Mike Dixon

„That‟s right.‟
David felt far from confident. He‟d seen videos of tropical
cyclones. They could strip a hillside of vegetation and they
were in such a situation now. His concern was to get to the
old Dutchman‟s cave while there was a lull in the storm.
„When will we see mummy?‟
„When the rain stops.‟
He pulled the child up higher on his back and continued to
plod on.
anet peered from beneath the rock shelter. The rain
J was still coming down in torrents but the wind had died
down.
„Do you think we‟re in the eye of the storm?‟
Noelene shook her head. „If this was the eye there would
be clear sky up there. We‟d be able to see stars. When Tracy
hit it was like that. We went out into the yard and everything
was still. It was real spooky. Great flashes of lightning. And,
all around, this big wall of cloud – reaching up and up.‟
„So. What do you think it is?‟
„We‟re in a quiet bit.‟
„How long will it last?‟
„Not long.‟
Janet decided it was time to act.
„Right!‟ She jumped up. „We‟d better get going. Dave and
Humph are at the farmhouse. We‟ll join them there.‟
Noelene didn‟t argue. Janet‟s behavior continued to annoy
her. She resented the displays of military genius but had to
admit that the younger woman was good when it came to
fighting. They slithered along and entered the grove of paperbark
trees. Janet started to jog. Noelene followed. She
knew Janet was fit but it was a fitness got on exercise machines
in air-conditioned gyms … she‟d soon stop.
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