Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) (8 page)

Em paused in the doorway, smiling as she greeted everyone.

“Hi, Dad,” said Dan smiling.

“Help yourself to a beer, Gary.” Mum pushed her glasses further up her nose and shot a narrowed stare across the room. “You didn’t answer the beeper, Tara.”

“No, Mum, I didn’t.” I folded my arms.

“Humph. Have you heard the news?”

Unfolding my arms, I attended to the drinks, added milk and filled them with hot water from the kettle. “It’s no biggie. A couple of meteors miles from Earth, I don’t see any cause for you to be worried, Mum. The government certainly isn’t.”

Turning around, I caught the quick look my parents exchanged and Dad’s raised left eyebrow. What was that about?

“Recalling our armed forces back to home soil is serious.” Mum’s lips tightened as if she’d been sucking lemons.

I frowned, thinking about it.

“Do you really think so, Mrs Ferguson?” Still in the doorway and giving the impression she was contemplating a quick getaway, Em’s eyes widened.

She looks just like a startled rabbit.
I handed out mugs of fragrant dandelion tea. Dad shook his head when I offered him one. Instead he opened the fridge door and took out a can of beer which he snapped open and raised to his lips.

After wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he said, “At the observatory, they’ve had their eyes on these meteors for some time. There’s been a lot of chatter twenty-four-seven between NASA and other countries. I know for a fact that a lot of time and energy has been spent on analysing trajectory models recently.”

“Are you certain, Mr Ferguson?” queried Em. “I mean…”

I knew she wanted to ask how a cleaner would have privy to this information but didn’t know how to word it. It was a good question. I wouldn’t mind learning the answer myself. I had to wait though, while Dad chugged down more beer.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he considered Em before saying, “Cleaners are like servants, people don’t really see us. You’d be surprised at the amount of gossip we pick up.”

“Then it’s true?” I eyed Dad, wondering whether he’d actually heard this information himself or whether he’d been utilising his awesome computer skills to hack into the observatory’s mainframe.

Dad placed his right hand over his heart in an almost theatrical gesture.

“Oh my god!” Em hugged herself. Her voice rose. “They’re going to hit Earth. We have to tell everyone. We have to find shelter!”

“No need to shriek, young woman. Settle down,” ordered Dad, a heavy scowl wrinkling his forehead. “You’ve got a voice like a train whistle. Never heard anything like it in my life.”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed and Dad winked at me. If only things could go back the way they used to be; Mum and Dad together, with us.

“I don’t see any reason to laugh, Tara,” snapped Em, her eyes suspiciously shiny.

My happy moment snuffed out like a lit match in a thunderstorm. “Sorry, Em. I wasn’t laughing at you.” All I seemed to do these days was apologise. Why couldn’t I learn to think before I acted or spoke?

“Hey, Astro. Hurry up in there.” The yell from outside came loud and clear through the open window. And female.

“Astro?” Damn, now both Mum and Dan knew there was a chick waiting for Dad outside.

My brother ducked his head, thin shoulders hunched, his hands bunched into fists where they lay on the table. I stared down into my mug. I couldn’t bear to see the hurt lining Mum’s face.

“Yeah, it seemed appropriate. Loved that cartoon show.” Dad swigged more beer then set the empty down. Taking a clean handkerchief from his pocket, he dried his silver ring nose, fiddling it round and round.

Was he stalling?

Dad thumped his chest and belched.

Mum sighed long and loud but her lips were curved upwards; just a tiny bit.

And for a few seconds, everything was like it used to be; Dad acting the bogan teasing Mum and Mum pretending to be the long-suffering, put-upon wife.

I blinked away stupid tears as they shared another one of those damned glances that really puzzled me. Like they knew something I didn’t.

Finally Dad stuffed the cloth away and cleared his throat. “I came over as soon as I heard they were finally going to announce it. You need to know what’s happening and begin preparations.”

What?

That word.

