| "Kate, The Dream Angel" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1997. |
| CHAPTER 3 |
| Kate felt uncomfortable. |
| The annoyance of wetness woke her just after sunrise. She was outside, sleeping beneath the mosquito net. Someone must have tipped water all over her! Kate's clothes were sopping. Not only that, but they were twisted around on her, as if pulled on in a hurry. |
| Just wait till I find out who did this! Kate promised herself, while adjusting the clothing. What time was it? |
| Where was her watch? Her Star of David pendant was gone, too! |
| Thoughts of revenge seethed through Kate's thirteen year old mind. She was tired, wet and very grumpy. Should she get dry clothes from inside, and risk waking her family? Kate thought she could be quiet enough. All she really needed was dry undies, and then she could lie down on her bunk, inside, to finish sleeping. |
| Her clothes were in the third drawer from the bottom. The noise of getting dry pants was loud in Kate's ears, yet no one stirred. Seconds later, Kate had her eyes closed, as she lay on her bunk and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, her anger was eating at her, keeping her brain in turmoil. |
| Kate tossed around on her narrow bed for almost two hours, before her dad got up. He saw her watching him, so he tiptoed towards his daughter. |
| "Morning, baby. What's wrong?" He whispered, and sat on the floor next to her. |
| Kate told him what she thought happened to her, while he brushed her hair with his fingers. "It sounds pretty odd, Kate. Why steal your watch and medallion, then wake you up? It doesn't make sense." |
| "I don't know." Kate's eyes flashed with indignation. "I intend to find out, though." |
| Her dad sighed. "It could be anyone in the park; or they might even be gone by now. How would you find out?" |
| "I don't know that, either." Kate rested her chin on her fist while she thought about an answer. It would be a waste of time asking everybody if they stole the stuff. Why would anyone own up to it? |
| Her dad patted her arm, and stood up. "I'm going to get breakfast. Want to join me?" |
| |
| Hours later, Kate's family was on the road once more, headed north. |
| When Kate tried to catch up on her lost sleep, Sean nudged her. He was being deliberately obnoxious, and a fight started. At first, Kate and Sean argued, until Kate pushed him away. Sean reacted by using his feet to shove Kate up against her door. |
| When Kate screamed at Sean, both their parents started issuing orders to stop annoying each other. All in all, it was a wonderful drive for them up to Normanton, where they had a late lunch, refuelled the car, and stocked their fridge and cupboards. |
| Two hours passed, before they arrived at the Gulf of Carpenteria, having exited the small town of Karumba. |
| They chose to camp near the airstrip, and close to the beach. Water lapped at the white sand, less than a hundred metres from their camp site. |
| "There it is, guys. It's been nearly thirty years since I last camped on this very spot." Kate's dad declared. "Before any of you go swimming, here's the rules. Never, ever swim alone. Never go deeper than your knees." |
| "How come, Dad?" Sean asked. |
| "Two answers to that question, mate. Sharks and stingers. There are all kinds of nasties out there, and they're very hard to see." |
| "In that case, I'm staying out." Sean decided. "Anyone for fishing?" |
| |
| Kate went into the van and changed into her bikini, then asked her parents if they would stay close while she tested the water. The four of them went to stand on the damp sand. |
| No shark fins were in evidence, and there were no signs of marine stingers. Kate walked out, and put a foot in the inviting sea. |
| "It's hot!" She exclaimed. "Holy cow, Dad, it's like a hot bath. How am I going cool off?" |
| "Get wet, then go sit in the shade for the wind to dry you. And be quick about it. You forgot your sunscreen, I'll bet, so you'll burn in another five minutes." |
| "Oh, Dad, you can't get sunburned that fast." Kate grinned. |
| "Guess again, baby. This close to the Equator, even five minutes can be too much." |
| Grumbling, Kate made a shallow dive to get wet. |
| The water was so salty and warm that it was no sacrifice to leave it. The sea was well above body temperature, and the air was stickily humid, so Kate was more uncomfortable than if she had stayed on the beach. |
| |
| Everyone returned to the van, where they covered themselves in blockout cream. Sean and his dad unpacked the fishing equipment, put on hats and went fishing. Kate and her mother rigged up the canvas tarp as shade between the van and the car. While they were at it, they hung Kate's mosquito net, so she would not have to sleep inside. |
| "It must be about forty five degrees in the shade." Kate complained. "Can I make an ice pack?" |
| "Let's share one. I didn't really believe your father when he told me how hot it got up here." Her mum admitted. "We'll have to watch how much ice and water we use." |
| "I saw an ice factory near the town." Kate volunteered. |
| "Of course! I should have realised. All the fishing boats come here, and need to stock up on ice. You get the ice pack, while I get out of all these clothes. If this is what Hell's like, then I'm going to make sure I stay in the good books." |
| "Gosh, Mum, Hell's much worse, and it stinks like..." Kate stopped. What on earth was she talking about? I must be getting delirious, she thought. |
| |
| Kate and her mum lounged in the shade, drinking lemonade and sharing a bag of ice. They had little energy to talk, and Kate was too hot to nap. |
