~~~~~
The town of Null continued to gossip and talk of possible solutions. In a way, Null was no longer a boring place to live. In a way, Penny had material to write about. In a way, solutions were possible, but no one noticed the change that slowly crept over Null. In another way, Null was begging to return to its normality of nothing to do. In a dog kennel two dogs were discussing the possible solutions for their dilemma. The dilemma of Hollow Log Investigations and their role in killing the Bunyip of Snapper Creek.
‘Oscar, why is it, it has to be me, that kills the bunyip?’
‘Charlie, the answer is simple, it’s because you were written into this story to kill the bunyip. As for myself, I was already living here and part of another story. Get used to being a hero Charlie. Ask Penny to write something and help you.’
‘Oscar, whatever Penny is writing now makes no difference. Penny has put her book away and is writing another story of Null. The story is called “A New Way Of Living” but I haven’t got a role in that book. Or so she said. Some hero comes along and gives the solution for Null and something about ancient Greece.’
‘Ancient Greece eh? We might get into the book if we do something like the ancient Greeks. Penny might just happen to notice our abilities to investigate. We do things democratically. We discuss and then do what I want. That’s democracy Null and New Brunswick style.’
‘You might be onto something. We don’t want any tragedies like the Greeks. Something about what you said the other day, “It’s all Greek to me,” might give solutions. We definitely don’t want wars. Oscar, was there anything about ancient Greece which produced a peaceful solution?’
‘Charlie, the ancient Greeks loved to get beaten up in wars. One town had food, another had a market place to sell the food. So they had a war to stop people selling food. Charlie, Greeks were a weird mob. Greeks had a Utopia where everybody did what they wanted to do. No laws, nothing, how much more of a Utopia can you want with no one telling you what to do. Not even any dogcatchers. Then along comes someone with a crazy idea: turn all the kings into gods. Easy, then the Greeks had a king, some religion, an army, and some slaves. And then someone said: We need the people to justify everything future kings do so they turned their Utopia into a Dystopia and called it Democracy. The Greeks also had competitions to see who made people laugh the most. . . . or cry the most. That man Plato was one of them. Saggis told me that a man Euripides wrote a story that might help us. A story of someone winning a war with a wooden horse people climbed inside.’
‘Sounds interesting. Can we build a wooden horse and fight the Bunyip of Snapper Creek?’
‘Nah, not many horses around here. The horse would look silly. What about a wooden cow? There are lots of cows between Null and New Brunswick. Nobody would notice another cow around here.’
‘Oscar I think you’ve got it. A wooden cow to hide in and take out on the kayak to where the bunyip is.’
‘And not to mention Barren Island,’ said Oscar.
‘How is that Oscar if the cow is on the kayak?’
‘Charlie, we can build the cow so that we can move it. No one will notice a cow that moves. That’s what cows do. They move around. That way we can go to Barren Island and talk with the spirits and they can’t chew our heads off.’
‘Brilliant Oscar. I don’t think Penny would have thought of that.’
Charlie and Oscar finished their strategic planning meeting and then decided to go for a walk to suss out materials. It was during this walkabout that Oscar noticed a large empty wooden barrel once used by fishermen but now discarded. Charlie noticed some rusty pipes which could be used as legs. Over the next day, Oscar and Charlie salvaged enough remnants, from a day long gone in Null, to create their Holy Cow solution. A Null Cow that the town would not distinguish between the real and the make believe.
As the parts were assembled Oscar got Charlie to sit on the kayak as measurements were taken. Enough room for three: two dogs and a cat. Escere looked on as the cow was being built.
‘Charlie, I am claustrophobic. The cow is too small,’ Escere said.
‘It’s bigger inside than that shoe box you sleep in under Penny’s bed.’
‘Ok, but I won’t go with you in that thing. People will laugh at me.’
‘Escere, it’s not finished yet. When it’s all painted black and white like the farmer’s cow up near the crossroads, no one will know the difference.’
Charlie was now confident of Oscar’s plan and determined to do what was told him. Escere had other ideas and had no confidence.