My mouth dropped open. My hand shook and hot tea sloshed over the sides of the mug scalding my skin. My heart thumped filling my ears with its noisy beat. Exchanging my mug into my other hand, I shook my wet hand and tried to concentrate on what Dad was saying.

“Firstly, there’s some strange magnetic impulses emanating from the meteors and they’re playing havoc with our instrumentation making it hard for us to interpret the data we’re retrieving. In some circles, it’s believed these impulses may affect our weather patterns as the shower approaches Earth.” His gaze swept the room to linger on me.

I couldn’t work out what the expression in his eyes meant. But a terrible sense of dread swept over me.

Dad added, “Secondly, at the very least there will be airbursts. Of what magnitude the scientists are unable to gauge at this point.”

“I don’t understand,” said Em.

Dan explained, “What Dad is saying is that some or all of the meteor shower will impact on our planet. It will depend on the size of the meteorites as to how much damage it will cause. Many will probably burn up in our atmosphere. Those that are really big may cause large explosions.”

“Good lad.” Dad ruffled my brother’s hair.

“This is terrible,” wailed Em. “I have to tell my father. People must be warned.”

In two strides, my father reached Em’s side and wagged a finger under her nose. “You can’t tell anyone, got it, girlie? Another public announcement will be made soon enough but until then, its closed mouths.”

I caught yet a third silent communication Dad exchanged with Mum.

“Is this true, Dad?” Suspicious, I examined both my parents’ bland expressions. They were keeping something from me, but what? Was this one of Mum’s crack pot ideas that Dad, for heaven only knew what reason, had decided to buy into?

“If you don’t believe me that’s your call.” Looking grumpy and somehow stern at the same time, Dad stomped to the door. One hand on the wall, he tossed a grim warning over his shoulder, “But you must be ready to act when the shit rains down.”

Thirty seconds later the front door slammed.

Two minutes later, the quiet was rent with a powerful rumble that faded into the night.

Chapter 5 – PREPARE

The next morning, I stood in the shower enjoying the beat of hot water cascading down my back. What was real? What was fantasy?

Were both my parents crazy?

Placing my palms on the tiles I leaned my forehead against their coolness fighting tears and my stupid self-pity. I needed to think through what was happening. Sort out the craziness from reality, because my every sense I possessed screamed at me something was wrong.

Prepare.

What did it mean? Why had everyone begun to mention that word?

The timer pinged.

I turned off the taps immediately, knowing how important it was not to waste what water we had left in the tanks. I remained in the shower recalling the conversation I’d had earlier that week with Mum, the moisture slowly drying on my skin.

Warder
.

Mum had mentioned the sensei but that didn’t explain the tat on Alex. Could he be a Warder too? How many Warders were there anyway?

Another weird coincidence?

Then there was the inference we’d spent our entire life hiding from someone or something.
Damnit. Why does everything have to be so hard?

And what, if anything, did any of this have to do with the meteor shower?

Tapping my short nails against the tiles, I considered the ramifications. My friends had walked home soon after Dad had left last night. Marnie would hold her tongue but there was no way Em would withhold any information from her journalist father. It was only a matter of time, before the news would be all over the local paper.

Next the internet.

Then the entire country.

But if that were the case, wouldn’t that force the government to either refute it or admit it? Hard to say what they’d do, it was an election year after all.

Really, it was mind boggling that something of this magnitude had remained a secret this long.

Tension built behind my eyes. Flashes of sparking white light signalled the start of a migraine. I had to unwind and quick. Rubbing the back of my neck I tried to clear my mind of the stress pressing into me.

The back screen door whined as it closed. In the distance, came the unmistakable noise of a lawn mower. The clownish screech of a flock of galahs cackled through the open window.

Just another typical Saturday.

Except this wasn’t going to be a typical day.

Shivering, I grabbed a towel and wiped off the remaining drops of moisture, slapped on some moisturising lotion in a haphazard fashion and encased in the towel, dashed for my bedroom.

Saturday. How could I have forgotten?

Any moment now, the new sensei would be knocking at the door and Mum would be smiling into his stern face.