| "I don't think I can take a week of this." Kate's mum said, as she pressed the ice pack against her neck and chest. Water trickled down onto her swimsuit, where it evaporated in moments. |
| "I don't think I can take another hour of this, Mum. Have a look at the salt that's dried on me! That water must be the saltiest in the world. Do we have to do this, Mummy?" Kate pleaded. |
| "Try and put up with it, baby. Tell you what. Tonight, when it cools down, we can make a small pool with the plastic ground sheet. How does that sound?" |
| Kate smiled at the thought, until she considered how to do it. "Won't it get just as hot as the sea? We can't keep it full of ice...or could we? Can we afford a bag of ice every couple of hours?" |
| "Probably not, but how about once a day, before bed?" The older woman compromised, as she leaned over her daughter, to run the ice pack over Kate's shoulders. |
| |
| Kate had something to look forward to for the following night; in the meantime, though, she had to endure the enervating weather. |
| Kate lay under the tarp, wilting, and wishing she was at home, in the swimming pool and surrounded by her mates. |
| Shadows grew longer, as the afternoon became evening. The sky began to take on an orange tinge, when Kate's mum suggested they get their cameras and photograph the 'boys' fishing. |
| The path to the beach was straight and even, so they would not stumble when it got dark. Kate's dad and brother were doing something to their fishing rods. And, as she neared them, Kate realised they were trying to get a huge, ugly fish off Sean's line. |
| "What's that gross thing?" She asked. |
| It was over a metre long, flat, blotchy brown and grey, and its head was out of a science-fiction movie. |
| "It's a gulf catfish, and a damned nuisance." Her dad replied. "That's all we've been able to catch since we started." |
| "Just one fish?" Kate teased. |
| "No, dummy." Her brother growled. "One kind. We pulled heaps out. Have a look behind that dead tree." |
| Kate and her mum peered over the indicated log. Dozens of the revolting monsters were writhing or dead. |
| Kate recoiled in disgust. "How could you be so cruel? Why don't you let them go again?" |
| "Are you crazy? They'd only take our bait again!" Sean sneered. |
| "How do you know? The only things out there are these, so why bother fishing at all?" |
| "Kate." Her dad said. "There are other fish in the Gulf. Big fish. Granted, we are killing many of these, but they're scavengers, and there are millions of them. What does it really matter to the fish population?" |
| "Nothing, Dad, but it matters to that fish." She pointed at the desperate creature at their feet. |
| Kate's dad stared at the catfish for several seconds, then looked back at Kate. |
| "You're right, baby." |
| He used his fishing tackle box to push the fish towards the water, so that he would not get hit by its spines, and then the ugly beast was gone. |
| The sun approached the horizon, much faster than Kate thought possible. Colours changed in the sky, and Kate's mum began snapping pictures. Kate took a few photos, before full darkness surrounded them. |
| Far out to sea, the lights of passing ships were visible. Kate wondered if they were fishing boats. Perhaps they were pirates, or boat-people from Asia? |
| A lighthouse beacon knifed through the darkness. |
| While Kate and her mum watched the magnificent panorama, Sean and his dad continued to fish; every few minutes they would pull in a catfish, and let it go again. |
| "Hey, Dad!" Sean exclaimed. "This doesn't feel like a catfish. Get the gaff! It's ginormous!" |
| A small battle began between Sean and his fish. |
| Everyone speculated on what it might be, then his dad sank a large metal hook into something in the water, and an instant later a metre long, torpedo shape was throwing up sand on the beach. |
| "It's a queen fish, Son. What a beauty!" |
| When they started to clean and scale the fish, Kate decided to return to the camp. She had no interest in smelly fish guts. A half a bucket of fresh water and a face washer were all Kate had for a bath. At least she no longer felt sticky, and she could change out of the salt-encrusted bikini and into a light cotton nightie. She was rinsing out her swimsuit when her mum came looking for her. "I thought we were going to make a little pool, Kate?" |
| "I guess I forgot. Sorry, Mum. Can I do it in the morning?" |
| "Don't worry. I'll get the boys to do it. And don't throw that water out. I'll use it later." |
| "It's salty, now. We aren't that desperate for water, are we?" |
| "It's hard to get fresh water up here. Most of it is brought in by trucks." |
| Kate's dad returned a little while later, to start the gas barbecue, and he and Sean cooked fish steaks. At first, Kate was reluctant to eat what had been alive and swimming half an hour earlier. |
| Hunger got the better of her, especially when she scented its delicious aroma. She ate two of the big steaks, and declared them excellent. |
| That night, they all stayed up till past midnight, talking and watching the brilliant stars and meteors; occasionally, a satellite or space ship would pass overhead. Sean waffled on about the NASA and European space programmes, though Kate was barely interested. Kate's yawns persuaded everyone to go to bed. |
| Her head barely hit the pillow, and she was fast asleep. |
| |
| When someone called her name, Kate was in the air so fast, she did not realise she had passed through the net and the tarp. Bill and Mary hovered a few metre away from Kate; all three of them were twenty metres above the campsite. |
| "Ready to go, Kate?" Bill asked. |
| "I've got a question, first. What would happen if my parents decided to look in on me while I was supposed to be in bed?" |
