Mckinley - Windflowers

The dirt and squalor of Sydneys Domain was almost a year behind them as Ellie rode north to Gregory Downs with her father. The dirt track meandered in a blood red ribbon across the empty plains to disappear in the heat haze, drawing them ever deeper into the unknown. Yet, with money in their pockets and horses to ride, progress was finally easier than the months theyd spent tramping the wallaby tracks.

They were on the long stretch to Cloncurry when Ellie noticed the build up of cloud on the horizon behind them. Looks like a big storm brewing, she warned. Better dig in quick before it reaches us.

Her father John turned to look over his shoulder at the broiling clouds that seethed in the strangely yellow sky. Should be able to get to the Curry before it breaks.

Ellie frowned. We wont make it, she said firmly. The Currys at least another two days ride and the storms not gunna wait that long.

Gotta give it a go, he said as he gathered up the reins and smiled back at her with false brightness. If it looks like we cant make it, then well just have to find shelter and let it ride over us.

Ellie looked into his handsome face, the despair at his lack of common sense weighing heavy. She was only a few weeks short of her fourteenth birthday and yet he seemed determined to treat her like a kid. Shed heard about the terrible storms they got out here in the middle of nowhere, and knew he was as scared as she was. If only hed admit it, she thought crossly. If only hed listen to me for once we might just get out of this alive.

Where exactly? Ellie replied with sharp impatience. Theres not a hill or valley or outcrop of stone out here, and we might not have time to dig through that. Her gaze swept their desolate surroundings. The boulder strewn track was concrete hard beneath its layer of sifting dust and the few blasted trees that wilted in the heat offered little shelter beneath their blackened branches. The nearest mountains were thumbprint bruises far into the distance.

Well find somewhere, he said with his customary doggedness.

Ellies brown eyes regarded him solemnly from beneath the raggedy fringe of tow coloured hair. Reckon we oughta start digging now if were to stand any kind of chance. Dust storms are killers, and we shouldnt mess with em.

Johns dark eyes became coldly determined. Youve listened to too many outback horror stories during the drove to Longreach, he snapped. You might be thirteen going on forty five, but you dont know everything.

Ellie shifted in the saddle as he glanced back at the darkening horizon. The wind was changing direction, but that didnt make her feel easier. The Aborigine stockman, Snowy White, had warned her how treacherous the elements could be. Had described all too clearly how they lured unsuspecting travellers into a false sense of security before they unleashed their terrible forces.

John Freeman tugged his hat brim down over his dark eyes. Well carry on, he said with a firmness that brooked further no argument. The storms miles away and by the look of it, is changing course. He turned the greys head towards the wide dirt track that disappeared into the far northern horizon and dug in his heels. Lets go.

Well I dont like the look of it, she said stubbornly as she urged Clipper into a trot. Wang Lee told me about a mate of his got caught. Died too quick for anyone to save him lungs full of dust. Wang Lee said death out here can come in a second. She snapped her fingers. Just like that.

Shut up about the Chinaman and ride. John slapped his horse into a shambling trot, and with a final glance over her shoulder at the broiling horizon Ellie reluctantly followed him.

Its time you stopped listening to Chinese cooks and Aboriginal stockmen and began to have faith in me for a change, he growled. I might be a bloke from the city, but Ive seen us this far without advice from others Ill get us to your Aunt Aurelias.

Ellie remained silent for she knew her fathers pride had been damaged enough and there was no point in arguing when he was like this. Their long trek from Sydney had been daunting for both of them, but it had to be especially hard for a man who knew nothing of the outback and had the responsibility of his daughter to think about. They had survived just on hand-outs and dole tickets, but work had been hard to find and she knew her father was close to breaking point when theyd finally been taken on at Gowrie Station for the annual drove to Longreach. Ellie tipped her hat brim over her eyes to counter the glare and for the next two hours they rode in awkward silence.

The sky was darkening, but the wind had lessened and now there was an eerie stillness surrounding them. An ominous silence in which there was no birdsong, not even the sawing of crickets or the hum of flies. Ellie couldnt keep her fears to herself any longer. Storms getting nearer, Dad, she said with a calmness that belied her inner turmoil. Better find shelter in there. She pointed off to the west to the stony outcrops and canyons that had soared out of the plains in some long ago volcanic eruption. The blue and red hills were ancient monoliths almost bereft of vegetation, the earth around them laced with deep crevasses and razor sharp obstacles of stone and scree. Ellie shivered despite the cloying heat of the windless plains for she knew it would take a great deal of courage to go into those deeply shadowed, sinister canyons.

John shook his head. Too dangerous, he said shortly. Horses will break their legs. Well go on a bit further and see if it flattens out. Perhaps theres shelter on the other side?

Ellie was restless as she watched the approaching storm. We dont have time, she fired at him. Better to find somewhere now.