‘Oscar, if you make two escape hatches I’ll feel better. One near the neck and one in the belly. Bunyips often attack the belly so we can escape through the other door.’
‘Good thinking Escere. So you’ll be happy to come along. We need someone who can see spirits,’ Oscar said.
The days continued until the cow was now painted. Black and white. A black and white cow, standing upright moving down the river, and then moving onto dry land. Oscar reasoned that no one would notice the cow because everything is so boring and things never happen in Null.
The day came when Charlie and Oscar took the cow out on the kayak to test it. In the meantime, a new situation existed in Null. A huge black and white cow was noted by the Coast Guard as it slowly moved along Snapper Creek. A warning went out to fishermen via the radio network -
‘Securitae - securitae - securitae. All vessels take note of a huge cow moving westward along Snapper Creek. Take care to keep away from the cow.’
Charlie and Oscar approached Barren Island with care. The cow was removed from the kayak and placed onto the island. The cow was nudged up into a clearing and Oscar and Charlie got inside it and waited. After a short time a voice was heard.
‘What is this cow doing on our island?’
‘We want to discuss a few of the things we talked about before when we were here,’ said Charlie.
‘What is it you want to talk about?’
‘We think we know why you are locked into time. We want to know if you want to move on into another dimension. Do you want to move on?’
‘We don’t know what you mean. Another dimension, what does that mean?’
‘We don’t really know ourselves. No one on earth does know but we do know it exists. The dead move on to another dimension but not as humans think it is. It has something to do with the dark side of the universe. What we do know is that you and your spirit are locked into time. Time is expanding and so are the destinies of time. Your time was a long time ago. Do you want to move on in time?’
‘That’s not for me to answer. I’ll discuss it and answer you another time. What is it we have to do to move on in time?’
‘Help me kill the Bunyip of Snapper Creek,’ said Charlie.
‘That’s impossible. We are part of the myth of the bunyip. You can’t kill a myth.’
‘Then we have to do something. The bunyip is killing people,’ Charlie said.
‘The people died because they believed in myths. The spirits of Barren Island exist by those myths and you are asking us to kill off a myth? You speak as stupidly as the white men who killed us. Rest your souls in peace. Go your way. Let people believe what they want to believe and let us remain locked in time.’
‘I will kill the bunyip with or without your help. The bunyip can be killed and stopped killing fishermen.’
‘Then I’ll kill you too. My waterways are here. My fishing was here and you won’t take it from me. Go now and leave the dead souls who are locked in time to defend their honour.’
Charlie and Oscar got out of the cow, nudged it back, and put it back onto the kayak. The slow trip back was against the tide. On some boats were people taking photos of the cow of Snapper Creek. On other boats were people who could not see the cow. On some boats, some people saw the cow and others did not.
At the hotel Thelma was cleaning the top of the bar, as she normally did when there was nothing else to do when Neville walked in.
r /> ‘What’s the strongest liquor you sell Thelma? Whatever it is, give me a double shot of it please.’
‘Neville, go easy. You look like you have seen a ghost mate. You’re as white as snow. You look terrible. Here, I’ll give you a single shot of vodka. That’ll make you feel better. What’s up Neville?’
‘I just saw what the bunyip looks like. It’s a huge cow.’
‘Neville, you get yourself off to the doctor. Not another religious person needing those little pills.’
‘I saw it with my own eyes. My mate from work was with me and he couldn’t see it. Give me another shot of that stuff. My mate’s driving today so I’ll be ok.’
Neville left the hotel defending what he did and didn’t see to several of his usual drinking partners.
‘Thelma, how many fishos does it take to fill an asylum?’
‘Dunno, how many?’
‘One. Just one and Neville just filled up the whole asylum on his own.’
Null was settling in to a nice rest when another person saw the cow. Then another, and another. Then an anonymous person, of the sighting of the bunyip attacking a cow, lodged a report at the Coast Guard. The person was known to a few who valued his credibility but the information was not made public. It was feared the people of Null would not accept the truth. Fear of fear and certain people sidled up to a friend and retold the report in detail. Then a friend of a friend until unofficially every fisherman was gripped in fear. Fear of discussing the bunyip and fear of a stupid cow.