| "No problem. They would think they saw you. You're dealing with miracles here." Bill smiled his toothless grin. |
| "I suppose, but who's doing all these miracles? Some guardian angel, like the Catholics think?" |
| "Nope. You are, Kate. You're looking after yourself. And as for guardian angels, well, let's talk about that later, when you've learned more. Right now, we've got an appointment across the water." |
| Kate was bemused enough to follow without further questions for Bill. She was doing miracles? How cool! |
| Their destination was a fishing trawler, and Bill led the two girls onto the deck |
| A lone sailor stood in the pilot house, staring out to sea; a radio crackled in the background. Bill sank through the wooden deck. Mary took Kate's hand and they went after him. It was an eerie feeling for Kate, especially when her eyes were inside the timbers; it wasn't like passing through the black earth. Confusing images, then they were in a cabin. |
| A fat man lay on rumpled sheets. Most of the fingers of his right hand were gone, the stumps healed years before. His breathing was laboured and irregular, almost as if he were choking. An empty rum bottle rolled around on the floor. |
| "What's going on?" Kate asked. |
| "We wait." Bill answered. "It won't be long. And I'll need both of you to help me. Are you brave, Kate?" |
| "What?" Kate was startled. What could scare an angel? |
| Then she remembered the Claw that pulled people out of the queue for Heaven. Could it be here, too, waiting for one of them? Then another thought intruded. |
| "Oh, God! Don't tell me he's going to die!" Kate exclaimed. |
| "His name's Brenden, and he murdered four men and a woman." Bill explained. "He drinks every night to try and forget, and his conscience is too strong. A month ago, he decided to give himself up, then he chickened out." |
| "So why are we here, if he's a murderer?" |
| "He was sincerely sorry, and intended to make amends. The fact that he changed his mind doesn't matter, that's a separate incident, or, if you prefer the term sin, we can call it that." |
| They silently watched the dying murderer. Kate hugged herself, and let her gaze wander away from the man on the bed. It was then she realised that she, along with Bill and Mary, were dressed in their wings and nothing else. |
| Why hadn't she noticed before? It did not seem to matter, though. They were just people, after all, and equal in the sight of God. Or angels, or whatever. What was the right word for Mary and her, if they were not angels yet? Was a Dream Angel different to any other angel? |
| |
| Kate's thoughts were interrupted, when Bill walked towards the man on the bed. |
| The black hand touched Brenden's right hand. Brenden sat up. He was also lying down. There were two Brendens. |
| One man was lying in tangled clothing, the other was bare and standing, while a confused expression filled his features. Kate noticed a small, interesting detail. The Brenden on the bed had a mutilated right hand; the Brenden next to Bill was whole. |
| Something was coming! Kate felt the most hideous fear come over her. |
| "Stand around Brenden." Bill ordered. "Keep your back to him, and protect him. Don't worry, Brenden, it's okay. Nothing's going to hurt you. We'll keep you safe." |
| Kate almost screamed at Bill, but her voice was lost to terror at what was approaching. |
| Keep him safe? Who's going to keep US safe? |
| Her heart was pounding against her ribs, yet she did as Bill told her. |
| When her wings touched Brenden, they folded around him, just as Bill's and Mary's were hiding him. |
| What followed next was worse than the most chilling horror movie. |
| Walls bulged and groaned; some Thing was trying to get in. |
| Gaps appeared in the straining timber joints. Scratching noises raised the hairs all along her spine. Her lips pulled back from her teeth in fear. |
| All Kate wanted to do was fly home as fast as she could. |
| Mary began to pray some Christian words. Bill called on the Creator of the Dreamtime. Even Brenden whimpered the Hail Mary. Not to be left out, Kate called on the God of Abraham, Who led Moses and the people from Egypt. |
| |
| The attempts by the Beast to get in grew more powerfully dreadful. Kate did not know what kept her standing, when she wanted to escape, screaming. |
| She trembled, as all three of them continued to stand between Brenden and the Thing. |
| |
| A soul-chilling shriek of hatred from the Evil, marked their victory. The four of them were released from the fear. |
| "There's no time to waste." Bill told them. "Hold Brenden, and let's get him to the Gate. He still has to get to one of the doors." |
| Kate's eyes widened. "You mean, after all this he might still have to go in the first door?" |
| "Hush, Kate!" Mary cautioned. |
| Kate shut up, when she looked into Brenden's pleading eyes. |
| Pity and sorrow filled her. She regretted her words. |
| "I'm sorry, Brenden. Shhh... It will be all right. There are three of us to watch over you, until we get you safely Home." Kate stroked his weather beaten face, and his features relaxed, until he almost seemed to be sleeping. |
| Without being told, Kate helped Bill and Mary carry Brenden out of the boat and up, staying crowded together until they were through the Gate. |
| While Bill spoke to Pete, the man who held the fishing rod, Kate and Mary stayed close on each side of Brenden, their wings spread to protect his back. |
| Bill signalled, and Kate and Mary led Brenden past the long queue. As they drew level with the first door, it slammed open and the Claw came out. It reached out towards Brenden, talons already closing, when Kate threw herself in its path. |
