Chapter Seven
The Return
Cactus Loop Coast / Diggers Cave
Ext. Bushland Cliff — Night
Half conscious, Blake hangs by his belt from a stub of wood.
He’s roused by a rushing, whistling sound and looks out to see a trail of light cutting through the sky.
The horizon becomes a rim of white.
Like a flare of magnesium, brightness hovers, intensifies, fuses the sky into a luminous dome.
For a short time, night becomes day.
Like a meteorite, the alien capsule speeds down, crashes into the ocean.
Blake succumbs to his fatigue.
Ext. Coastal Desert — Day
A small willy-willy (dust devil) puffs across the landscape.
Danny watches it as he walks toward Diggers Cave.
The squall passes over him, filling his mouth with grit.
He shakes debris from his clothes, gives the departing twister the finger.
Nearby, Juba stands watching, his skin decorated in traditional indigenous paint.
He laughs and points at Danny as he tries to outpace the wind storm.
Juba
Hey, willy willy got the wind up you! My ancestors say when a willy willy hits you, you gotta watch out. Something’s gonna happen.
Danny
(spitting sand)
You talk a lot of shit, Juba. More shit than my outdoor thunder box.
Juba
Scared are you?
Danny
You and your hocus pocus mumbo jumbo stuff. What’s with the war paint? You look like you’re heading to a tribal showdown. We’re supposed to go swimming today.
Juba
Come and look at this. I found something.
Juba runs down a slope. Danny follows, panting.
Near the cliff edge lies an abandoned TRAIL BIKE, camping gear and ropes strapped to the back.
Danny
Juba, get away from there! There’s a murderer about. My mum told me. We have to get out of here. Come on!
Juba
(pointing skyward)
Wait. Look.
A KESTREL circles above them, crying shrilly, diving toward the cliff edge then circling back.
Juba
She’s trying to tell us something.
The kestrel dives again, more urgently.
Juba
Something’s down there.
He peers over the cliff edge and sees Blake hanging unconscious from a tree root, his belt caught, pants twisted around his legs.
Juba
There’s a bloke stuck down there. Been there a while by the look of him.
Danny
Leave him! What if he’s the killer?
Juba
The kestrel brought us here, Danny. We can’t just leave him.
Juba unties a rope from the bike.
Juba
Hold the bike steady. When I say pull, you pull like a bull, okay?
Danny
What for?
Juba
Just do as I tell ya!
Juba ties the rope to the bike frame, lowers the other end over the cliff.
He climbs partway down and loops it around Blake’s waist.
Juba
The bloke’s stuck. His belt’s caught on the root.
Juba pulls out his traditional spear, carefully cuts Blake’s belt.
Blake’s pants slip down but the rope holds him.
Juba
Okay Danny! Pull!
They heave together.
The bike starts slipping toward the edge.
Danny
It’s too heavy!
Blake stirs, grabs the rope with his hands, helping them as they pull him to safety. He collapses on solid ground, pants around his ankles, gasping.
Blake
(weakly)
Water…
Danny stares at Blake—dehydrated, exhausted, clearly not a threat.
Danny
He’s not the murderer, is he?
Juba
Nah. Look at him. He’s the one who needs help.
Juba hands Blake his water bottle.
Blake drinks gratefully.
Juba
What’s your name, mister?
Blake
(hoarse)
Blake. How long was I…?
Juba
Hard to say. But you’re lucky we found you.
Blake struggles to pull his pants up, looks around at his rescuers.
Blake
Thank you. Both of you.
Danny
What happened? How’d you end up hanging there?
Blake
Stupid accident. Was watching a bird, slipped when it came at me.
Juba
The kestrel. She led us to you.
Blake looks up at the bird still circling overhead.
Juba
The willy willy, the kestrel, now you. Three signs, Danny. Something big is coming.
Danny
You and your friggin’ signs. A sign of what?
Juba
When the Kutji spirit’s around, everything connects. This white fella—he’s part of it now.
Danny
You mean, like, ghosts?
Juba
Yeah, kind of like ghosts. Bad news spirits, Danny. Not friendly like the others.
Blake
What kind of bad spirits?
Juba
(hesitating, troubled)
My family… we got stories about someone who went wrong. Someone who forgot the old ways, brought shame to the bloodline.
Danny
What happened to him?
Juba
(looking away)
My uncle Feelgood says he’s still out there somewhere. Still carrying the weight of what he done.
They help Blake to his feet.
Juba
We’ll take you to our cave. You need rest and some tucker.
Blake
I don’t want to be any trouble… need to rest up a bit.
Juba
No trouble. This is sacred business now.
They help Blake onto his bike, Danny climbing on behind to steady him.
Blake starts the motor.
Danny
This is a secret, right? About helping him?
Juba
Everything about today is secret, Danny. Don’t tell anyone. And Danny, once we get this fella to the cave, go home and get some food.
Danny nods as they head toward Diggers Cave, the kestrel following overhead.
Juba
(to Blake)
Welcome to the spirit world, mister. Your life just got a lot more interesting.
Juba drags their mattress out and lays it in a cool spot.
They help Blake onto it and he instantly falls asleep.
The boys stare down at him.
Juba
You’d better get going Danny. I’m off to spear some fish while the tide’s low.
He shades his eyes and peers at the horizon. Dark clouds begin to form.
Danny
And there’s a storm brewing. I’m off.
Danny runs off, eyes to the sky as he goes.
End of Chapter Seven