along in fear, jumping the tussocks, and dodging the looming termite mounds. The man urged the mare faster – they were now racing for their lives.

A jagged fork of lightening struck the ground ahead with such ferocity it exploded a termite mound, pelting them with fragments of brown dirt. Yatimah screamed in terror as the very earth they were galloping on became electrified. The current sparked and hissed into the flowing rainwater as they bolted towards the hill. Rain streamed into the mare’s eyes and ran in rivulets off her body. She came to a squelching halt at the base of the rocky hill. Water flowed from every rock and gushed its way down the track but with no time to waste, they began their climb. They slipped and staggered their way to the top as lightening flashed again and again.

Once over the hill, Yatimah had to summon all her courage as they galloped towards the river. The man knew their survival depended on crossing the river before the water from upstream flashed down.

‘Steady, Arab, steady.’ He spoke the words with confidence and directed her carefully, across the rocky riverbed. The rain was blinding as they picked their way towards the opposite bank. The man tied the end of the lead rope around his waist. No sooner had he tied the knot than he heard the muffled rushing and roaring of water and knew they were in trouble. A wall of seething, foaming water picked them up and sucked them along. Yatimah plunged, trembling with the force of the water. Her loud high-pitched neigh was joined by the man’s voice encouraging her. ‘Swim, Arab, swim. Swim for your life!’

Yatimah swam, and then went under the water as the furious current swept them along. Her strength was spent, but she kept on. Filled with dirt and debris, the water bounced them around like corks. When something hit her she realised the man had slipped from her back. She swam on, assisting his efforts by pushing him against the current. They set out towards the riverbank. It was hard to see where the river finished and the land began. Yatimah’s muscles were burning as she made a final desperate effort to reach the banks edge.