At the hotel Thelma refused to discuss the Bunyip of Snapper Creek or the cow with anyone. Thelma’s home was now a battleground. Her husband had been relegated to the spare bedroom and had to eat alone and not speak on anything except matters of the house.
The idea of filming the catching of the Bunyip of Snapper Creek, was cancelled by Neville and Jim.
‘The albatross has to be tossed around some one’s neck’ was written on the notice board in the hotel. Discussions of the missing fishermen, the bunyip, and the cow slowly stopped. To even suggest that a black and white cow was moving up and down the creek was seen as going mad. Slowly, one person in the hotel after another started talking about things that happened since settlement. Talk of dugongs that were slaughtered for oil and meat. Talk of over-fishing. Talk of being able to go out in a row boat and catch a meal every time. Talk of bunyips and myths slowly edged their way into a conversation but no one was prepared to offer a solution. No one had a solution but the idea of trying to kill the cow or the bunyip never occurred to the fishermen. The local paper, a weekly, saw things differently. The headlines were noted. “Null – the haven for safe fishing will soon be the home of the Seafood Festival” with no mention of any deaths or disappearances of the fishermen. All positive to tourists and non-believers of myths who knew nothing but rumours.
Meanwhile in Snapper Creek sea trials of a different kind continued. Charlie and Oscar were still trying to get their kayak balanced so that they don’t topple over when they meet the bunyip. An incident had them worried. As they proceeded slowly Charlie moved a small amount and the kayak almost tipped over. The dogs were inside the cow and unbeknown to them the bunyip rose from the depths and took a swipe at the cow. Charlie decided things weren’t working out and called for a meeting of Hollow Log Private Investigations. The dogs returned to land and Escere joined them.
‘It’s not working. We need another plan if the cow is part of how the bunyip is killed,’ Charlie said.
‘Why does it have to be on the kayak?’ Escere asked.
‘Because that is where the bunyip lives.’
‘Well, what about we get the bunyip to meet us on dry land. If we are to kill the Bunyip, we need something to work with. Work out how to get the bunyip onto Barren Island and we have a chance,’ Escere said.
‘Oscar, I think Escere is right. Have you got any ideas on how to get the bunyip onto Barren Island for a fight to the death?’ Charlie said.
‘Hold on – hold on now. Who said I was part of a fight to the death? I’m the gutless one of Hollow Log Investigations. And no, I don’t have a clue how to get the bunyip onto Barren Island.’
‘Yes you do Oscar. You know the story of the wooden horse. We need a muse from ancient Greece. Where is Thalia when we need her? Or the other two muses?’
‘Escere, they are in the book I wrote. Look you two – there has to be a way that is modern. What about machine guns, or bombs that Serena the white bellied sea eagle could drop? Modern weapons are what we need,’ Oscar said.
‘Derrrrrrrr – and where are we going to get a time machine? The bunyip belongs to another dimension and another time. Modern weapons would have no effect. We need to get a time machine and somehow go into the same dimension and then zap the bunyip with a happy future,’ Charlie said.
‘Correct up to the last bit. The bunyip still has to be killed. Charlie – do you know anything about time machines?’
‘No.’
‘Then we have to resonate the same frequency of the bunyip. That we can do easy but first we need a nap and sleep on this,’ Oscar said.
Oscar moved with discomfort and tired from not enough sleep. Charlie was completely at ease. A ticking clock had been placed inside Oscar’s kennel.
‘I can’t sleep with that ticking clock in my kennel.’
‘I heard Penny say a man called Eric suggested she put a ticking clock into her story.’
‘So it stays there until you kill the Bunyip of Snapper Creek. The story is about you Charlie as the hero, but I suffer because of a ticking clock in the story.’
“I have told you before – don’t call me a hero.”
“Get over it Charlie. You just happen to suffer from Herophobia. You will be okay when you see the white’s of the eyes of the Bunyip.”
