Free Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) by S E Gilchrist Page A

wouldn’t that force the government to either refute it or admit it? Hard to say what they’d do, it was an election year after all.
    Really, it was mind boggling that something of this magnitude had remained a secret this long.
    Tension built behind my eyes. Flashes of sparking white light signalled the start of a migraine. I had to unwind and quick. Rubbing the back of my neck I tried to clear my mind of the stress pressing into me.
    The back screen door whined as it closed. In the distance, came the unmistakable noise of a lawn mower. The clownish screech of a flock of galahs cackled through the open window.
    Just another typical Saturday.
    Except this wasn’t going to be a typical day.
    Shivering, I grabbed a towel and wiped off the remaining drops of moisture, slapped on some moisturising lotion in a haphazard fashion and encased in the towel, dashed for my bedroom.
    Saturday. How could I have forgotten?
    Any moment now, the new sensei would be knocking at the door and Mum would be smiling into his stern face.
    It was enough to make any girl cringe. But I guess Mum must have been lonely since Dad left. Lately, I’d had a dry spell too, guy wise. Maybe I should cut her some slack.
    This could be exactly what she needed. A new direction in her life. I guess I could make an effort to be civil.
    After perusing my rather limited wardrobe, I pulled on a white tank top and a pair of blue cotton cargo shorts that ended mid-thigh. I ran my fingers through my damp hair, then hung up my wet towel and left my room.
    Pointless slathering my face with makeup when I intended to work in the garden for a couple of hours.
    The sound of voices drew me to the kitchen; that and the smell of brewing coffee. Yeah, I hated to admit it, but I was curious.
    “Oh there you are, Tara,” said Mum. “You remember our new sensei. His name is Bob Garroway, and of course his son, Alex.”
    Two pairs of frigid grey eyes stared at me.
    I don’t believe it. He’s here. In our house. I should have put some make up on.
    Oh crap, I should have put on a bra!
    No sooner did that thought pop into my head, than Alex dropped his gaze to my chest. Face burning, boobs tingling, I mumbled something and jerked open the fridge door, longing to crawl inside. A bottle of soy sauce toppled out and rolled under the table. Now I had to scrabble on my hands and knees to find the bottle.
    Why me?
    Coffee could wait. There was no way I was going to so much as blink an eyelash.   
    Only eleven o’clock. Already the day seemed a year long. Where were my friends when I needed them? They’d said they’d be over first thing this morning but it looked as if they’d also taken the opportunity to sleep in.
    I retrieved the sauce, leaned against the cupboard, shoving the bloody thing hastily out of sight behind me. I dithered wondering whether it would be too obvious to dash back to my bedroom then decided it might be better to remain still. No one paid me any attention. Alex had shifted his gaze to the window. The others had their heads bent over some paper which was spread out over the table.
    A puff of hot air lifted the net curtains slightly. The sound of a fighter-plane, high in the sky, droned through the window.
    I relaxed sufficiently to find my voice. “What are you looking at Mum?”
    “Plans of our house.” Dan looked up and smiled. At the sight of the endearing flop of light brown hair hanging over his rich brown eyes, the remainder of my embarrassment fled.
    Dan was a real sweetheart. I’d do anything for him.
    “Bob has suggested a couple of interesting ideas. Check it out, Sis.” His excited voice made me smile.
    A chair scraped along the rough vinyl floor as Alex moved further along to make room.  
    Curious, I edged to the table only to trip over a chair leg. Catching myself just in time, I narrowly averted falling into the sensei’s lap. From the corner of my eye, I could see the smirk twitching Alex’s lips. I’m such a clutz.
    Clenching my