Widderkin - 2. Chapter 2

 

 

Chapter 2.

The High King pushed all thought of court matters aside and gave full attention to his advisor.

"Your report is not as I expected, Uirebon. There is much that concerns me, and much I don't understand. Keryth's vision is being affected and the head pain is so debilitating he can do nothing for hours at a time. During all the months of preparation and treatment there was no mention of any discomfort, let alone this disabling pain."

"Yes, my Lord. The effect is unpleasant and completely unexpected, and only presented when Keryth fully assumed his new persona in the human world. After thorough and very careful observation Lord Maynor has determined there is no harm and that the effect passes completely with sleep or rest."

"Do we understand why it manifests with Keryth and not with Pethron?"

"We believe it must result from the extraordinary natural defences your son has inherited. In contrast with Pethron's seamless preparation, Keryth's was complex and difficult, as you know. Have you ever examined his mind shields?"

Aglaron made no attempt to hide his amusement.

"My stubborn son, Keryth! Our wills have surely clashed but I have had no cause to pass his personal shields."

"His growing resistance to Maynor's ministrations will require the assistance of a triad of power to ensure success with the next reinforcement."

"A triad ... And another reinforcement? This increase in frequency is also a divergence."

"Necessitated by Keryth's increasing strength of mind, but a short-term problem which augurs well for his future capabilities."

"Yes, I agree ... Why has Pethron been brought to such close association? The report shows the Widderlink we wish to heal has resurfaced."

"Without effect, my Lord. Strictures of the situation allow companionship and nothing more."

"How so?"

"Pethron's role as an instructor bars him from any strong relationship with a younger student."

"Younger? Keryth is the elder."

"The human persona developed for Pethron gives him an aspect of seniority, and the authority inherent in his position augments that seeming.

The close association is necessary. It is the truest indicator we can devise for monitoring the progress of Keryth's treatment which, as you know, is designed to gently and steadily reduce the existing Widderlink, not bludgeon it harmfully from existense."

Aglaron gave a noncommittal nod.

"... And when will Maynor make the next treatment?"

"Not for several days, My Lord. The power requirements were a great strain and his triad of power must also be sealed to secrecy."

"Good. Convey my appreciation for his efforts, Uirebon. Apart from the head pains Keryth appears to be happy and successful in the human world."

***

It was unusual to be swimming with no one else round, and Kieran felt like he shouldn't be there till Mr B. explained that he did this three or four times a week.

While Mr B. was unlocking the pool and turning some lights on, Kieran ran to his room, dumped his bag and grabbed his bathers. Mr B. was already in the water and when Kieran dived in they swam a couple of laps together.

Mr B. climbed out and motioned Kieran to keep going, saying he'd join him next lap.

Halfway down the lane, Kieran realised that Mr B. was walking along the side and watching with a big smile. At the end, Mr B. asked him to swim back again.

"I'm checking your stroke. It's the coach in me. Can you do the backstroke for this lap?"

Kieran set off, very conscious of Mr B.'s attention, swam faster than normal, then stopped at the end and pulled himself out of the water. Mr B. sat down beside him and dangled his legs in the pool.

"Who taught you to swim?"

"No one! I just like it."

"Well of course I believe you but I don't quite understand. Can I show you a few things? I have a strange feeling about the way you swim and I think you could be awfully good at it."

They moved to waist depth and for half an hour Kieran learnt and practised the backstroke. Straightening his body, the angle of his hands into the water, how far to reach back, coordinating his breathing, the angle of his feet and the rate of kicking, all this and more Mr B. showed him with increasing excitement.

"Kieran! This is amazing! Swim a lap for me and try to remember everything. Not flat out, but not slow either."

Once again Mr B. followed at the side of the pool but with so much to concentrate on Kieran hardly noticed him.

"My God! How are you doing this? You're a natural. I'm the best swimmer at College, but I think you’d be even better if you trained seriously."

Kieran didn't believe this.

"Mr B. Just about anybody’s faster than me. I see them every time I'm here and they power past me."

"Kieran! You're ten metres faster than you were half an hour ago. They won't be going past you in the backstroke any more. How would you feel about a few more sessions to take you through the other strokes? I swim here at least three nights a week so there's no problem timewise."

Kieran couldn't say no. Apart from Mr B.'s company, he liked the feeling of achievement he was getting. Mr B. took him to a nice restaurant and the evening went by in a flash. The strangest moment happened when he'd asked Mr B. if there was anything he could do as a thank you.

"Well! Yes, there is, and it would be good practice for next year when you'll have to help with tutorials. If you could manage an hour a week to work with another student it would be a great help. I don't seem to have enough time to do everything myself and he's asked for help with his maths."

"Of course I would. Is it anyone from my group?"

"Yes! But you won’t know him. He's had a hard life and keeps to himself, but I really like him. I think you will too. He's coming with us to Gariwerd so that will give you a chance to understand him."

"Peter! You're talking about Rhys aren't you?"

The unreal feeling that Kieran was experiencing was now mirrored by the surprised look on Mr B.'s features.

"Yes! It is! But how did you work that out? I've never seen him in anybody’s company at College."

"He told me he's worried about his Maths and he also said you found a place for him on the trip. We're meeting on Friday to look at the maps and organise our packs."

"You're friends? Well! Isn't that a coincidence? But I've never seen you getting round together?"

Kieran sensed Mr B's puzzlement.

"We're not really friends. We were talking at the pool and found out we’re both going on the Grampians trip, so I asked him over for an afternoon."

"I see! Well, fancy that! I think you might get on really well so it's your job to tell him you're his official Maths coach ... as long as you still want to go ahead."

Back in his room, Kieran listened to music then decided on an early night so he'd be ready for one more big push to finish off his effort for the scholarship.

Lying in bed, he thought about the day. It had been quite special and he wondered how he’d be able to thank Mr B. properly. It wasn't just his help. It was the way he'd given it, and then at the restaurant he'd acted as if they were friends. Now Kieran was looking forward to the Grampians trip on Saturday because he'd be seeing more of him.

***

On Friday Rhys turned up in the early afternoon. When Kieran opened the door he saw that he was nervous, so he pulled the maps out and started talking about them straight away. Rhys relaxed and Kieran found he was being told things he didn't know were happening.

"Chimney pots? Hollow Mountain? Where are they? The only place I know about is called the Fortress and I saw a picture of it at Mr B.'s place. Boy! The names sound interesting don’t they?"

They pored over the maps, worked out distances and looked at some pictures Rhys had on a travel brochure that Mr B. had given him.

"What you think of Mr B., Rhys?"