One week to go for the Seafood Festival. One week and then the whole of the town of New Brunswick will know what has been happening. Taking one look at the faces of the fishing population of Null and you knew everybody was in fear: fear of knowing the truth with a clock ticking the seconds, minutes, and hours leading up to the festival.
Monday before the festival. The clock continued to tick. Many of the inhabitants knew nothing of the events going on. Families still focussed on shopping for food. Children went to school. Tourist busses came and went. Delivery vans came, offloaded goods and returned to New Brunswick. On the outward appearance, Null continued with nothing happening. The clock continued to tick. The committee were in panic and grief. Each person associated with the faithful knew what was happening. Each person associated with fishing knew what was happening. The people of Null were in denial. On the Tuesday, people were now walking around with a stunned mullet expression. One person, a trainee journalist, noted in her diary - “From a wooden cow on a kayak to stunned mullets in the street: Null is like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Write this in my report for the London underground newspaper.” On the Wednesday, the clock continued to tick. The Seafood Festival committee were receiving Letters of Resignation. The committee were in total fear of what to say at the festival. A decision was made for the date of resignation from the committee would take effect after the festival. This decision ensured all people had to participate, on the day, regardless of the happenings they had to admit to people on the day of the festival.
On Wednesday night.
‘Charlie, wake up. I had an epiphany. My brain just released a thought and I think my thought might be the thinking we need. It is time. Time to take on the Bunyip of Snapper Creek. Get Escere and say nothing. Escere mustn’t know anything but that tonight’s the night,’ Oscar said.
Escere was woken and told of the situation. The three, Oscar, Charlie, and Escere the cat made their way to the kayak and the wooden cow. Bit by bit, the kayak was nudged into the water. On the water the cow slowly made its way along Snapper Creek. Nearing the cod hole Escere’s fur stuck up and her eyes nearly popped out.
‘I can feel its energy. The Bunyip is furious. It knows what
is happening,’ Escere said.
‘There’s no turning back now Escere. Hold tight. We might be in for the first assault. We have to survive until we get to Barren Island. That’s all I know Escere,’ Oscar said.
The wash of water over the kayak was fierce. The Bunyip was thrashing in the water and sending waves of water over the kayak. Charlie moved to the stern and paddled faster. Oscar moved to the bow and paddled faster. Escere sat in the cow unable to move because of fear. The Bunyip took a swipe at the cow and hit it with a blow using one of its forelegs. The Bunyip was behind the kayak and the wash of its movements propelled the kayak away from it, towards Barren Island. Charlie on the stern steered the kayak as though it was riding a wave in the ocean. Along Snapper Creek the kayak sped. Oscar still on the bow was paddling as fast as he could. Charlie screamed out to Escere to get out of the cow and help.
‘Escere will be needed later Charlie. It’s up to us to get us there,’ Oscar called out.
The bunyip remained near the cod hole whilst Charlie, Oscar, and Escere approached Barren Island. At the island Oscar called for a rest. The three sat inside the cow and rested. Charlie was excited but calm. Oscar was a nervous wreck though he outwardly looked calm. Escere was a wreck in mind, body, and spirit and looked that way.
‘So what is it you have planned now Oscar? A special funeral for us on the island? Are we going to be just another statistic of the dead on Barren Island? No one knows where the bodies of the fishermen are and no one will know where our bodies are soon,’ Escere said.
‘We are not dead Escere. Not yet anyway. If it is to be then it’s up to us to do it. Escere, when we get the cow onto the island I want you to get out and sneak around and see if there are any spirits. We will push the cow up onto the island. Sit inside for a while and then you get out and do your surveillance work. Are you okay with that?’
‘Yes, if that’s all you want from me then yes, I’ll do that.’
‘Okay, now is the time to move the cow up onto dry land. Every one out and let’s do it,’ Oscar said.
The three nudged and pushed the cow up onto dry land. The moon was three days after the full moon and the natural light from the moon created shadows. Each tree in the moonlight stood like soldiers. The cow was taken to a clearing in the trees and turned around to face the water. After securing the kayak Oscar returned to find Charlie and Escere already in the cow. Oscar climbed up into the cow and waited with the others.
