To Kill in Fire by Ryn Shell

Author:Ryn Shell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781516398256
Publisher: Rural Lit Press

CHAPTER 24

Iain drew Marianna close in his arms, and she rested her back against his chest as they listened to Alan continue the story of their people and how Charlotte became the youngest water spirit ghost in the Dreaming Billabong.

While Alan spoke, the cliffs behind them changed colour from red to blue-violet and then to an intense shade of deep blue. Finally, the mountain range loomed black, contrasting to a moonlit indigo sky.

Iain moved aside and lit a campfire. The firelight illuminated them and they sat on the ground in a circle, talking across the fire.

The corellas settled into the branches overhead, and even the wallabies came close. The breeze dropped. Not a leaf stirred as the family and the spirits of the Woggan-Wandong strained to listen to the old cattle king.

“It was on a clear night like this when my mother Jane and Jarkanga met,” Alan said. “My father, Douglas, stopped to rest here beside this crescent-shaped pool of water. Douglas looked wonderful mounted on Pepper. She was an elegant, black beast, and the Woggan-Wandong were in awe of the pair of them when they rode into this setting in 1872.

“His gracefulness while riding the horse impressed the locals. They could tell he was the leader, not only of the animals but also of his thirty followers. Yet, the Aboriginal people drew back into the mountain and wouldn’t approach him despite his eagerness to offer gifts and seek permission to be on their land.” Alan stretched his legs and caught his breath.

“Thirty settlers set up camp on the plains that stretched west from this mountain range. Cross-saws were used to cut down timber in this gorge to begin building the wattle and daub huts for the settlement. Once my father, the financier of the expedition, staked his grazing claim, the others selected their plots.”

Alan swept his extended arm around the scene, contentment on his face. “Oh, my dad loved every inch of this land. His goal was to create a future here for his family.”

“What has Charlotte got to do with it, Dad?”

“Charlotte was sixteen when your grandfather was clubbed to death with the nulla nulla while attempting to protect her. He tried to defend her, despite knowing she started the massacres and he’d be killed for shielding her.

“Most people viewed the payback crimes and killings as early settlement history. But they haven’t ceased; they’ve only grown more sophisticated. I’ve recognised Charlotte’s hand in malevolent events throughout the district. She’s still seeking vengeance.

“While I was half demented in grief, she encouraged me to swear payback on Kanga, who is my mother’s son by Jarkanga. Charlotte told me Jarkanga was my father’s murderer. I was wrong to hate Kanga, and I’ve worked hard to clear my mind of her influence.

“I’ve told Charlotte to go away. But bad things continued to happen to Kanga and his family. Bad things have happened to ours. I don’t want this payback to go on and hurt the grand-kiddies.”

“There’s no payback happening now, Dad.” Iain touched his father’s shoulder.

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