Free Novels 01 Blue Skies by Fleur McDonald

debris that were also on a non-stop trip to the sea. Then, with a cry of desperation, she ran, her boots covered with heavy mud, towards the bush that lined the river, Mingus at her heels.
    Weaving her way through the bush, she ignored the cold, heavy drips from the leaves and the first two bodies she saw. Without stopping she headed towards the riverbank. There she came to a skidding halt, staring at the carnage that lay before her. The white bodies of five hundred ewes tucked in against trees and rocks, piled on top of one another. As she watched, a few dropped over the edge into the water as the crumbling bank gave way beneath their weight. Amanda could see the sheep had vainly tried to find enough shelter, but had failed. A low moan of despair passed her lips as she sank to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.
    After some time, she finally found the strength to get up and walk towards the sheep, looking for survivors, but all she found were a few small lambs pushed against their mother’s bodies, bleating mournfully.
    She gathered the lambs; some still covered with newborn blood, and put them under her jacket. She might be able to save these ones.
    Feeling utterly desolate, she walked back to her bike, Mingus once again trotting at her heels. She sat astride the bike for a while, staring but not seeing, until the wriggling of a lamb roused her. She started the engine, called to Mingus and, revving the engine loudly, twisted the hand accelerator too fast for the weather conditions and brought the front wheel off the ground. As she gathered speed the back wheel caught in a muddy bog and slid out from under her, throwing the bike sideways. Instinctively, one hand let go of the handlebar to try to hold the lambs to her chest, but the bike toppled the other way and Amanda lost her grip. As if in slow motion, she felt herself being thrown towards the river. Mingus jumped clear just as the bike finally landed on the ground with Amanda a distance from it. She lay on the river’s edge, one arm hanging over the bank. Blood gushed from a gash where she’d clipped her head on a rock as she fell.

Chapter 14
    There was a tiny voice in the background, persistent and annoying. Amanda tried to ignore it, but it was unrelenting.
    ‘Amanda? Oh my lord! Amanda?
    ’ Through a haze, she thought she recognised the voice, but her brain felt muddled and her head hurt.
    ‘Amanda? Talk to me, love. Please talk to me.’ The voice broke.
    She tried to open her eyes, but everything swam in front of her and she felt sick. Quickly she shut her eyes again and tried to make her mouth open but it was dry and her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. She couldn’t untangle it to form words.
    ‘Oh, Mandy, I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I know I’ve been a bastard. Please wake up.’
    Whoever it was sounded like they were pleading. If only she could work out whose voice it was. She felt her head gently lowered to the ground and a rustling noise. A blanket covered her and then there was silence.
    Suddenly fearful, Amanda tried to open her eyes again. This time she could see a figure standing on the river’s edge, a coat reflecting in the spotlights from a ute. Blurry again. She blinked to try and clear her vision but when she focused the person was gone. She blinked again and again, trying to work out if she’d seen an illusion and heard voices that weren’t there. The pain in her head throbbed and her eyes wouldn’t stay focused. It was easier to let the darkness envelop her.
    A dog barked and then Amanda felt a wet nose on her face. Screwing up her nose she used a muddy hand to push Mingus away. Then she heard running feet and voices calling, ‘This way! She’s over here. Follow the lights.’
    ‘My head hurts,’ she groaned. Mingus pushed his nose towards her face again but Amanda saw it coming this time and moved her head. Pain shot through her. ‘Ow!’
    ‘Amanda? Are you okay?’ A man she didn’t know