‘Is that all you want of me Oscar? Just get out and suss out energies?’
‘Don’t know Escere. Do that and then we will wing it. There was something the spirits of Barren Island said the other day that has us here tonight. Something about myths and honour. About the Just and the Unjust. I suspect the myths are being used for an unjust reason and there is only one way of finding out. Can’t say anymore Escere. But be ready because when this bunyip strikes, it will be as a warrior defending his country and traditions,’ Oscar said.
The room inside the cow was minimal. Crammed inside were three animals that were given a job to do. A vibration was felt by Escere. The ground shook and the finely tuned Escere’s eyes popped again.
‘I can feel it. I can feel the vibrations in the sand below.’
‘Quick, get out of the rear hatch and suss out the area. Be quick before it comes near.’
Escere did as she was told and jumped to the ground, ran around the kayak, and then went to jump back inside but Oscar had tricked her. The hatch was locked from the inside.
‘Hey, let me back in. I can see the bunyip coming. Don’t let me be the first to die,’
‘Pretend you are its friend Escere. Tell the bunyip that we’re now your enemy and ask for help to kill us,’ Oscar said.
‘No. Let me in.’
‘Then die as a coward. Your job is to tell the bunyip we are now your enemy. Do it or die a coward,’
As the bunyip moved slowly over land, Escere moved away from the cow and slightly closer to a tree. A tree with height to climb as an escape from the bunyip.
Escere stood still looking high towards the head of the bunyip and said,
‘Mr Bunyip, I don’t mean to be rude to you but is it possible you can help me. My friends are now my enemies. Can you help me kill them?’
‘Huh? What are you going on about?’ the bunyip said.
‘Well, we came here as a group and I had no idea what they intended to do. The dogs want to kill you Mr Bunyip and I don’t. I’m a cat, and cats don’t kill bunyips. I need someone to help because they are now my enemies.’
‘Huh? Never heard such rubbish. Dogs can’t kill me. I am eternal with powers of the dead spirits and powers of the myth. If I kill you and the dogs it makes no difference to me. Myths kill people all the time and I will kill the dogs first because they want to kill me. Stand aside and watch me.’
‘Things look grim; I don’t think two brothers would ever believe their stories would amount to this.’
The bunyip ignored Escere and slowly moved alongside the cow. The bunyip swiped the cow and hit it hard with a foreleg but the cow withstood the blow. The Bunyip was infuriated. The Bunyip stood back a step and called out,
‘If that won’t do it then I will huff and I will puff and blow your cow down.’
The bunyip then took a huge breath and blew as hard as he could and the cow withstood the gale like wind. This infuriated the bunyip more. Escere moved close to the bunyip and said,
‘I know how to kill them. If you protect me I will tell you how to kill them.’
‘How? Just tell me how.’
‘No, I can’t. It is about honour. Honour of warriors and myths. Zeus was a great warrior and the Greeks turned him into a myth. If I were a warrior, I could talk more to you about honour. But alas, I am but a mere cat that knows nothing but keeping alert and looking out for danger. Anyway, the spirits of Barren Island know about honour and you are connected to the spirits of Barren Island.’
‘What rubbish. What honour is there in destroying land and waterways. What honour is there in poisoning people?’
‘Well Mr Bunyip, unless we get back to matters of honour then I can’t help you kill the dogs. It’s a matter of honour for me too then.’
‘Is it? All right tell me what I have to do,’ the bunyip said.
‘Well for a start – your size – don’t cha think a strong burly Bunyip only twice the size of a dog would win every battle?’
‘I’d win any time against a dog regardless of my size.’
‘Then make yourself smaller. It is a matter of honour to fight someone close to the same size as your opponent. Don’t cha think?’
‘I suppose you’re right. Wait a moment, I have to look in the Guide To Being A Bad Bunyip to see if I can reduce size. Now let’s see. What heading would I look under?’
‘What about you go to the section headed S for size?’
‘Yeh, I got it. Yes you are right. “Bunyips can reduce their size to fit into any water hole or creek”. . . . and it says . . . . Okay...... how is this?’