"He's the best lecturer in College."

"That's for sure! He used up four days of his holiday to help me with the studentship, and guess what? He took me swimming one night and I kept wanting to say triplets to him."

"What do you mean?"

"He wears the same training bathers we do. The same colour and everything."

"He likes swimming then?"

"Likes it! He’s brilliant! He said he used to be coach for the College team and he showed me how to do the backstroke properly."

"Backstroke? That's my best style."

"He's given me a special job too, and I'm really pleased about it. I bet you can't guess."

Rhys made a few attempts and then Kieran gave him a clue.

“It's something he wants to do for someone at College but he can't find the time."

Rhys looked at Kieran for a while.

"I can tell by the way you said it that you mean me."

"I'm your official coach, Rhys. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone when Mr B. said it was you. He said one session a week but we can make it more if you like."

Rhys had a strange look on his face.

"You don't have to, Kieran. I can get through by working harder."

"But I thought Mr B. said you asked for help?"

"I wouldn't like to take up your time."

"It won't take up my time. You'd actually be helping me. If I get this scholarship I’ll have to take tutorial groups next year and it would be good practice.

Anyhow! Would you like me to help you?"

"Yes, I would!"

Kieran laughed.

"Great! I'll be a real slave driver and make you work for hours and hours till you know everything perfectly. I won't let you go until you do."

"You won't let me go? How could you stop me? I'm stronger than you."

"Ha! That wouldn't matter. I'll lock you to the desk. I know! I'll get one of those special slave driver whips."

"That wouldn't work. I'd be so very scared I couldn't think properly, and then I'd never learn anything."

"Oh yes you would! I'll prove it! Tell me the worst topic in Maths and I'll bet I can help you."

"It's those logarithmic equations."

"Oh my God! Guess what Rhys! … Twins again! They were the only things I didn't get right in the exam. I know them now though. Mr B. took me through them. Come on, slave! We'll spend one hour and see how much you can learn."

"What? You mean now?"

"Too right! And if you don't learn anything you can get someone else, otherwise you're stuck with me."

With false groans about wasting good holiday time on College stuff, they sat down at Kieran's desk and got to work.

"Okay. Here’s the basic things you have to understand before you can put it all together. Let's see how well you know them."

It took almost the whole hour and they didn't get nearly as much done as Kieran expected, but he was still happy and rather surprised at how good he felt each time he got Rhys to understand something.

"So? Did you learn anything?"

It was really a stir question because they both knew the answer was yes.

"Nothing! It's worse than ever! We'll have to spend another hour so I can get back to where I was."

Kieran loved this answer because it showed that Rhys wanted to keep going and also that he had a good sense of humour.

"Oh no! That's terrible! All right then, we’ll start again right now and work for another hour and a half."

For a split-second Rhys's mouth opened in surprise till he worked out that Kieran was stirring him back and the smile that Kieran liked lit up his face.

"So what are you then? My twin or my slave driver?"

Whoops! An either/or question. Which one was the best? The answer came with hardly a thought.

"How about both? And you can be the same for me."

"What? How could I be your slave driver?"

Kieran hadn't thought about it but that answer came straight away too.

"We'll go swimming, and you can make me do some training. Mr B. said I should practice."

"Okay! Do twenty push-ups!"

"Now?"

"Yes! Come on, Slave! We'll spend an hour and see how much you can do."

Kieran laughed as his own words were thrown back at him and when he dropped to the floor Rhys's smile was breaking new boundaries. Rhys dropped down and did them too.

"Twenty sit-ups!"

"Yes, sir!"

This nearly got the laugh he was aiming for. Twenty sit ups was so easy that Kieran did another ten as well.

"Let's go to the pool and you can boss me properly."

"I haven't got my bathers with me."

"You can wear mine and I'll wear a pair of shorts. They might be a bit small but they're stretchy enough."

Rhys looked dubious, but when Kieran said they could go over to his room he decided to wear them.

"As long as you don't mind. It's over half an hour of walking to get there and back."

They grabbed a couple of towels and headed off.

"Oh my gosh! These are smaller than I thought. I hardly fit into them. Can I try the shorts?"

The shorts definitely didn't work. They were tight round the waist for Kieran and Rhys laughed when he couldn't even pull them right up.

"You're too skinny."

"No I'm not! You're too fat!"

“Show me this backstroke you've been boasting about."

Kieran loved it when Rhys stirred him.

They warmed up for a couple of laps and then the big competition was on.

Kieran could hardly believe it when he almost kept up with Rhys, who was also very impressed.

"Hey! I didn't think you were that good. What did Mr B. show you?"

Kieran went through some of the things but Rhys said he already knew them.

"All right! Freestyle now."

Kieran went back to feeling like a tortoise when Rhys powered off and left him for dead. They didn't do any more races, just swam some laps and mucked around. Kieran swam backstroke almost all the time because he liked the feeling of being nearly as good as Rhys.

Back in his room Kieran took everything out of his backpack. Well it wasn't really his. It was from College, along with the sleeping bag, a special thermal pad, and a good coat in case it rained. They tried out the pad, watching it gradually inflate itself, then fluffed up the sleeping bag. Kieran climbed into the bag and lay on the foam pad.

"It doesn't feel very soft to me!"

Rhys took a turn in the sleeping bag and as soon as he was on the pad Kieran sat on him, then kept him trapped when he tried to escape.

"So! You're stronger than me are you? How are you going to get out of this?"

Rhys rolled over, got his arms free of the bag, then used his weight and strength to pin Kieran underneath him.

"That's how! And now we'll see if you can escape."

Kieran couldn't.

He wriggled and strained but Rhys seemed to be ready for every ploy. In the end Kieran used trickery and discovered that Rhys was ticklish.

"Cheat! Keep those hands away from me."

Rhys was now smiling so much that Kieran knew he didn't really mind being tickled.

"What? These hands? The hands of torture! All right! I'll keep them away as long as you come and see a movie. I've got one of those dockets that let two people in for the price of one and it’s wasted if I go by myself."

For a moment Rhys showed his dubious look, but when Kieran reached his hands forward he shrank away in mock terror and agreed.

"Okay! But there aren't any good movies on are there?"

"The Mysts! It's meant to be unreal!"

“Oh my God. It's happened again. I've been dying to see it. I've read the book three times but they say the film is just as good. We'll get back too late though. It lasts for three hours."

"I looked it up. There's an early session at six o'clock, so that's not too bad."

Rhys was looking eager now and he chatted excitedly about the book and some of the characters in it as they made their way to catch a bus.