It was enough to make any girl cringe. But I guess Mum must have been lonely since Dad left. Lately, I’d had a dry spell too, guy wise. Maybe I should cut her some slack.

This could be exactly what she needed. A new direction in her life. I guess I could make an effort to be civil.

After perusing my rather limited wardrobe, I pulled on a white tank top and a pair of blue cotton cargo shorts that ended mid-thigh. I ran my fingers through my damp hair, then hung up my wet towel and left my room.

Pointless slathering my face with makeup when I intended to work in the garden for a couple of hours.

The sound of voices drew me to the kitchen; that and the smell of brewing coffee. Yeah, I hated to admit it, but I was curious.

“Oh there you are, Tara,” said Mum. “You remember our new sensei. His name is Bob Garroway, and of course his son, Alex.”

Two pairs of frigid grey eyes stared at me.

I don’t believe it. He’s here. In our house. I should have put some make up on.

Oh crap, I should have put on a bra!

No sooner did that thought pop into my head, than Alex dropped his gaze to my chest. Face burning, boobs tingling, I mumbled something and jerked open the fridge door, longing to crawl inside. A bottle of soy sauce toppled out and rolled under the table. Now I had to scrabble on my hands and knees to find the bottle.

Why me?

Coffee could wait. There was no way I was going to so much as blink an eyelash.   

Only eleven o’clock. Already the day seemed a year long. Where were my friends when I needed them? They’d said they’d be over first thing this morning but it looked as if they’d also taken the opportunity to sleep in.

I retrieved the sauce, leaned against the cupboard, shoving the bloody thing hastily out of sight behind me. I dithered wondering whether it would be too obvious to dash back to my bedroom then decided it might be better to remain still. No one paid me any attention. Alex had shifted his gaze to the window. The others had their heads bent over some paper which was spread out over the table.

A puff of hot air lifted the net curtains slightly. The sound of a fighter-plane, high in the sky, droned through the window.

I relaxed sufficiently to find my voice. “What are you looking at Mum?”

“Plans of our house.” Dan looked up and smiled. At the sight of the endearing flop of light brown hair hanging over his rich brown eyes, the remainder of my embarrassment fled.

Dan was a real sweetheart. I’d do anything for him.

“Bob has suggested a couple of interesting ideas. Check it out, Sis.” His excited voice made me smile.

A chair scraped along the rough vinyl floor as Alex moved further along to make room.  

Curious, I edged to the table only to trip over a chair leg. Catching myself just in time, I narrowly averted falling into the sensei’s lap. From the corner of my eye, I could see the smirk twitching Alex’s lips.
I’m such a clutz.

Clenching my fists over the table edge I scanned the large document, my cheeks as hot as a lit stove. It took a few moments for me to knit the lines together into recognisable images but I still didn’t get it. “So? What is it?”

“We’re going to build a bomb shelter!” Dan grinned.

“Seriously? Why would we need a bomb shelter?”

“It’s best to be prepared for any contingency,” Bob Garroway said in his firm ‘
no-nonsense’
voice. He stabbed a finger at the paper. “See. This is a sketch of the room itself. And this is where it can be built under the house.”

I did my best to repress my shiver at the sensei’s use of the word
‘prepared’
and stared fixedly at Mum. This was her doing. “A bomb shelter. Honestly, Mum, this is the absolute limit.”

Mum pinched her lips together and bent over the elaborate plan.

“Please don’t start again, Tara. Bob and I think it is an excellent idea especially considering the meteor shower. Of course it won’t be ready in time. But if we survive, it may come in handy in the future. We can build up our own seed bank for vegetables as part of our preparations. Look this is where we’ll excavate and here is where the entrance will be.”

There was that word again.
Swallowing, my gaze followed the line Mum drew on the paper with her finger. With difficulty I managed to identify the front of the house and then imagined the layout of the house. I snapped straight as a steel rod as realisation smacked me upside the face.

“But that’s my bedroom!”

“Well, we have to have the entrance somewhere.”