‘Perfect. Just the right size for a fight until the death. You against the dogs.’
‘Where are they hiding?’
Oscar in complete amazement of Escere and her idea opened the hatch and said,
‘Okay Charlie, all yours. It’s time. To kill a Bunyip. You might never get another chance to do it.’
‘What about you? Aren’t you coming too?’
‘Nah, I am part of the village of gutless people and therefore I am gutless too. Off you go. You’re the hero.’
‘Hang on - that is one thing I decided long ago never to be – a hero – I’m scared of being a hero. Being a hero is the one fear I have in life so don’t start calling me one now. Go out and kill the Bunyip of Snapper Creek? Yes. Go out and be a hero? Never. Go and kill the bunyip yourself. It’s nearly the same size as you now so you go and do it.’
‘What if we both go. You get out first – I will follow you.’
Charlie jumped dow
n out of the hatch of the cow expecting Oscar to follow.
‘Hey, when are you getting out?’
‘Later, you just have a spar with the Bunyip and tire him out a bit first. I’ll be there for the kill.’
Oscar loudly slammed the hatch tight and then moved to the rear hatch where the Bunyip couldn’t see him. Oscar then slowly moved into the trees out of sight.
Standing in front of a reduced size bunyip, Charlie stood petrified and couldn’t move. Escere ran up the nearest tree and out onto a branch so she could see the battle from safety. It was the battle of Charlie versus the Bunyip of Snapper Creek and the bunyip had not yet got used to moving on dry land at its new smaller size. Charlie had no idea of this but the bunyip had power in its forelegs and Charlie had speed to run around the beast. A foreleg here and a foreleg there sent Charlie into a run around the back and then run in and nip a hind leg. The bunyip spun around, Charlie ran back out and this continued for fifteen minutes nonstop. Charlie tired and slowed just a tad. As Charlie moved in to nip at the bunyip’s leg the bunyip raised a foreleg high and brought it down and across and up again. The foreleg connected with Charlie as it swept past. Charlie was stuck with the most powerful blow the bunyip could unleash. Charlie was lifted from the ground and sent high into the air. Charlie landed on the ground with a thud. His eyes wide open. No apparent life remained. Charlie was the target as the bunyip closed the gap. Slowly the bunyip stomped his way towards Charlie. Oscar ran over and said, ‘Get behind a tree Charlie and rest.’ Charlie lay where he landed. Charlie had not moved one muscle in his body. Oscar was now in shock. Was Charlie dead? As Oscar moved around Charlie, keeping one eye on the whereabouts of the bunyip, Charlie looked at Oscar and winked. Oscar winked back at Charlie and Oscar knew. It is time to go for the kill. Oscar continued doing the same as Charlie. Run around the bunyip until the bunyip was confused and then nip at its hind legs. Oscar continued until he too was tired. Charlie reappeared in the fight alongside of Oscar just as Oscar was caught with a blow, which sent him across the sand. Oscar slid and then stopped. Oscar had the wind taken out of him. The impact of the blow on his rib cage bruised all his chest muscles and breathing was impossible for Oscar. Oscar could not move. Oscar was now vulnerable. All Oscar could do was sit there and see Charlie move in to attack a tired bunyip. The Bunyip moved forward towards Oscar, with one step the Bunyip faltered, and nearly tripped over. Charlie noticed it. Charlie knew this was the moment. Charlie raced straight to one of the Bunyip’s Achilles heels as the bunyip was struggling to regain its balance and stand upright. Charlie bit hard and severed the Achilles tendon of one leg. Oscar seeing this ran straight at the other Achilles tendon, bit into it, and severed it too. The Bunyip lay on its back unable to move but it was far from being dead. Escere called to Charlie,
‘Up here Charlie, quick come up here I need to show you something.’
Charlie looked up to see where Escere was. On the furthest branch almost directly above the Bunyip was Escere. Charlie trusting Escere raced to the tree and hopped from one branch to another until he couldn’t climb higher. Escere leaped down onto the branch below him and called out,
‘Out here Charlie quick. Come right out to the end of the branch.’