"It's the best book I've ever read and I didn't like it when they said they were making a movie, but the fan sites on the web all say it's worth it. Have you read it?"

"No, I don't seem to have enough time to do much reading, but I'll get round to it."

"You can borrow my copy! It'll save you buying it."

They shared a pizza for an early meal then sat engrossed by the classic story of dragons, wizards, elves and other mythical beings. In places it was sad and Rhys was so involved that Kieran heard his small sob and felt like hugging him. When it finished they sat for a few minutes to come back to the real world, before heading back to College.

"Wow! That was amazing, Rhys. What did you think of it?"

"Unreal! The book’s better though."

"Better?"

Back at College they parted company to go to their different resident halls.

"Kieran, I had a great day. Thank you for all the things we did."

Kieran didn't quite know what to make of this. The way Rhys had said it was kind of more formal than just a thanks.

"Hey. It was the best day I've had all year. Except for when you bullied me of course. I'll see you in the morning."

This got the smile going and Kieran went to his room very pleased with himself.

He'd got Rhys smiling so many times today and, in fact, even laughing, and then there was the work they'd done together on the maths and the excitement they shared about the film.

He couldn't wait to read the book, except that it would have to wait now till after the scholarship exam.

***

At 6:45 a.m. Kieran swung his backpack into place and headed for the student centre. There was just a hint of daylight showing in the East and his dragon fire puffed with every breath as he walked with hands tucked snugly in his pockets. The first person he recognised in the activity near the College minibus was Mr B. and, after a quick hello and friendly smile, he was dragooned into carting supplies of food and other gear which had to be loaded. On his third trip out he saw Rhys standing quietly to one side so he grabbed him to help. Fifteen minutes later everything was organised and it was time to leave.

"Quick, Rhys! Grab a seat at the front so we get a good view."

This worked out and the bus moved slowly past friends and well-wishers and headed for the open road. Mr B. was moving from seat to seat talking to everyone and by the time he’d worked his way to the front the bus was on the freeway and approaching the great bridge over the Yarra River.

"Squish up, Kieran. There aren't any spare seats so I hope you don't mind if I sit with you till Ballarat."

Kieran certainly didn't mind. There was something about Mr B. that made it good to be near him. As soon as this thought entered his head he realised it was the same for Rhys. The next thought nearly made him laugh aloud and he had to whisper to Rhys.

"Hey! Look at us! The triplets!"

Rhys's smile grew.

"Hey! What’s so funny? Are you going to let me in on the joke?"

"It's not really a joke … um … Mr B.?"

Kieran felt awkward but Mr B. picked up on it straightaway.

"Peter!"

"Well, Rhys and I have been calling ourselves twins because our bathers are identical and then the other night yours were the same so we changed it to triplets."

As soon as he said it it sounded rather silly, but Mr B. seemed to enjoy the idea.

"Triplets hey? I must admit I was quite surprised too, when you walked out in my bathers. I had one of those funny moments and couldn't help glancing down to check I was wearing them. So? How's the swimming going then? Have you done any practice yet?"

"I can nearly keep up with Rhys for the backstroke. He walks all over me for the other styles though."

"Well I expect you’ll catch up to him a few weeks after we get back."

The conversation turned to Kieran's scholarship work and then to the days ahead at the Grampians. Rhys was quiet but when Kieran mentioned that they'd seen the Mysts, Mr B. wanted to know more about it.

"I’ve thought about seeing it but I don't want to spoil the book."

"Ha! Talk to Rhys then. He's read it three times."

"Three? Well, Rhys, I can top that. I'm up to five."

Suddenly Rhys was no longer quiet. Mr B. read the same kind of books that he did and they compared notes and argued about different authors Kieran had never heard of. Time passed quickly, and they were soon approaching Ballarat.

"It's my turn to drive after we stop for a quick snack. I've been thinking about your triplets idea and I'm wondering if you'd mind sharing one of the three-man tents with me?"

The more of Mr B's company the better as far as Kieran was concerned, and Rhys looked pleased too. Ballarat was the last large town they'd see and Kieran's attention focused on the new scenery they were passing, sections of natural bush with gums and wattle, some pine plantations and then across an area called the Western Plains which was all farming country. Kieran drank it all in. He loved the names of the places they passed and couldn't get over how small they were, Smythesdale, Carranballac, Westmere, and some of them had only one or two shops.

"Look, Rhys. That sign says there's a town called Snake Valley."

After an hour’s driving their excitement lifted when the first distant views of the Grampians Ranges appeared and then they stopped for a fifteen minute break at a large lake. Kieran wandered near the water's edge and his eyes were drawn to a flock of waterbirds bobbing in the ripples about twenty metres away.

"What are you smiling at, Kieran?"

"The little black ones, Mr B. They look like robots with their heads jerking backwards and forwards."

"They're called coots. Here, have a closer look."

Kieran took the binoculars Mr B. was offering, held them to his eyes and saw a blurred mess. When he took his head away Mr B. saw his look and showed him what to do.

"Just turn that ring on top till what you're looking at snaps into focus."

Kieran experimented for a minute and realised that somehow he'd never actually used binoculars before. The birds snapped into view and Kieran watched till they suddenly went berserk.

"Holy Hell! Look at that."

Some birds had dived under but most were scattering with a great flapping of wings and skittering across the surface. Forgetting the binoculars, Kieran watched a huge hawk course through the milling flock till a few moments later there was a spray of feathers, a short high-pitched scream, and then powerful wing beats as the predator flew off with its prey. A thrill of awe at the sudden savagery held Kieran rooted to the spot. The waterbirds settled as if nothing had happened and he turned to listen to Mr B. and Rhys.

"Wow, that was amazing. Why did they all stay together like that? If they'd flown away they might have escaped."

"Who knows what a bird thinks, Rhys? The theory is that it's a herding instinct. Evidently when they’re by themselves they feel more vulnerable and it's easier for the harrier to focus on them."

"Harrier? I thought it was a hawk. What's the difference?"

"That white flash on its rump, and its size, tell me it's a swamp harrier."

Kieran listened to all this with fascination.

"Do you know what these other birds are as well?"

"Most of them. I got interested in photographing them at one stage and I'm often out in the bush so I carry a field guide with me … Have a go at learning them. It's much easier than you'd think. I bet you can see thirty different kinds in the next half-hour."

They only had another five minutes till they left but Kieran realised there were birds everywhere, and with help from the binoculars they found eleven types before they climbed aboard the bus. Mr B. gave them the field guide and, with their eyes searching keenly in a friendly competition to find the next type, the tally quickly passed the thirty mark. Gradually Kieran's attention wandered though, as the mountains they were approaching grew larger and more prominent and his eyes were drawn to new aspects. When they stopped at a small town nestled at the southern end of the range he couldn't take his eyes off the nearby mountain.

