Tyenna by Julie Hunt & Terry Whitebeach

Author:Julie Hunt & Terry Whitebeach [Julie Hunt & Terry Whitebeach]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2022-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

By sunrise, it’s too hot to sleep. Tye wakes with a start. Reaches for her phone. Thumbs in Barry’s number. It rings and rings. At last a grumpy voice says, ‘Yeah?’

‘Barry? Mr Saunders? It’s Tyenna, Rob and Lena’s granddaughter.’

Harsh coughing sounds on the other end of the phone.

Tye is suddenly aware of the time. ‘Sorry to call you so early, but do you know … I mean, I was wondering … is Bailey Stokes there with you?’

‘That little ratbag! He did come nosing round here, but I sent him packing. Got no patience with runaways. Before you know it, you find yourself tangled up with police and social workers. I told him to get lost. Get himself back to Launceston quick smart.’

There’s the sound of furious barking and then the phone goes dead.

Stung by Barry’s words, Tye steps out onto the veranda into an eerie half-light. The harsh smell of smoke is everywhere. Her eyes sting and her throat closes. In the home paddock the sheep are milling about restlessly. As Tye watches, a mob of fireys spills out of the bunkhouse. They scramble into their gear, then leap into their trucks, which cross the grid with a shuddering clang and head for the highway.

Behind her the local radio station is spewing the latest reports. Things are reaching desperation point near the Central Highlands town of Merrick. Conditions are described as horrendous. And with strong winds pushing the fire towards the township there appears to be no way Merrick can survive. Eyewitnesses report crowns of eucalypts exploding and sending fireballs into the air and embers as big as outstretched hands landing up to ten kilometres ahead of the fire-front.

Tye steps back inside and flicks on the TV as well. Sees images of smoke and flames roaring into orange and black skies. Fire trucks engulfed in oily billows of smoke and helmeted figures in their yellow gear pointing hoses into storeys-high flames. Is Pop among them? She searches the screen for a glimpse of him. She hopes Bailey has taken Barry’s advice and headed for Launceston. He’d have to go via Deloraine and not through Merrick. Would he even score a lift, she wonders, looking as scruffy as he does?

Auntie Jill strides in from the veranda and nods towards the blaring TV. ‘It’s going to be a pretty full-on day by the looks of that. But don’t upset yourself by watching all the horror over and over again.’

She begins to tidy the kitchen, then stops and turns to Tye. ‘Are you okay?’

Tye tries to answer but the words stick in her throat. She starts to shake.

‘No – not really,’ she finally manages to say.

Jill draws her onto the old settee in the corner of the kitchen.

‘Now listen to me,’ she says. ‘I know you’re frightened. We all are. Where bushfires are concerned you’d be foolish not to be. But you can be sure everyone’s doing their best—’

‘But Pop, and Nan too …’ Maybe Nan’s not safe after all.

Tears gather in the corners of her eyes and her head swims.

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