“But why do we have to dig up my bedroom? Why can’t we dig up your bedroom, Mum? And why are you discussing this idea with him?” I could feel the pressure building deep inside. Any minute now and I’d be the one exploding.

“If you will just calm down and be courteous, Tara. Bob has said he can build the shelter at a reasonable price. See, this area here which is the dining room is going to be made into your room. We don’t use it anyway and it is much larger than the one you have now. Bob says it will be easy to wall it in. I was thinking we could leave the French doors as they are. They open onto the side verandah and I’m sure it will look just fine.”

“Are you for real, Mum?”

“I think it’s an excellent idea.”

“Guess what, Mum? I don’t want a bomb shelter under our house. I don’t want to sleep in the dining room. I want my own room. The one I’ve got now.” 
Even better, I’d like a room in a house far away from this crazy shit.

I stared around the table. The sensei sitting as stiff as a poker, with an expressionless face. My mother tracing the lines of the plan with her forefinger. Alex…well, his hotness was eyeing me in a speculative fashion that sent my hackles rising further. Then I noticed Dan, his forehead wrinkled with worry as he glance from Mum to me then back again.
Get a grip!
I was scaring him.

Summoning control, I managed, “It’s your house, Mum, if this is what you want to do.” And was rewarded by a smile breaking out on Dan’s face.

“It’ll be fun, Sis.”

“I guess it will be. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do in the garden.” One brief nod and I fled.

***

I drew a deep breath sucking in the familiar scent of earth and foliage and exhaled slowly. Some of the tightness inside my head eased. I jumped over the railing and landed on the path outside the house. What I needed now was some time-out.  

What I needed was a new family.   

Feeling more than a little depressed, I ambled around the garden. Already my top was clinging to my back and my skin was damp with prickling sweat. I flung myself down on the grass under the shade of the old apple tree and looked at the cloudless sky. The air was heavy and sultry. I closed my eyes, wanting to drift away from the madness that existed in my life.

Our neighbour had moved on from the lawn mower to the whipper snipper, the noise loud then fading as he wandered along the boundary fence. Now and then a car bumped down the gravel road.

My eyelids grew heavier, my breathing deepened. 

The sound of crunching dry leaves startled me. My eyes snapped open and I propped myself up on my elbows, staring around. Wow, I’d almost fallen asleep.

“You sure have a great garden,” said Alex as he sat down on the grass. 

Beside me.

Not too close.

Careful not to intrude into my personal space.

Dumbfounded I nodded in response, aware that my pulse rate had kicked into overtime. I closed my mouth with a snap. What was he doing here?

“All these trees and flowers just growing anywhere. It looks restful.” He linked his hands around his knees. “We didn’t have a garden in the city. We lived in an apartment building. Before that, we moved around a lot, overseas mostly, depending on where Dad was posted. That’s why I think this quiet town is so great. No guns. No fighting.”

I said nothing, nerves clenched like a fist around my throat. So he was an army brat.
Still, that didn’t explain what he was doing out here in this one road town. Feel vulnerable lying there like an offering, I sat up and brushed dirt off my legs.

“Parents can be difficult at times,” said Alex.  

I looked at him so quickly, my hair whipped into my eyes. Impatiently I brushed it aside. He was smiling at me, his cool eyes softened like a misty grey dawn. My heart did an odd thump. 

“Yeah,” I muttered. Maybe I was wrong about him! Maybe he wasn’t
so
bad. When I came to think about it, I rather liked the colour of his eyes.

“My father’s had some crazy ideas in the past.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, maybe, but I bet he never came up with a bomb shelter.”

Alex grinned. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that it. The plan might not go ahead. It’ll take ages to go through Council for approval. An engineer will need to calculate first whether it’s doable without your existing house collapsing. And then it always takes builders months to do anything. We had some guy in to renovate our bathroom once. He ripped up the tiles, yanked out the tub and loo and said he’d be back after lunch. Didn’t hear from him for five weeks. Dad said he was going to rip his throat out. He was so mad.” He laughed revealing straight, white teeth.