This was a half-hour stop for an early lunch and when Mr B. said it was the last town for another five or six days everyone took the opportunity for a final fast food fix with pies, chips or a hamburger. Kieran and Rhys sat at a courtesy picnic table outside the cafe with four other students where they could view the closest mountain and the ranges stretching into the distance behind it. Evidently it was called Mt Abrupt and, according to Mr B, there was a tagged bushwalker’s track to the top if you knew where to look. Rhys started pointing to something when movement in a nearby tree grabbed everyone’s attention.

"Hey, look! That kookaburra’s watching us. Break off a bit of sausage from your sanger, Kieran, and see if he’s interested."

That was highly unlikely and Kieran was starting to say so when the kookaburra launched from its perch and startled everyone by landing on the table and standing quietly with its head cocked to one side. Shannon must have been right so, without any sudden movements, Kieran carefully broke away a small piece of meat and placed it on the table timber. For several seconds the kookaburra’s head tracked this way and that then, after a confident hop, its hunting beak made a determined jab then with a great flutter of wings it returned to its perch.

"Wow! Unreal! I’ve never seen one come so close to people. Did you see the blue on its feathers?"

"The cafe people probably put meat out to attract it for the tourists, Shannon, and that’s made it really tame."

After another forty-five minutes the minibus reached their first major destination and the group set off to hike the Chimney Pots Trail. The information sign suggested an hour and a half but it was almost three hours before they completed the loop. Kieran discovered how much Mr B. liked exploring because they checked every side-track and rocky outcrop, scrambled to every vantage point for a view of the valley below and left the track to examine every interesting feature. Kieran loved every bit of it.

There was another burst of driving before they reached the camping spot, and Mr B. kept checking the map as the bus made its way through scrub and bush. Sometimes the track was gravel, sometimes sand, and sometimes so rough they almost had to slow to a walking pace. They were soon used to seeing wallabies and kangaroos bounding off to the side and at one stage some emus caused excitement when they ran alongside the vehicle for forty metres before heading into the scrub.

The minibus crossed a timber bridge over a small creek, pulled off the gravel and stopped fifty metres along the dirt track where there were some grassy clearings amidst a stand of wattles. There was a busy time while the tents were set up, wood collected and a campfire started.

Kieran listened carefully when Mr B. gave hints about where to set up the tent so no spark from the campfire would blow on it, so it wouldn't be flooded if it rained, and so your head wasn't downhill when you slept.

The sun was low in the sky by the time everything was organised and Mr B. said he was going for a walk to watch the sunset. Mostly, everyone was occupied with the tents and sitting round the campfire, and only Kieran, Rhys and one of the girls went along. Kieran had decided earlier in the day that he was going to stick with Mr B. because he always seemed to have a reason when he did things.

It surely paid off this time.

After walking for a good ten minutes they reached a jumble of rock which rose above the scrub and trees. A quick easy climb took them to the top of a large flat rock and, as he lowered himself to sit beside Rhys with his legs dangling over the edge, Kieran gasped and felt a shiver of awe. In front of them was the buttress of rock in the photo but it looked so different. The light from the sinking sun was giving the whole mountain range a soft kind of glow which made its stand out sharply against the darkening eastern sky. Gradually, the intensity of the glow increased till the great red ball of the sun disappeared below the horizon. Kieran's head turned from the sunset in the west to the mountains in the east then back again and again as he tried to take it all in. Mr B. put his camera away and smiled at them.

"Well, that was a real show wasn't it? There are often great sunsets here but we were lucky to get such a good one at this time of year."

Rhys stood up but Mr B. told him to wait.

"Something else is going to happen, Rhys."

The sky rapidly darkened further and the winter chill strengthened while they sat watching the stars appear and the mountain blacken. The Fortress, as Mr B. called the great buttress of rock, became more and more menacing and Kieran pondered the thought that they'd be camping at its base for the next two nights.

"Yes, here it is. I was starting to think I’d got the time wrong."

Kieran didn't understand till he saw a faint nimbus of light turning the outline of the Fortress into a silhouette. It brightened quickly and Kieran's first thought was that there must be a massive wildfire lighting everything up. An arc of bright whiteness appeared at a speed which astonished Kieran, and the full moon rose in the sky.

"There we are. Show’s over. Let's get some food."

Mr B. led the way back along the rough track with the aid of a small pocket torch and soon they were enjoying the welcoming warmth of the cheery campfire. Several hours later, when the meal was over, the discussions done and the campfire reduced to glowing embers, Kieran saw with astonishment that the moonlight was so bright he could see quite clearly and the leaves of the trees glistened like silver.

It felt strange climbing into his sleeping bag so early, and even stranger lying so close between two other people, but the air was so chill outside it felt very snug. They talked for over an hour, mostly Mr B. answering questions about his life and other adventures he'd had, but he was also keen to hear their thoughts about the day. Rhys said was all good but the sunset was the best.

"What about you Kieran?"

"It was the same for me, Peter, but watching the harrier made me think the most."

The silence told Kieran that Rhys and Mr B. were both waiting for him to explain.

"I was on both sides. I wanted the coots to get away and at the same time I wanted the harrier to catch his prey, and I keep thinking how suddenly the bird’s life stopped."

"I thought about it too, Kieran. It was the way something savage was kind of beautiful at the same time."

Mr B. spoke up now.

"I think everything is beautiful, Rhys. It's only things that humans do that are sometimes ugly."

The conversation continued till Mr B. said goodnight and went quiet. Kieran thought for a while then went to sleep.

***

Great peals of laughter woke him next morning and made him wonder what was going on. Birds! Sounding berserk with all their calls. The laughter was kookaburras of course, but they sounded so close. Kieran rolled on his side and saw Mr B. looking at him with a smile on his face.

"Morning in the bush. Leave the hustle and bustle of the city for peace and quiet in the country, and get woken at the crack of dawn."

"Are they always this noisy?" Kieran whispered back.

"Mostly when it's a fine, clear day."

Kieran pulled his jeans and a jumper on because he badly needed to relieve himself and a couple of minutes later dived quickly back into his sleeping bag.

"It's frozen out there. The grass is white."

"Good, a nice clear day."

For half an hour Kieran relaxed cosily in his sleeping bag listening to all the sounds but then he got restless and when Mr B. got up, so did he.

"Here, make yourself the most popular person in the camp."

