Here to There and In Between - FINAL PART

Later on we woke up with a start and remembered that we were within a large metal bird flying to who knows where. We all calmed down until we heard the footsteps. Why have footsteps always meant something bad ever since Nepal? I thought to myself as we huddled closer together.

My heart took on a rampage within my chest as they grew closer and closer to the back compartment. Barely holding onto a scream, the back door began to creep its way open slowly letting in light that glared on our faces.

Anya was holding onto Ema and Alina like they were comfort dolls, almost squeezing them to a pulp. The door opened wider and we began to hear the soft breathing of the person who was opening it. Suddenly the suspense was too much for Ema and she let out a terrified squeak loud enough to rattle any mountain nearby (or at least it seemed that way).

The person opening the door jumped before they threw it open entirely and peered in. It was the woman.

She stared at our terrified faces before letting out a sigh and turned around.

“It seems we have a couple of stowaways on board Michael!” she called back to the pilot in a language foreign to me.

“Please!” I shouted above the roar of the engine and the pilot, “We need help! Don’t hurt us!” With a look of total bewilderment the woman turned back to us. She had fair hair that curled around her shoulders and a face with two pink cheeks. He eyes were a deep brown the reminded me of my mother’s.

“Nepalese?” she said in our own language, “But how on Earth did you get here?”

So she invited us to come out and sit on the middle benches as we all told her about what had happened to us.

Half-way through she asked for a large piece of fabric from the pilot to blow her nose with and wipe her eyes. She then proceeded to tell us that she had just come from Nepal and stopped a large box (she used another word I did not know) of girls that were to be sold on the black market. Apparently she was part of some group who wished to help people from my country survive the inter-Asian disturbances.  My heart rose as I realised that it was our terrifying box that we had been imprisoned in so long ago which she was talking about.

She also told us that we were headed to her homeland; a place by the name of Australia, which was to our astonishment also known as the Great Southern Land. Soon after our discussion, she had talked to the pilot who was also her husband and came back to us.

“Now what I am about to propose is very, very serious. I want you to think about this very seriously as it will impact your life greatly. You will not be able to go home.”

“Oh, but we don’t want to go back.”

“Well then perhaps this will come as good news to you. My husband and I wish to adopt you.” she said with a tentative smile on her face.

“Adopt? What is that?” I asked her blatantly.

“Adoption is where another adult takes responsibility for lost children. If we adopt you, you will be able to stay together as a family within Australia with myself and my husband Michael. But it’s okay if you don’t want to. I am just worried that if we don’t, you won’t be allowed to come into Australia and you might get split up.” At this, Anya gave me a look of questioning.

 So we began a discussion that would once again change our lives forever.

****

As it ended up, we agreed for Belinda (that was her name) and Michael to adopt us and have all lived together in Australia ever since. I still wonder about my real parents back in Nepal but do not dare go back for fear of being captured again.

This place here is amazing, we have learned to speak English and we now go to a place called school. Personally, I don’t like school much but Ema and Alina love it. Our lives are better here but we still bear the scars of such an emotional journey through so many cultures and countries that I don’t think we will ever forget our ordeal.

I cannot help but think where or who Ashmi is with now. Is he safe? Will he have a better life? Perhaps it would have been best for him to have stayed in Nepal after the old woman died. But however much we wish, we cannot change the past.

Many have asked us how we survived and what we have done. The most often asked question is where we have been

- but we can only reply that we have been here and there and in between.

Fin

(Please note this story is entirely fictional) 

Here to There and In Between - PART 4

The months ticked by as we stayed in our boat and wandered further downstream. Anya told me that we had passed through Thailand as aqua coloured water swirled around us and brilliant lanterns filled the night sky every night. We had cut across a channel of tumultuous sea and were now passing through eastern Malaysia with its thick forest jungles with mysterious animals and plants. Large foul-smelling flowers wandered past throwing their wide red faces out towards the rest of the jungle around them as big orange monkeys swung above us between the trees over the river. On occasion we got the rare sight or two of strange looking people wandering amongst the leaves in large groups some with large sticks and poles sticking out their noses.

Ever since Ashmi had left we had to fend on our own; bartering within market places was especially tough as we were only a group of girls. So we now relied on the forest and river around us for our own food and water. We were now an inseparable foursome as our lives followed the same course as the rivers we glided upon. Anya told us stories of a great land that her father had told her about in the south. It was supposed to be the largest island in the world which was filled with accommodating people. He said it was nothing like our old homes as it had lots of those boxes and buildings that touched the clouds. Anya said that he told her once that if she ever wanted to get there, she would need to fly. We all pondered this incredible feat of flight over the water and how it could be possible, filling our days with bizarre imaginings of people with wings and claws much like a bird.

