Page 108 of Wandering Souls

Before him, the smoke was whipped into a frenzy and the downdraught pushed the flames toward the forest floor before a gush of water slammed into the ground. Dirt sprayed up and splattered all over his coat. It hit the others, covering them in brown splotches, but the load did the trick and gave them a reprieve. In the lull immediately after, more hoses turned onto the fire front, drowning it into submission.

Hollywood slapped him on the shoulder. “You okay?”

Ray lifted off his helmet and wiped his brow. “Fuck,” was the best he had.

In the hazy red glow of the late afternoon, Hollywood grinned. His white teeth practically glowed. “Exhilarating, isn’t it?”

Not the word Ray would choose.

“Come on, we need to build a firebreak.”

They grabbed rakes and shovels and began clearing as wide a path as possible between the fire and the unburnt bush in its path. They hoped to prevent spreading the impact zone and stop the fire in its tracks, but if the wind was strong enough, it might not halt an ember attack. Fire had been known to jump across larger firebreaks than they could build, but they had to try.

It was backbreaking work. Under his coat, his uniform was soaked to the bone with sweat. The heat of the fireground around them and the physical labor combined to drench him in no time. He lost track of time as he scraped the vegetation away from the earth, trying to clear the top soil until they hit mineral dirt. The dry vegetation and hard ground exhausted him.

Ray straightened and headed to the truck. Opening the door, he climbed up into the cabin to find his water bottle. The truck’s two-way radio blasted into life.

“Spotfire confirmed in Bourke’s Ridge. All available vehicles to Bourke’s Ridge.”

From inside the truck, Ray watched Hollywood’s crew scramble. They piled in around him, Hollywood jumping behind the wheel to take command. The worried look in his eyes did nothing for Ray’s confidence.

It only took them twenty minutes to reach the small town, but already Ray could see how close the flames were to the local pub. Tankers were in position and had hoses trained on it, while the locals were drenching the pub’s exterior surfaces to stop it from catching alight. Hollywood turned down a side street before they entered the town proper, following the winding road as it curved around the mountain.

The sight that greeted them made ray’s stomach drop. What looked to be a home was all but obliterated. The buildings had been destroyed. Twisted metal roofing lay atop smoking piles of wooden beams. To the left, more twisted metal partially covered a burnt-out SUV. Other outbuildings had been reduced to smoldering heaps of rubbish.

Two things remained. A stone chimney stack, charred but still standing. And a square metal box—about the size of a small room. Ray could see a door but there was no handle.

Hollywood swore.

“You know the occupants?”

Hollywood’s face had turned Bruce white. “This is Gabe’s place.”

Hell.“Were they home?”

“I don’t know but this thing struck with such speed I doubt they would’ve had time to leave.”

The thought of finding burnt bodies repulsed him but it wouldn’t be the first time. When the truck stopped moving, everyone exited. Two pulled out the hoses to douse the remaining flames. Another two grabbed axes and began to sort through the debris. Hollywood ran to the steel box.

“Gabe? Kate?” He hammered on the wall. “Are you in there?”

They listened but no sounds came from the box. “What is this?”

“A panic room, except, I don’t think it was rated to withstand fire.” He used an axe to try and pry the door open. Metal sheeting buckled and bent under the force but the door held fast. “Gabe?”

Ray saw his panic and knew he couldn’t let Hollywood find Gabe or his family. Not like this. Not burned and unrecognizable. Ray grabbed Hollywood’s jacket.

“Mate, come on. If they were here...”

“They’re not dead. Not Kate. She would’ve had a plan.”

His denial was strong. Ray couldn’t see how to change his mind, but he tugged on the jacket again. “Hollywood, they’re not in there.”

Angry, Hollywood jerked his arm out of Ray’s grip. “I won’t leave them.”

In the eerie silence that fell over them, Hollywood let his axe fall to the ground in defeat. Sirens wailed in the distance. Helicopter blades thundered closer.

“Stand clear.”

---