Mr B. took a cardboard box with some newspaper and dry twigs and leaves from the mini-bus, started the campfire, and left Kieran to build it up. Soon the delicious smell of sizzling bacon wafted through the camp and people started appearing from their tents.

"Kieran, see if Rhys wants coffee or tea. If we give it to him while he’s still in bed we can stir him for the rest of the trip."

As soon as Kieran unzipped the tent a soft voice said, "Coffee please, and I've been awake as long as you have."

An hour later everyone was packed and ready to go. Kieran felt like an explorer with his pack on his back, and excitement and anticipation built as they took their first steps along the single file walking track.

The day was unforgettable.

The air was crisp and clear and Mr B. stopped at every vantage point to look at the views and talk about the features. The Fortress itself looked more awesome the closer they got. Soon after midday the trail headed down a long steep gully, followed a small creek upstream for several hundred meters and ended underneath the Fortress. That was such a good name for it and Kieran looked in amazement at the vast mass of rock stretching up hundreds of feet and the overhang angling in at the base. After some lunch the rest of the afternoon was spent exploring, with the highlight being a great split in the rock which disappeared into darkness. In the evening, after eating, Kieran sat listening to the talk, watching the shadows flicker on the stone walls and soft glow of a firelight on the nearby tree trunks. It was glowing on Rhys's face too and Kieran kept glancing at him. He looked quiet and Kieran wondered what was going on in his mind. He'd obviously enjoyed all the things that had been happening but apart from Kieran and Mr B. he’d hardly said a word to anyone else.

Mr B. was quiet too, even though he was talking and interacting all the time. With a sudden insight Kieran realised that Mr B. had built an understanding of every person on the trip in the time since they'd started yesterday morning.

Shannon, a third-year guy, held everyone's attention when he collected a bundle of sticks about the length of a walking staff then made another fire and started one of the sticks burning at both ends. When he was satisfied with the glowing coals he took it up and started twirling it like a band-leader’s staff or a calisthenics rod. The effect was spectacular. When the stick was moving fast enough the after-image made a bright fiery circle in the dark. He was skilful with the twirling, sometimes doing it over his head and sometimes to the side and when the coals died down or flew off the end of the stick, he'd replace it in the fires for a while and start again. He made a dramatic finish by flinging the spinning fire stick high in the air and trying an unsuccessful catch. He still got his cheer though, and then he set more sticks burning for everyone else to have a try. The firesticks finished and for a while there was laughter and chatter, toast cooked on the end of sticks, marshmallows burned crispy on the outside and lots of warm drinks, but then the increasing cold sent more and more people to their tents.

Mr B. sat a stubby little candle on a plate and Kieran was surprised at how much light it gave off.

"I often like to go camping by myself, Kieran, and at night-time I lie in my tent and read by the light of a candle.

You should try it, Rhys. Reading book two of Myst in the bush when the wind’s rushing through the leaves of the trees all round is quite an experience."

Away they went. Talking excitedly about books that would be good to read under different conditions. Kieran listened to the eager tone in Rhys’s voice and decided on the spot to give him a book when they got back from the trip. He'd have to talk to Mr B. about it. Yes, that was it. He’d talk to Rhys and get one for Mr B. as well.

"Are we talking about books too much, Kieran?"

"No way!" Laughed Kieran. "I love listening. You make me think of old philosophers or a couple of wizards arguing about their spell books."

This got silence for a moment.

"Turn him into a frog, Rhys."

"Maybe he already is one?"

"Yes, disguised as a handsome prince."

"Could be! Who’s going to kiss him to find out?"

" …Turn him into an owl. Wasn't Arthur an owl in the Once and Future King?"

"I think it was a Falcon. Do you remember what fewmets is?"

"You remember fewmets? Wow."

"You could turn him into a pumpkin, Peter."

"A pumpkin? You think he's disguised as a royal coach?"

Rhys laughed.

"I didn't think of that. I thought he might be a Halloween mask. Watch this. Sit up, Kieran."

It was the old torch under the chin trick, though they both said it worked better because the flickering candle flame made the shadows move.

"Yes, you're right, Rhys. That's definitely a Halloween mask. My blood’s freezing at the sight of it."

"Perseus."

Half an hour later Mr B. said goodnight and all went quiet.

***

The next day they climbed to the very top of the fortress. It took an hour of scrambling up a trail blazed with strips of blue plastic ribbon, and then they were treated to a great panorama of views, peaks of the ranges running north and south and to the west a great plain of bush and scrub with a patchwork of farmland scattered here and there. For three or four hours they explored the great masses of rock, climbing to vantage points and taking in the rugged scenery.

Mr B.'s camera worked overtime and Kieran discovered that he was really good at climbing and scrambling. Mr B. and Kevin, the physical education leader, decided to make the return to camp more of an adventure by leaving the tagged trail and finding a way down the southern side. The bush was so thick, and the ridges of rock and gullies seemed to run in the wrong direction so much that after an hour and a half of hard work some people started wondering if they were going the right way, but when they reached a small creek and started following its bed they knew this was the way back to the tents. Everyone dumped their day packs and relaxed at the campsite before starting the campfire, collecting firewood and making hot drinks.

There was almost an hour left before darkness and having heard about yesterday’s sunset, Kevin was heading down the creek and up the steep gully to a viewpoint on the inward trail with anyone who was interested. Kieran and Rhys were getting ready to go when Mr B. beckoned to them.

"Do you think you can stand missing out on the sunset?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's something special I can show you if you like."

That was enough for Kieran and a glance showed the same interest on Rhys's face. They waited till everyone had gone, heading down the creek.

"You have to keep this secret. Okay?"

Kieran nodded and now felt that wild horses couldn't keep him away. They reached the spot where the track turned off and went up the gully and instead of following, they continued down the creek for another hundred metres, scrambled to a large rock on the right-hand side, and climbed along a ledge till they reached a flat platform set into the wall of rock. It was a neat spot, with a drop-off of about ten metres straight down and the overhanging rock making a natural shelter for the platform, but, apart from its general interest, Kieran couldn't see anything special. They'd been seen features similar to this all day.

"Have a look around and see what you can find."

It sounded like Mr B. was making a challenge. To the north was Mount Thackeray with its rough, craggy cliff faces and below was the gully of the creek, littered with great clumps of weathered rock. During the day Mr B. had talked about a pair of special peregrine falcons which lived in this gully so Kieran looked higher up the overhang of the rock, searching for a nest, but he couldn't see anything. They both looked at Mr B. but he just said to look harder.

"Not in the distance though."

It was very puzzling but eventually Rhys made an exclamation.

"Is this it?"