****

It wasn’t until several months later that us four had found ourselves within Jakarta, Indonesia. We had long ago abandoned our little canoe as a rip formed in the bottom of it when we crossed the Indian Ocean between the islands. We had adapted ourselves to the life of the bustling city of Jakarta and were living in an abandoned block of huts towards the centre of the city. At first we assumed this was the great southern land that Anya had told us about until we set our eyes on the great metal machines within a large fenced off area; they looked like metal birds.

This was when we came to the conclusion that these were how Anya’s father explained the strange feat of people flying into the mysterious land. We fed ourselves with stolen bowls of Nasi Goreng (fried rice) and drank from dirty rainwater pipes. Every night we huddled together and created a plan of reaching that amazing land. We had so far worked out that if we sneaked onto one of the smaller metal birds, we could get ourselves out of here and into the great southern country.

We implemented that plan the next night. Finding a pair of what they call wire cutters in an abandoned workshop; we made our way to the place of metal birds. Ema and Alina were terrified and so Anya and I had to calm them down every fifteen minutes or so.

When we reached the very back fence of the area we cut open a hole wide enough for us to fit through and ran onto the wide expanse of hardened ground. Dirty and filthy as we were from living in such dirty surroundings, we blended into the black backdrop of night well.

There it is again, that darkness which is always haunting me, always following me.

Whispering together, we planned to jump on the smallest machine closest to us which was a little red metal bird with four wings arranged in pairs, one on top of the other. Creeping closer there were moments of sheer terror of being caught by the giant spotlights. Once, a spotlight passed so close to where we had frozen that the outer edge of the circle had illuminated the tip of my foot for a short amount of time.

Pulling my toes back into darkness, we once again evaded detection. Creeping faster along, we came to the side of the red bird and pried open one of the doors with our wire cutters. We all crept inside and closed that same door behind us while hoping that none would suspect the dent in it that we had made. Inside, the bird had two seats in front of various lights and buttons and then two benches behind those that faced in towards the centre of the area. Down the back of it was a small opening into a compartment filled with crates and other such oddities. Slipping into the darkness of the storage area behind, we made ourselves comfortable but undetectable amongst a large pile of crates waiting for our chance to get out of the country.

After hours of hushed whispering and whimpering in the dark someone else got into the same red bird with us and walked towards the front of it.

We held our breaths as a feminine voice jumped into the machine as well. They were both speaking in tongues that I had not heard before although Anya whispered to me that her father had told her a few words that were English and that she thought this was the language they were now speaking. My nerves did an entire 360 degree flip when I heard the female voice mention the name Nepal and began to panic that this plane would drop us off on Everest.

Yes it would be closer to home but we would not survive on Everest!

Anya and I gave quick glances between each other as the floor beneath us began to wobble and tremble and our stomachs lurched within our bodies. We were about to fly and we had no idea what to do. Suddenly flashbacks of the trapped girls that were with me in that terrible box came back to me as the darkness closed in once more around us.

“We’ll be alright,” mouthed Anya to me as she grabbed and squeezed my hand. I held onto that hand as tight as I could for the majority of that flight until we all became dizzy from the rocking of the machine and fell asleep.

(To Be Continued...)

Here to There and In Between - PART 3

A month rolled on in our little boat until one day Anya informed us that we were now in a place known as Burma as well as Myanmar. Also, that if she remembered correctly we were on the main river of Ayeyarwady. Tall orange coloured candles dotted the landscape but we were soon to find out that these were in fact magnificent temples known as Golden Stupas. The local people of Myanmar fed us Peh-hin-ye lentil soup as they listened to our story.

One day while on the river, Ema and Alina became restless and tired in the boat and after much whinging became increasingly annoying. Therefore we decided that we would have an excursion up to the top of a nearby Golden Stupa which was next to the river. So off we went and jumped out of the boat one by one and began our steep ascent up the hill.

When we got to the bottom of the steps, we were already huffing and puffing so much that we needed to sit down. After a few minutes of resting, we decided to climb.

Oh it was a majestic climb up the old sandstone bricks most of which were covered in ivy. Looking out at the views around us we saw that a thick Asian jungle stretched away in all directions; and towards the west, a great shimmering plane of water winked at us like an old friend. Of course we could see the winding river that snaked its way through Myanmar; we had now named it our vein of hope.