Charlie, not used to taking orders from Escere still did as he was told. As Charlie was near the end of the branch Escere moved right to the end and said,
‘Jump up and down Charlie. Snap the branch off and hold on when it falls.’
Charlie and Escere kept moving and jumping until the branch snapped. Escere jumped clear and Charlie held on. From the ground, Oscar stood at the feet of the bunyip and saw everything above him. The huge tree branch with Charlie attached fell with the speed of a huge spear and the pointy end of the branch speared straight into the bunyips heart. Charlie had done it. The Bunyip of Snapper Creek was now dead.
Oscar, Charlie, and Escere slowly walked around the dead bunyip and the walk turned into a dance. Clapsticks were heard, and the two dogs and the cat looked towards the cow and saw Donella appear as her natural self: a Brolga. The brolga flew high, turned in the sky and flew away.
Oscar, Charlie, and Escere slowly moved the cow back onto the kayak. Oscar wanted to take the Bunyip back to establish it was dead. What to do with it was a problem. Charlie wanted no part in the slaying. It was an accident as far as he was concerned. As the cow was secured onto the kayak, the three walked back to the dead bunyip that was slowly decaying into powder on the ground where it lay. The powder remains of the Bunyip were to lay there until the wind blew them away. Oscar, Charlie and Escere got onto their kayak/cow and made their way home. As they moved along Snapper Creek, the wind started to blow, from the north, from the east, from the south, and from the west. Blown by the four winds until Oscar and Charlie learned their lessons (A dog’s life is all about going and killing a Bunyip) just like Ulysses was blown by the four winds until he learned his lessons in life. As they got near to home, a solitary white bellied sea eagle flew up Snapper Creek over the top of the cow. The day of the Bunyip was over. Charlie, Oscar, and Escere nudged the kayak, with cow upon it, back up into its normal place. Oscar went off to his rug in a back room whilst Charlie and Escere went into Penny’s room and all three went straight to sleep.
The following morning Penny was the first to wake up in the house. As usual Penny walked around in a daze until she walked to the water’s edge and back. A morning ritual Penny learnt, since they moved to the present house, was to get her feet wet first thing of a morning. On her return to the house Penny noticed the cow was now damaged on its rear end near the tail. Penny went over and inspected it. Last night before Penny went to bed it was intact and no damage done to that part of the cow. Penny noticed scuff marks in the mud made by the kayak. Penny went inside the house and woke her mother who went with Penny to inspect it too. Betty took one look at the damage and said,
‘Penny is your knowing what my knowing is saying?’
‘Mum, my knowing is saying the dogs went out in the kayak last night. That’s all mum.’
‘We’ll leave it at that then. Say nothing to your father or to Jack.’
As the village woke, people noticed at the boat ramp - a long line of boats waiting to be launched. Fishermen were going fishing again. People were actually smiling and being courteous to each other again. Not one word about crocodiles, river monsters, a black and white cow, bunyips or Protestants.
Three days to the Seafood Festival.
Dolphins played along the shore. Dolphins were acting differently and acting as though they were telling people to follow them. One boat did that and when the dolphins got to an area where many boats keep away from, because of submerged trees and rocks, the dolphins disappeared. The fisherman took notice and went back to the Coast Guard and talked about it.
The village of Null had magically transformed itself into another town as though, as usual, nothing happens much in Null. The local church people sent word to other churches to see if there could be a common hall for worship - non denominational for all believers that can find common ground to worship in their own way at the same venue. Things happened so fast, in a period of six weeks, no one noticed change had happened.
On a high hill, from his sun deck, one man saw a strange event during the week. Late at night standing on his patio overlooking Snapper Creek, Gary Smith saw a cow floating along Snapper Creek and some strange beast attacking it. Unable to say anything lest his political career and reputation was damaged, Gary went to bed after a long drive back home during the worst time of his life. Gary Smith was demoted because of the happenings of Null and claims of a Bunyip stalking fishermen at night. Gary simply went to bed and woke to a sunny day with fishermen in boats out on the water fishing.