"Good work, Rhys. Yes, this is it."

Rhys was staring closely at the face of the overhanging rock and Kieran and Mr B. moved next to him. Faint, but quite definite when you looked closely, were a number of stylised markings on the rock.

"What shapes can you see, Kieran?"

"They look like hand prints."

The penny dropped and Kieran remembered some information from when he'd been looking at the map to see where the Fortress was back at College.

“They’re First Australian aren't they? Is this the Cave of Hands? I saw it on the map."

"It's not the Cave of Hands, Kieran. That's a couple of kilometres along the road from where we left the minibus, but I think it must be connected. I looked up what I could at the State Library and it seems that the hand symbol had two meanings. It was mainly used as a sign that a young man was being accepted as an adult and they had a big ceremony where the young man could make his own mark, but I read one book where it said that sometimes special leaders in the tribes would use it to link themselves with ancestors living in the Dreamtime."

"Dreamtime? That's a kind of idea of heaven isn't it?"

"It's much more than that, Rhys. Most people think it's a few simple stories explaining how the world started, but anthropologists who’ve studied it say it's amazingly complicated and a very difficult to understand."

"I wonder which meaning these paintings are?"

"Well I reckon it might be the second one because I can only see three symbols here and the Cave of Hands has marks everywhere."

"Wow! Imagine it. If I put my hand there I could be linking up with everyone else who's been to this rock. I wonder if it's many people?"

"I wouldn't like to guess, Rhys. I don't understand why people don't make more of a big deal about it but the First Australian culture is by far the most ancient that exists on Earth. There’s evidence that it could be a hundred thousand years old and the Canberra University has even carbon dated bones and artefacts at even more than that. It makes the World’s other old cultures seem like the blink of an eye."

Kieran watched Rhys slowly reach his hand out and cover the marking on the left. He felt an urge to touch the symbols too, so he positioned his hand directly over the painting next to Rhys's.

"Hey, there're three symbols and three of us. What a fluke. Come on, Peter. You too."

Mr B. laughed and placed his hand over the remaining symbol.

"What? Triplets is it, Rhys?"

The rock was cold and hard. Kieran closed his eyes, thought of countless dark hands doing the same thing, and wondered what they'd all been thinking at the time … He must be imagining things. Was the rock getting warmer? He opened his eyes and glanced from Rhys to Mr B.

"Um! This doesn't make sense, but does the rock feel different, like its warming up?"

"It is, Kieran. Your body’s 36°C and the rock’s about 12 or 13 degrees, so energy is transferring from your hand into the rock the whole time you're touching it."

All that made sense, except it was happening the other way round. When he concentrated it didn't really feel like warmth either, but whatever it was it felt good. Sensation flowed through his arm, extended right through his body and faded away, leaving him wondering what was going on.

"Are you all right, Kieran? You look like you're blushing."

"Yes, I’m okay. But this rock does feel strange."

Mr B. and Rhys stared at him, then the moment finished and they all lifted their hands off. Rhys smiled.

"Maybe someone from 10,000 years ago was talking to you?"

Kieran smiled back.

"I didn't understand them then."

The three of them sat talking quietly and watching the changing light as the shadows lengthened in the valley below and the rock faces of Mount Thackeray absorbed the colour of the approaching sunset till Mr B. started to worry about the dark.

"Come on. The moon will be out later tonight but it will get pitch black till then and I didn't bring my torch."

They reached camp before the others, set the camp fires, started boiling some water from the creek, then watched the light from several torches appear and disappear as the sunset watchers moved slowly up the creek towards them.

Halfway through his meal Kieran felt one of his headaches starting. He managed to finish but it steadily worsened till all he could do was sit quietly and listen to the voices all around. It worsened even more till he felt like screaming at it to go away. The campfire became a strange blur and he wasn't game to stand up and move. The disorienting colour trail from the fire every time he moved his head made him feel nauseous and he knew he needed to lie down.

"Rhys, will you help me? I need to get to the tent and lie down."

"What's wrong?"

Rhys was on his feet in an instant and Kieran could sense his concern.

"It's one of my stupid migraines. It'll be all right because it always goes away but I can't see properly at the moment."

Kieran closed his eyes and relaxed as the security of Rhys's strong arm slowly guided the way to the tent and his worried voice warned of obstacles. They unzipped the tent. Kieran pulled his boots off, crawled into his sleeping bag and arranged himself comfortably on his thermal pad.

"What's happening?"

It was Mr B.'s voice now.

"It's all right, Peter. I've got a migraine. It'll be gone by the morning. If I lie down and keep my eyes closed it helps me get through it."

“Have you got medication for it?"

"I didn't bring it. It's too soon after the last time, but it doesn't really help anyway. Don't worry. My head feels tight, then I get sleepy, then I wake up in the morning and it's gone."

There was silence for a moment.

"It doesn't sound like we can do much to help you. Would you like a warm drink?"

"Yes thanks."

"Rhys, get yourself organised in the tent and start giving Kieran a head massage while I get the drink."

There was silence for a moment, from Rhys this time.

"Ah! … How do I do that?"

"Lie down. Relax Kieran’s head on your chest and try whatever feels good for him. Massage his temples, the back of his head, his eyes, and he's hair. He'll tell you what works best and that's what you do the most off. I'll be back soon with the drink."

Rhys moved himself into position and Kieran settled his head back.

"Kieran! This is all right isn't it? I don't know what I'm doing but Mr B. thinks it might help."

"Rhys! It feels good already."

It did too. Rhys's chest was moving with his breathing and seemed to communicate a sense of security.

"How will I start?"

"Anything."

Kieran felt gentle fingers working through his hair. It was good.

"Try my temples. Both at the same time. That's where it feels tightest."

Rhys's hands moved and after an uncertain start, began to make rhythmic circles.

"What's that like?"

"Don't stop. It really helps."

The gentle contact continued and in an instant of shock Kieran recognised that a sensation of warmth but not warmth, was building in his temples.

"Rhys! I ..."

The sensation exploded ...

Kieran sensed movement and opened his eyes as a match flared and Mr B.'s candle lit up. Kieran turned his head to see better then relaxed against Rhys's chest again and the movement caught Mr B.'s attention.

"Hey, sleepyheads. Are you awake enough to have your drink?"

While sitting up in response to this whispered question a series of thoughts chased through his mind.

He'd been asleep?

Rhys was asleep?

His headache was gone, the candle flame looked crisp and clear, and it must only be a matter of minutes since Rhys was massaging him.

What had happened?

Accepting the warm mug, Kieran took some welcome sips. Rhys stirred. His eyes blinked open and tracked back and forth between Mr B. and Kieran.

