Chapter One
Eilagh Kala Judd took in the image before her in the mirror as she tied back her thick mane of hair. Her Irish heritage was evident not only in her name, the same one that belonged to a lonely young convict way back when, but also in her fine boned facial features. Her dark eyes, thick, naturally curly ink black hair and caramel skin tone made her father's Aboriginal heritage obvious at a glance. She dearly loved both her parents and their heritages. She'd always loved listening to her father's people recount the Dreamtime legends. Her favorites were the stories about the great snake king Wanambi. Which was why she'd suggested her four best friends join her on a hike and camping trip around Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory where the legends were based.
They were all going to leave behind the stresses of their jobs and families to go on a relaxing trip into the Australian outback wilderness for a few days. It was just what she needed. Her job up in Darwin, checking imported fruits and vegetables for quality and disease, was beginning to grind on her last nerve. Whenever she found fault the captain would try to bribe her, and then the officials would get shitty with her for creating more work for them. What did they expect from her? For her to simply let this crap come into the country to pollute their farming industry? Australian farmers had enough to stress and worry about without adding new diseases to their concerns. The officials could just get over it and deal with the fact she did her job properly, no matter who or what she had to deal with.
She rolled her shoulders to release some of her tension before she grabbed her hiking boots from the floor. Dropping down on the bed in her childhood room at her parents’ house, she pushed her work worries from her mind.
Eilagh reached for her heavy rucksack sitting behind her on the end of the bed. She slung it over her shoulder as she headed out to the kitchen. After kissing her mother goodbye, Eilagh headed outside to the Alice Springs heat where her father had the car warming up. He’d offered to take the girls out of town to their starting point in his Land Cruiser. Eilagh smiled. Her father had always insisted on warming the car up, but in this heat she was sure the oil in the engine would already be plenty warm enough. It was a habit that drove her mother insane, especially when they were running late. Eilagh dumped her rucksack in the boot and jumped in beside her dad.
"Let's hit the road!"
Her father chuckled at her enthusiasm before he headed out the drive. It didn't take long to round everyone up and get out to their agreed upon starting point. After they all hopped out and geared up, she leaned into her dad for a hug and a kiss goodbye.
"Now, you girls be careful and stay safe. Remember everything we've taught you all, and whatever you do, don’t separate from each other. If you get lost, just head for Uluru , and if you're not back here in three days I'll go there to look for you."
"We're always careful , Dad. We did pay attention to you and the other Elders when you taught us. Thanks for the lift out, and we'll see you in a few days."
"Yeah, thanks Mr. J," Skye called out, chorused by the others, from behind her.
Eilagh shook her head as her dad hopped back in the Land Cruiser chuckling at them. She didn't miss the way his eyes scanned the area quickly, as if he felt something in the air.
"Okay , ladies, ready for our adventure away from reality?" She rubbed her hands together as she spoke.
"Hell yeah! Three whole blissful days with no phone and no kids!" Skye said in a wistful tone. Skye taught Year One , and after several years at it she was beginning to lose her passion for it.
"And no pesky ex-boyfriends that just don't understand the concept of no ." Binda sighed. Even with a restraining order, Binda's ex, Dean, would not leave her alone. Fortunately, he was a wimp who had a phobia of getting lost in the outback so he would never
Eilagh Kala Judd took in the image before her in the mirror as she tied back her thick mane of hair. Her Irish heritage was evident not only in her name, the same one that belonged to a lonely young convict way back when, but also in her fine boned facial features. Her dark eyes, thick, naturally curly ink black hair and caramel skin tone made her father's Aboriginal heritage obvious at a glance. She dearly loved both her parents and their heritages. She'd always loved listening to her father's people recount the Dreamtime legends. Her favorites were the stories about the great snake king Wanambi. Which was why she'd suggested her four best friends join her on a hike and camping trip around Kata Tjuta in the Northern Territory where the legends were based.
They were all going to leave behind the stresses of their jobs and families to go on a relaxing trip into the Australian outback wilderness for a few days. It was just what she needed. Her job up in Darwin, checking imported fruits and vegetables for quality and disease, was beginning to grind on her last nerve. Whenever she found fault the captain would try to bribe her, and then the officials would get shitty with her for creating more work for them. What did they expect from her? For her to simply let this crap come into the country to pollute their farming industry? Australian farmers had enough to stress and worry about without adding new diseases to their concerns. The officials could just get over it and deal with the fact she did her job properly, no matter who or what she had to deal with.
She rolled her shoulders to release some of her tension before she grabbed her hiking boots from the floor. Dropping down on the bed in her childhood room at her parents’ house, she pushed her work worries from her mind.
Eilagh reached for her heavy rucksack sitting behind her on the end of the bed. She slung it over her shoulder as she headed out to the kitchen. After kissing her mother goodbye, Eilagh headed outside to the Alice Springs heat where her father had the car warming up. He’d offered to take the girls out of town to their starting point in his Land Cruiser. Eilagh smiled. Her father had always insisted on warming the car up, but in this heat she was sure the oil in the engine would already be plenty warm enough. It was a habit that drove her mother insane, especially when they were running late. Eilagh dumped her rucksack in the boot and jumped in beside her dad.
"Let's hit the road!"
Her father chuckled at her enthusiasm before he headed out the drive. It didn't take long to round everyone up and get out to their agreed upon starting point. After they all hopped out and geared up, she leaned into her dad for a hug and a kiss goodbye.
"Now, you girls be careful and stay safe. Remember everything we've taught you all, and whatever you do, don’t separate from each other. If you get lost, just head for Uluru , and if you're not back here in three days I'll go there to look for you."
"We're always careful , Dad. We did pay attention to you and the other Elders when you taught us. Thanks for the lift out, and we'll see you in a few days."
"Yeah, thanks Mr. J," Skye called out, chorused by the others, from behind her.
Eilagh shook her head as her dad hopped back in the Land Cruiser chuckling at them. She didn't miss the way his eyes scanned the area quickly, as if he felt something in the air.
"Okay , ladies, ready for our adventure away from reality?" She rubbed her hands together as she spoke.
"Hell yeah! Three whole blissful days with no phone and no kids!" Skye said in a wistful tone. Skye taught Year One , and after several years at it she was beginning to lose her passion for it.
"And no pesky ex-boyfriends that just don't understand the concept of no ." Binda sighed. Even with a restraining order, Binda's ex, Dean, would not leave her alone. Fortunately, he was a wimp who had a phobia of getting lost in the outback so he would never
Similar Books
