Free Forest Spirit by David Laing

Look at him. Standing around with a stupid look on his dial.’
    â€˜Before we go help him, Snook, there’s something that’s bothering me.’
    â€˜Yeah, what’s that?’
    Jars sat on the grass next to their tent. Shadow padded over and lay at her side.
    â€˜That lady back there, she was wearing the same perfume I could smell at Quenton’s house.’
    â€˜So what?’
    â€˜Maybe she was the other person in the Quigley house yesterday.’
    Snook scratched his head. ‘Geez, Jars, you sure like mysteries, don’t you? But I can’t see any mystery here. There must be lots of women who wear perfume like that. And even if she was in the Quigley house, what does it matter? But if you ask me, it’s probably all just a coincidence.’
    Jars rubbed her chin as though deep in thought. ‘It’s just that there seems to be an awful lot of coincidences lately. Like Mr Carter telling us about a Forest Spirit.’
    â€˜Oh, that. That’s probably to do with an old Aboriginal legend or something. Nothing for us to worry about.’
    â€˜Snook,’ Jars began, her voice hesitant, ‘you know when I said I’d had a visit from a sort of spirit, well, I think Mr Carter’s spirit is my spirit too.’ She patted Shadow on the head and rose to her feet.
    â€˜There you go again, thinking up more mysteries. Don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic? Didn’t you hear Mr Carter explain about those petra things? He told us that some of them looked like the one in his drawing. Nope, I reckon your ideas are a bit far-fetched.’
    â€˜No, it’s not far-fetched. I’ve told you before, I’m pretty sure my spirit is real.’
    Snook cocked his head to one side. ‘How come you know whether it’s real or not? What makes you so sure?’
    â€˜It’s kind of something I just know, like when birds migrate. I know that they do it every year and I know why – to follow the warm weather and go where they can find food. They know exactly when to leave and how to get to their new place.’
    â€˜How do they do that?’
    â€˜That’s what I don’t understand. This spirit is like that. I think I know why I’ve seen him, but how he comes to me, night after night in my head, I don’t know.’
    â€˜Okay,’ Snook said, trying to follow what Jars meant. ‘If what you say is true, then why does he do it?’
    â€˜It’s like I told you before. He’s asking for help.’
    â€˜Sounds a bit too weird for me.’
    â€˜There’s something else.’
    Snook sighed, but continued to listen.
    â€˜The ranger might have seen him too. He’s definitely been in the cave. Some petroglyphs might look like each other, but his drawing is exactly like the one I saw. I’m sure of that.’ Jars’ eyes, glowing now, settled on Snook. ‘Do you believe in destiny?’
    Her words, clear and deliberate, caused Snook to step back.
    â€˜Eh?’
    â€˜Because I think we’re going to meet the spirit – soon.’
    Snook stared at her for a long moment, then shrugged. ‘C’mon, let’s help get Quigley’s tent up.’
    Reluctantly, Jars let the matter drop.

Snook’s father finished unloading the station wagon. He walked over to where Jars and Snook stood talking near Quenton’s tent. Quenton stood slightly apart from them, like a stranger looking on.
    â€˜Good,’ Jim said, walking over and seeing the two tents erected, ‘but you haven’t finished yet. Quenton, you go and fix up your camp bed. When you’ve done that, make sure you zip your tent up. We don’t want any unwanted guests visiting you during the night.’
    Quenton’s eyes popped. ‘Like snakes, do you mean?’
    Snook laughed. ‘Don’t worry – no respectable snake would wanna bunk in with you.’
    Jim glared at his son.