"What happened?"

"You fixed my migraine."

"You zapped me."

"So did you. Do you feel all right?"

Rhys sat up and thought about this.

"The same as normal. How long have I been asleep?"

“I'm not sure. Only a couple of minutes I think."

Mr B.'s head was switching back and forth to match the conversation.

"Hey! Earth to Mars! I'm totally left behind here. What are you two talking about?"

"He's a human battery, Mr B! I started rubbing his temples and he knocked me out. Except it didn't hurt."

"It was the same for me. When Rhys rubbed my temples I went to sleep in a second and now I feel better."

"Slowdown. Slowdown, both of you. I had to heat some water but I’ve only been gone five or six minutes maximum. You were both asleep, which surprised me, but Kieran woke up as soon as I came into the tent and you woke up straight after that, Rhys. Now tell me what happened to you first."

"I’ve said it really. I rubbed Kieran's head and then he said to try his temples because they felt tight. He said he liked it so I kept going and all of a sudden some kind of shock wave went through me, and the next thing I knew you were both looking at me."

"Hmm! All right, Kieran?"

"Well, it was the same for me. Rhys's saying it was like a shock wave is a really good description for the part where I went to sleep, but just before that I had a strange kind of feeling. Um! It's weird but it was like the feeling I had at the hand paintings when you thought I was blushing. Sort of warm but not really. Peter, it's fixed my migraine. I can't believe it. It always lasts for hours and I have to sleep overnight for it to go away properly."

No one said anything for awhile. Rhys started humming Twilight Zone music and then everyone smiled. They went through it again and Kieran had to explain more of what he'd felt at the hand paintings.

"We'll I've never heard of anything like this. I know that sometimes people get zapped with that faith healing stuff but not the person who does it, and the warmth thing happens with Reiki healing, but yours sounds different, Kieran."

"You're a super healer, Rhys!"

Mr B. laughed.

"Maybe you’re both getting the flu and fluked passing out the same time?"

He held his hand on Rhys's forehead, pronounced his temperature normal, then turned to Kieran with the questioning look.

"Well here goes!"

He held his hand on Kieran's forehead now … and after four or five seconds started quivering and shaking. He stopped though and told the rather stunned pair that Kieran's temperature felt normal too. Rhys's mouth opened for a second and then he started laughing. Kieran did too and Mr B. sat there looking as if he was pleased with himself but trying not to show it. The laughing made Kieran relax and he could see that Rhys felt the same way.

"Rhys! Give Kieran another massage. Let's see if it happens again."

The pattern was irresistible. Kieran turned his head so that Mr B. couldn't see, gave a wink, then snuggled into place with his head on Rhys's chest. Gentle fingers started their work and Kieran waited for about thirty seconds before making a dramatic moan and flopping his head from side to side. He heard the same sound from Rhys and then they both lay still, waiting for the reaction.

"Oh no! You poor guys. What am I going to do?"

Mr B. carried on with his mock worry and panic till Kieran was nearly bursting with the effort not to smile.

"I know. I'll pour some cold water to wake them up."

Whoops! Would he do that? Kieran knew Mr B. kept his canteen near the tent entrance.

"I'm awake. I'm awake."

"Me too. I had a quick recovery."

They talked some more about what happened then Mr B. said he was going for his own hot drink.

"Finish giving Kieran that head massage, Rhys, then I think it might be a good idea for him to have an early night. There. Nanny has spoken."

Kieran almost started to say it didn't matter but changed his mind when Rhys started on his temples.

"Try those other things I mentioned too. Three or four minutes for each, but keep coming back to his temples if that's what relaxes him most."

Mr B. left and Kieran lay, quietly enjoying Rhys's ministrations. It made him feel like they were close to each other in a personal kind of way. What was Rhys thinking?

"Rhys, I feel like I'm cheating you because my head isn’t aching at all."

"I'll keep going. Mr B.'s ideas always seem pretty sensible to me."

"It does feel good. If you get a headache I'll do the same for you. Okay?"

The massage was so relaxing that Kieran felt his eyes gradually closing and by the time Mr B. got back he was deeply asleep.

***

The next day was easy but still interesting. There was the hike back to the minibus, then a drive of over an hour to get to the next campsite. This was all on back roads and the first section skirted the base of the Victoria range. After passing some farmland they were back in the bush again till they reached the far northern end of the whole Grampians area where they set up camp at a place called Mt Zero.

The following day was loaded with excitement and wonder.

The excitement came after climbing a steep track to reach a mass of rock called Hollow Mountain, where the morning's activity was a mixture of abseiling and exploring the cracks and fissures which formed an interconnecting set of caves through the top section of the mountain. Kieran loved the abseiling for the adrenaline rush it gave, but he thought the wriggling through clefts in the rock to a narrow ledge with a view of the valley below, then chimneying up a cleft to find a platform with an overhanging rock ceiling was more like an adventure.

The wonder came when half the group went with Mr B. on a five-hour hike, across a large area called Flat Rock, through a jumble of gnarled and eroded boulders to a feature called the Amphitheatre where they walked with their heads raised to look at sheer rock faces and cliff walls. Up the track wound till it eventually turned to follow the wild terrain along the crest of the range where it petered out and disappeared. Now they followed small cairns of rock which showed the way from lookout point to lookout point, from hidden path to rough rock walkway, and even at one stage leading to a cleft in the rock which could only be crossed via a fallen tree trunk. Now their heads were constantly lowered to peer down the gullies and over the rocky ledges to the valley below. Kieran stayed as close to Mr B. as he could because he looked at everything, had interesting explanations about many things, and made whatever was happening more interesting.

"Kieran, here's a special one for your list."

They’d stopped for five minutes to enjoy the view from a rocky ledge and Mr B. pointed to the sky in the south. Two large birds gliding and circling above the rocky peaks gradually moved closer and closer.

"What are they?"

"Wedge-tailed eagles! Watch how long they fly without flapping their wings."

Closer and closer they came, working their way along the line of the range, wheeling and circling, sometimes near the rocks and sometimes out over the plain. Six pairs of eyes were fixed on the aerial display and as they approached Kieran suddenly realised how big they were.

"Look at the size. The swamp harrier was nothing like that."

"Watch them while you can, Kieran. There are only two eagles in all the world that are bigger than these. Some of the females get close to three meters when their wings are spread."

To bring his point home, Mr B. made three large steps from the rock he was sitting on.

"There, that's close to three meters. Isn't it unreal?"

