We ran, bent at the waist, through the dark tunnels, with
the wolf’s howls behind us. The cool dawn air had barely reached my nostrils
when another sound – a hot, rushing roar - came thundering behind us. I threw myself
out of the mouth of the mine and rolled behind a rock, arms wrapped over my
head, as all hell burst open around me.
Fire and dust and rock rained down. I heard yells and curses amidst the
crash of rock on rock, but I daren’t lift my head to see if the others had
escaped. Dust filled my eyes and ears and mouth, and I choked and retched.
At last it subsided. I wiped my eyes on the filthy sleeve of
my jacket and shook the dust from my hat. In the dim dawn light, I could make
out the grey shapes of others, getting to their feet, looking around for their
companions.
“Here!” someone thrust a canteen into my hand. I looked up
to see the woman standing over me still carrying her pack. A man with the same
dark skin stood beside her, rubbing welts on his wrists.
“Much obliged,” I said, taking a mouthful. I spat into the
dust.
“We never got around to introducing ourselves,” I said,
holding out my hand as I handed back the canteen. “My name’s…”
She held up her palm to stop me. “Ah know all I need to know
about you, Mister- Out-o’-Towner,” she said, “and I reckon the less you know of
us the better, if you’ll forgive me.”
Her man stepped forward. “That’s right. You’ll want to be
moving along before Billy Clements turns up.”
“Happy to,” I said, and I meant it. I had had my fill of
this place. “But I need to find James
Lennox first.”
“Long gone. He’s of my way of thinking.” He pointed behind
me.
I turned around, and sure enough we were alone. The other
men had melted into the dusty land.
“Can you at least tell me about the wolf? What was that
thing?” Those blazing red eyes were etched on my brain and I felt strange,
un-nerving echoes of that uncontrollable rage which had taken me over. I
shivered.
The man glanced at his wife. She nodded. “All I’ll say is
Hannah’ll do more that knock you over the head next time, now you’ve seen that
beast. You’d best get back to the city, where you belong.” She looked around,
as if expecting Hannah to show up any moment. “She don’t like folks telling
tales, gets her all jumpy. Look what happened to Dale. Auntie Margaret’s already got her looking for
you, remember?”
I dimly recalled the hooves passing as I crouched in the
gully, a stranger’s hand clamped to my mouth.
“Margaret? Does she know about Billy’s little operation?”
She shook her head. “I’m all done with talking to you, and
you’ll be done with your asking, if you want to stay alive. We’ll be off now.”
And with that, they left me, striding out into the scrubby
land and disappearing into the heat haze.
I sat in a patch of shade under a rock, and considered my
options. I could try to walk back to town, but I wasn’t sure of the route and I
felt weak and thirsty. I remembered those circling vultures when we had found
Hank. I didn’t fancy being their next meal.
I could head for Aunty Margaret’s place. Her silk sheets were certainly
very appealing, but I wasn’t sure of what reception I would get, if she had
really sent Hannah out looking for me the night before.
I climbed onto the rock and looked out over the horizon.
Something caught by eye. A cloud of dust, a good distance away but heading in
my direction. I strained my eyes against the sun. As it drew closer I made out
the shape of a wagon, the horse galloping hell for leather straight towards me.
I jumped down and crouched behind the rock, waiting for it to get close enough
to make out who was driving.
Covered in dust and sweat, her blond curls stuck to her
forehead, Bonnie leapt down in a flurry of skirts and petticoats. “They’re
sayin’ there was an explosion at the mine! Where’s James? Is he alright?”
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