So as we continued to climb, the sun began its slow meandering descent towards the horizon. But by about the time we were three quarters of the way up, Ashmi, Anya and I began taking turns to carry Alina and Ema on our backs. It was at this moment in time that we began to hear soft chanting and murmuring coming from the great golden dome above us which could only mean one thing; Monks.

We slowed down and began murmuring between each other as to whether we should continue but at the same time a third party joined in on our Stupa. Sneaking up the other side to the one we were making our way on, we stopped and watched as a small group of what looked like military soldiers crept up towards the top. Speaking in a language that none of us understood, we watched as they took out ugly looking objects from their belts and they then turned their backs to us. Written in neat print on their backs was a single word; Junta. It was then that we realised that they were going to attack the monks at the top.

Everything that happened after went so quickly it seemed a blur.

The soldiers on the other side began to run hastily up to the top as Ashmi made a split second decision and put down Ema before charging up to the top as well. I then screamed at Anya to take the other two back down to the boat and get ready to depart as soon as possible. Then I sprinted off after Ashmi.

It was a race against time; Ashmi wanted to get there before the soldiers so as to warn the monks, the soldiers did not know about us but wanted to get their horrible deed over with as soon as possible and I wanted to get to Ashmi before either parties reached the top so that we could escape as soon as possible. Huffing and puffing, I struggled to keep up, jumping up stairs two at a time to keep up with Ashmi and the soldiers. We were gaining on them until I slipped on an ivy leaf and fell to my knees. With the world spinning around me I jumped back up and continued to run.

Ashmi and I reached the top first. The soldiers soon came after.

“Get out! Get out now!” screamed Ashmi at monks who just looked at us blatantly. Ashmi grabbed the nearest monk and pushed him towards one of the sides.

“We have to go NOW!”I shrieked at Ashmi in response.

Chaos ensured with everyone running around like headless chickens. It was then that the soldiers arrived. Barking quick commands between each other, they spread around the internal temple and pointed their ugly weapons at everyone in the middle. Ashmi turned around and pushed me behind a large vase behind into a small alcove hidden in the wall. He ran back off into the centre of the room and demanded to know answers as to why they were here. One brave monk attempted to push a Junta off the edge of the stupa but was shot to the ground with two quick Bang!s.

I sat there watching in horror as the men progressively went around to each monk to inspect their physique. Any deemed unfit or unworthy were shot. As this massacre played out in front of me, Ashmi remained defiant in the centre of the room. When the soldiers found that he spoke a foreign tongue a sadistic gleam came into their eyes. They drugged him then and there in front of me before placing him in a sack marked with that terrible word.

I was helpless; sitting there doing nothing as one of the most important people in my life was carried away by foreign military. The nearest monk to me noticed I was in the alcove and shuffled backwards.

“You need to get out of here, before they see you. Escape; now!” he whispered urgently to me; surprisingly in my own language.

“What are they doing to him? Why are they here?”

“They control this country. They recruit foreigners into their army faster than you can say stolen and they hate religious practices. That is why they recruit those fit into the army as well and kill the rest. You need to leave; there is no place for women in their eyes. I will look after your friend when I’m recruited. Go now.”

With tears streaming down my face I snuck out of the Eastern entrance and began to run down the steps. My heart near collapsing in my chest; I bolted down to the river. Once again all of the horrible things that had happened since that fateful night in Nepal replayed through my mind. Running helplessly at full pelt down the golden stupa I realised that what seemed like golden beacons of hope to begin with were nothing more than chambers of misery now. Falling into the boat, I told Anya that we needed to leave immediately. When she asked where Ashmi was my heart ached so hard that I passed out.

(To Be Continued...)

The Day The World Froze

The day the world froze was icy enough to meld our hearts into stone.

It had all began months before as the polar caps began to grow, rapidly. Icy winds blew through the Sahara Desert and strange phenomena such as snow was to be found in arid places like on Australia's Uluru. Not to mention a polar bear was seen walking the streets of Germany and a penguin crossing the boarder into France! The sudden chill over the globe was like God blew an icy breath upon the world and was seconds from smashing it into small pieces of ice shards.

We all felt and knew it was time to flee. Warmth was a myth by the time my family moved. Trudging through snow-bound streets, we headed north towards the less cool part of the equator. Sadly many of those who came with us did not survive the sudden blizzards that struck up within half a minute every two hours. I now can only laugh at what they told us in school before the Big Freeze - Global Warming, the globe's getting warmer? I don't think so.

