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A Just Reward for Kev, by Sue Clayton

19/6/2020

 
“I’m done for; out of diesel.” His master thumps the steering wheel. “Away dog,” the cab door swings open and Kev jumps out. He’s been riding shotgun while they search dense bushland for stray sheep. Then dry lightning struck… flames crackled…sky turned fiery orange.

He tracks through falling ash and blackened gum leaves; nose sniffing out humans, guiding him home.

“Away, dog,” farmhands command, leaping into their trucks and crashing behind Kev as he races back along his trail through blistering scrub.
​

“That’ll do, dog.” Kev gnaws a meaty bone; a just reward from his master, singed but home safe.
Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 08:15:11 am

Nice story Sue.

Krystyna
19/6/2020 03:05:57 pm

Intense, graphic... feels like I was right there. Excellent, Sue!

Here’s hoping you won’t have a repeat of the last inferno that had raged through your part of the world.

Sue Clayton
20/6/2020 02:32:27 am

Thanks Mary.

Sue Clayton
20/6/2020 02:33:25 am

Fingers crossed, Krystyna. Thanks for reading.

Ed N. White
20/6/2020 01:30:56 pm

A powerful, graphic story. You have captured the wrath of nature and the resilience of man and dog. Nice.

Jim link
20/6/2020 05:00:12 pm

"That'll do, dog" indeed. A lot said here in so few words. The wrath of nature and the resilience of man and dog, as Ed so aptly mentions, along with an underlying hope that despite the odds, despite the ways of the world (humans and nature alike) we'll make it through.
Nice
Jim

Sue Clayton
21/6/2020 04:21:11 am

Thanks Ed and Jim. So many animals, birds and other species, not forgetting the humans, didn't make it through our bush fires last year so it was nice to give Kev and his master a happy ending. Falling ash, blackened leaves and fiery skies are one of the scariest things I've seen, and I'm one of the lucky ones that the actual fire didn't reach.

Rod Drake
23/6/2020 06:20:22 pm

Nice sharp images

Sue Clayton
24/6/2020 07:38:05 am

Thanks for reading and for your comments, Rod.


Comments are closed.

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