The day came for the Seafood Festival. Every person with children was there. Every person who loved seafood, especially prawns, was there. Entertainment, stalls selling crafts and stalls giving out leaflets. Clowns, music, and dancers. A day for Null to celebrate. Tou
rists, from as far as one could imagine, had arrived for the festivities.
At midday, the main stage was cleared and the Chairperson of the committee took the microphone.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to this year’s Seafood Festival. My name is Patricia Overton. I would like to thank our guests Mr Gary Smith, our local federal member of parliament and Mr Arthur Freeman, our mayor of New Brunswick. To my committee I give my heart-felt thanks to them and acknowledge without this committee the festival would not happen. For reasons some people know and other people can’t understand, Null recently lost one of our strongest supporters of this festival. Father Fred was a strong support to many people and we acknowledge whatever happened we hope one day we will find out. Father Fred was with us only a few years but somehow things are turning out differently. We still have fond memories of many people who have made this town great and Father Fred contributed wherever, and whenever he could. I would like to call upon Gary Smith to officially declare the festival open, I now ask Gary to come forward.’
‘Thanks Patricia, In the briefest time possible here on the stage - I declare this year’s festival as officially open. I have been here helping since sun up and saw people arriving very early. I expect the night will have much entertainment and hope the festival has everything you longed for. More prawns are there at the stalls. Cooked and served in many different ways. All for the tasting. Oh... and I would like to thank Arthur Freeman, wherever he is, for his help this year. As mayor, I do think he has found his true vocation as he goes around the shire of New Brunswick working tirelessly. I appreciate the time spent in Canberra means little time to be at home and Arthur for eight years was in Canberra most of his time representing our electorate. I now hand you back to Patricia - No? Well, there is a slight problem offstage so I will say – Thanks to everyone here for making this day as great as it is, and close this part of the day – thank you very much.’
Gary Smith hurried off the stage and over to the police talking to the committee. Police divers had found the remains of the three fishermen. Father Fred’s skeleton made identifying the bones easy (because of Father Fred being a short arse) – the divers discovered the remains amongst tree roots, submerged down at the bottom of the creek in a small cave and each body jammed into tree roots approximately ten feet down. The way the bodies were jammed into the cave was identical the way dolphins bury their dead. ‘The remains of the fishermen were bones. Prawns and crabs had eaten the flesh of the fishermen and only bones remained’ was the official report of the police divers.
~~~~~
Further to this story are many stories of Null. One story is that a friend of Penny met an ex schoolteacher and now they are to get married. She is teaching him meditation and Australian Indigenous folklore. He is teaching her the effect democracy is having on Third World countries where the people were not sufficiently educated to understand the democratic process. A rumour was going around the Seafood Festival. “Eloise has the biggest engagement ring on her finger.” Eric is planning to take Eloise on their honeymoon teaching adults on the benefits of looking for a better way to live and vote for another form of democracy. Another rumour going around was that Eloise and Eric after they are married are going to go fishing everyday and forget a world exists outside of their own reality. (I believed the last one)
Unbeknown to any of this Penny and her mother knew in their hearts that the Bunyip was killed (a woman’s knowing). Penny was walking along enjoying the day with her friends when her mother saw her.
‘Penny, I just saw Mr Hetherington your English teacher at school. He is down here with his family. He wants to know how far you have got with your entry into the Creative Writing competition. I couldn’t give him an answer Penny. How is the book going?’
‘It is finished mum. It was the ending I had a problem with, but I ended up with a different ending than I could ever imagine. Charlie said he killed the Bunyip mum, using a giant spear, but please don’t tell dad or Jack. Just keep it as our secret women’s business thing. I will have the manuscript ready before the deadline to enter into the competition now.’
Oscar sat at home on his own. Escere sat on the fence reading a book about a dog called Ocker Oscar. Charlie was still saying it was an accident and he was not a hero.
The End.
(Except there is no end to the products of Terrence Null – nothing ever happens here. If it wasn’t for the writing competition the public would not have heard of the bunyip.)
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