So now living in conditions in which the entire population of the world is trying to cram into - we're running out of resources. This weather has killed off all crops - even the ones who are strongest against mild frost. Our clothing is tattered and mended here and there with any materials we can find and wood is constantly being stockpiled for warmth and bonfires in the caves we must resign ourselves to live in. We can only hope it doesn't run out soon.

I guess it's just one be joke isn't it - the world coaxed mankind out of its caves and enticed it into the arms of new life whereas now, it seems to have had enough of us and is forcing us to turn back the clock. Cavemen are all we are now. I heard that there are other... more savage groups of people around the equator region that have resorted to acts of cannibalism, it happens most often on the islands. Luckily the temporary International Crisis Government has placed laws and banns on this community of ours against such horrors.

Only time will tell if we survive each night and the one after. As in times like these, people are desperate.

(Science-Fiction Beginning)

The Greatest Tragedy is...

The greatest tragedy is the disappearance of the unicorns.

Why did they disappear? Was it our fault? Did we hunt them to extinction?

All of these questions are significantly important when we need to investigate this mysterious matter that has puzzled many civilisations for centuries.

Was it the ice age that scared them off? DO they now live elsewhere? The moon perhaps?

Statistics state that the development and increase of the human population pre-medieval times blew out and unsettled the ecosystem in which the unicorns live. Increase in light pollution caused by the invention of fire has said to dim the glow of their majestic horns into white husks of bone and thus causing them to disintegrate. Some say that horses were the direct descendants of unicorns as their anatomical structure is remarkably similar however scientists are still looking for proof of this fact within the horse genome.

The Irish folk of Northern Ireland believe in two theories for the disappearance of these wonderful beasts. Their first is that the early Irish and their Leprechaun associates mined the gold contained in the horns of the unicorns for profit thus through Natural Selection, the horns eventually disappeared from the heads of unicorns causing horses to appear instead. Their other theory is that the early Leprechauns double dealt their human associates and went into hiding with the unicorns. The Irish are still, to this day, investigating the matter.

This is indeed a very significant tragedy in today’s society as there are now children being born all over the world with questions such as:

“What is a unicorn mummy?” and “What do unicorns look like daddy?”

These startling comments from the future generation of Earth signify the immense loss and impact the disappearance of unicorns has caused upon society. 

We are lost without the pearlescent glow of their horns and the silvery magnificence of their hides. Who will now guide lost explorers through woods when they forget to bring light equipment? How will their presence remain in our memories for generations to come?

Action is needed to investigate the cause and hence bring hope of the reappearance unicorns back to the people of Earth. If we do nothing the unicorn legacy may die out and we will lose the most unique animal we have ever had on this Earth forever.

Their glittering silver locks fleeting through woods will surely be missed by the world.

The greatest tragedy is the disappearance of the unicorns.

(Comic Factual Story - Please note, all statistics and facts are most likely made up)

An Australian Afternoon

When the river gurgles
as the breeze blows through the grass
the soft scent of freedom
creeps very slowly past

A frog sits upon the log
looking lazily at the sight
of children playing gleefully
in the softly fading light

The platypus he glides along,
and plays upon the banks
he nods his head to the frog
as a sign of thanks.

If fireflies were present here
they'd light up the way home

for all the baby joeys
who like all day to roam.

Baby possums in a tree
have a quiet chat
talking about the day they've had
and of getting fat.

Across the way the children go
all back home for supper
the kettle's on the boil
while their mum just wants a cuppa.

Down the road a bilby wakes
ready to meet the night
Scampering off in the bush
giving some Lorikeets a fright.

Now it's time we come to you
sitting there and staring
reading this and wondering
Why should I be caring?  

Hush and listen to the wind
as the sun winds down
It's calling out for you to smile
and remove your harrowing frown.

Life's too short to miss a day
and not see the place around you
take in all the sounds and smells
 and all the new sights too.

The river still - it gurgles on
making its slow way
through the lives of many people
encouraging at least a smile a day.

(Bit of Australian Poetry)

While the World Turns

Turning, spinning, moving
           For Eternity
Trees grow, trees fall,
fish swim, primates climb,
          For Eternity
Flowers burst wildly
all colours of the spectrum,
Only to seed and wither,
back to the ground
           For Eternity

Technology advances
like a metal plague,
growing smaller, better, faster
          For Eternity
Tips get bigger,
Forests grow smaller,
The waste of the world grows
          For Eternity

Humans shift, humans move,
societies rise and fall,
like waves in the ocean
          For Eternity
Opinions alter,
issues come and go
like bubbles that easily
Pop!
          For Eternity

Everyone will talk
and Nobody will listen,
While the world turns,
         For Eternity