It was hard to believe and Kieran could see similar expressions on the other faces. In a great sweep the eagles approached till their features and markings stood out clearly. One was larger than the other and looked almost black. For several minutes they stayed close and Kieran wondered if they were curious. It felt like they were because he could see their fierce eyes.

"Kieran, they're looking at us. Put your arm out like they do in the falconry stories."

"You and your novels, Rhys. They're wild birds."

Shannon jumped up, climbed on a boulder and stuck his arm out, and then Rhys did the same on an even larger rock.

"Come on. Get into the spirit of it."

The look on Rhys's face and the sound of his voice did exactly that, so Kieran clambered up next to him and held out his own arm. The great eagles wheeled and shot past only ten metres away.

"Wow, look at that!"

Kieran could hear the awe in Rhys's voice. Rhys dropped his arm but Kieran didn't and they watched the eagles bank in another wide circle and head back towards them. The larger, dark one was higher in the sky but the other came gliding in from below Kieran's eye-level. With a vast shock Kieran realised it was coming straight at him. In total disbelief he watched it looming and for several seconds it was as if every bit of motion drained from the world and transferred to the oncoming force. The eagle swept up and with a sudden wing beat, passed directly over Kieran's head with hardly a meter to spare, leaving him with a thudding heart and an image in his brain of fierce, piercing eyes fixed on his own.

Kieran swivelled to watch the diminishing shape but then a great commotion brought his attention back. His heart lurched again because Rhys was lying at the base of the rock. Everyone converged on him but he’d climbed to his feet by the time they arrived.

"God! It frightened me so much I jumped off the rock."

Mr B. was holding his arm by now and wanted to know if he’d hurt himself.

"Ah! ... My backside."

He rubbed his right buttock and walked around for a couple of steps.

"It's all right! But I might end up with a bruised rear I think. Where are they?"

When Rhys looked around so did everyone else but the eagles were gone. Everyone talked excitedly about what had happened but then they headed on their way because Mr B. was starting to worry about the time.

The last section of their walk was the roughest they'd seen so far and Kieran thought they would have taken hours longer to get through if the little cairns of rock hadn't been pointing the best way. As it was they spent most of the time climbing low rock walls, picking their way through deep gullies and trying to avoid the clutches of the tough prickly vegetation. Mr B. led all the time and somehow seemed to work out where the next cairn marker was likely to be. Kieran followed him next and whenever they came to a climbing or scrambling section Mr B got him to show everyone the best way to tackle it. Rhys kept close and they were now in the habit of sharing anything interesting with each other.

Back at the campsite the two groups swapped stories. Kevin had taken the keen abseilers to one of the biggest cliffs and they were all excited about having had to use the longest rope for a ninety meter drop. The evening meal and talking went on for a couple of hours but then the deepening cold sent most people to the shelter of their tents and the snug warmth of sleeping bags. Kieran thought it was marvellous, sharing the conversation and company with a flickering candle casting the glow on their faces, Mr B’s free and Rhys’s peering from his down hood. Rhys agreed with Kieran that while the morning’s abseiling had been exciting, seeing the eagles was the highlight of the day. Rhys was convinced that the eagle had meant to land on Kieran's arm.

"You could see it slowing down. It was me falling off the rock that frightened it away."

"I don't think so. The slowing down must have been when it changed from gliding to flapping its wings because it suddenly saw us right in in its path."

"I don't think that could be quite right, Kieran. eagles have the most amazing eyesight you could ever imagine and I'm sure it would be aware of you standing on the rock the whole time you were there. How's that bruise feeling, Rhys?"

"Sore! But it's all right."

"Give yourself a massage. That’ll fix it in a second."

"Comedian. Hey!"

Kieran squawked when Rhys squished him and dug an elbow into his ribs.

"Help! I'm being attacked by a mummy."

"What?"

Everything stopped for the explanation.

"Look at him. With his sleeping bag hood all tied like that he’s an Egyptian mummy."

This got a laugh. Then away they went.

"King Tut."

"The Book of the Dead."

"Return of the mummy."

"Curse of the Pharaohs."

"Quick. Close your eyes, Kieran. If you look at that face your flesh will dissolve next time the sun's rays hit you."

"I’m coming to get you."

Rhys rolled over and brought his face close. Kieran screwed his eyes shut and laughed.

"I saw it. I saw it. It was horrible. One look at that face nearly frightened me to death."

The mummy made weird moaning noises before digging into Kieran's ribs again.

"Help! What's it doing? It's trying to rip my heart out."

This started a discussion between Mr B. and Rhys about Egyptian priests who could reach in through a person's chest to pull a heart out for sacrifice.

"That's not Egyptian, Rhys. It's Aztec. They used to drink the blood from the hearts of victims and throw the bodies to the crocodiles."

"I wonder why they had pyramids too?"

Kieran listened to all these ideas. He'd have to read more books himself. It felt friendly with Rhys digging into his ribs but that finished after a discussion about how to protect against the mummy curse. Mr B. and Rhys decided that smothering his face in sunscreen before he left the tent in the morning was the most practical.

"But we'll have to keep putting it on all the time and what if he brushes it off by accident?"

"He'll have a permanent grin then won't he? We’ll cure him though. After we've had breakfast we’ll search under rocks or bark for a nice big beetle. You can hold him down, Rhys, and I’ll stuff it into his mouth live."

"A beetle?"

"Yes, it should be a scarab but an Aussie beetle should do the trick since it was an Aussie mummy. There are big black ones round here that should be perfect. When his teeth crunch, the green slime will ooze out and fill his mouth."

"Don't worry, Kieran. It might sound revolting but we'll make sure you swallow it all."

"It's not that revolting, Rhys. It'll be like eating dry cornflakes with a new flavour. We'll get him to practice at breakfast tomorrow morning with cornflakes from the minibus."

"What about the green slime?"

"I know just the thing."

"Hey! What about the mummy? We’ll have to kill it off or it'll just curse me again. I don't want to eat beetle slime every day."

"You can't kill a mummy, Kieran. It's already dead."

The talk went on for another enjoyable hour before Mr B. blew the candle out, protesting about noisy students keeping him awake all night. Kieran groaned and protested about noisy lecturers keeping everything one awake with their blinding candles.

In the morning Kieran woke to the feeling of soft fingers stroking sunscreen on his face.

"You idiot, Rhys."

"You’re all protected now."

And after breakfast Mr B. carried it further.

"Open your mouth, Kieran. Time for your rehearsal."

Crunch! Crunch! It was revolting, but worth the look from Shannon and the smiles from Rhys and Mr B. to get through the spoonful of dry cornflakes with a squeeze of lime flavoured toothpaste.

***