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The CB radio crackled again.
“All available fire crews, a fire has been reported at the western end of Turner’s Creek Road. Central Fire Service is about to text a callout. Any crew members who can attend, please reply ASAP. Be on the lookout for our missing person. Liam could be in the vicinity of this fire. Over.”
I braked suddenly. The smoke plume was getting thicker and darker. I threw the ute in reverse and headed the way I’d just come and grabbed the mic.
“Hey, Uncle Bruce, it’s Stacey here. Over.”
The Shed was further away than the national park entrance. Ryan had left his firefighting jacket in the ute.
“Go ahead, Firebird. Over.”
I pushed down on the accelerator, gaining speed around a corner.
“I’m proceeding towards the fire. I can see it and it’s—"
Another ute bore down on me in the opposite direction, taking the corner too wide and too fast.
I dropped the CB mic, wildly yanking on the steering wheel. I swerved, tires squealing, and hit a telephone pole head on.
My world went black.
29
STACEY
Ballydoon Community Group:
Bruce posted yesterday 2.25 p.m.:
We raised $565 at the sausage sizzle last week. Thank you for supporting your rural fireys!
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, my head throbbing.
Smoke was everywhere. Kangaroos bounced past the ute, making a loudwhump whump whumpsound as they jumped past.
I tried to turn on the engine. No sound, nothing. The CB radio was dead, too.
I swore, hitting the steering wheel, wincing from the pain at the back of my head. I tried the engine again but no good. The ute was cactus.
I opened my door, rubbing against my chest where the seat belt had cut into my skin, and then my neck. I must have blacked out when my head was thrown back against the seat.
How long had I been out?
Movement to my left jolted me out of my stupor. I cried out with delight and disbelief at the figure stumbling out of the bush along the roadside.
“Liam!”
He started running towards me, tears streaming down his cheeks.
I pulled him into my arms, stumbling to hold him. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
“STACEY!” Liam yelled through his sobs. “LIAM LOST.”
“I know, it’s okay. Let’s get you back to your parents.”
The wind picked up, sending ash and embers over us.
“Shit,” I cursed. “Quick, Liam. We need to get my things and get away.”
