Free Into the Fire by Pam Harvey

cupping his hands around his mouth. ‘Is anyone out here?’ Cursing under his breath, E.D. got back on the four-wheeler and pressed on. After another 50 metres, he came to a junction. The main track forked away to the left, heading directly for the fire. A narrower track veered away on a gentle slope upwards towards the foothills. Although it was a memory from some time ago, E.D. had a vague recollection of a small waterfall in the area. Perhaps Mario or his parents had taken him there when he was younger. It was here that he’d seen the dark shape.
    ‘Hello!’ he shouted again. Hearing some rustling in the bushes to his left, he spun round quickly. A dark brown wallaby jumped out in front of him. E.D. raised his arms in the air, for a moment fearing the startled animal was going to land right on top of him. But somehow, almost in mid-flight, it managed to change direction, and bounded away through the scrubland.
    ‘Poor animal,’ E.D. muttered, watching it leap away in the direction of the fire. It looked like it had been burnt already and it was completely disoriented. It bounced in a zigzag course before stopping and lifting its head, sniffing the air. Once again it changed course, this time heading west and towards Teasdale.
    ‘I hope you make it, mate,’ E.D. said out loud. He turned the bike back towards the house, feeling sad. He’d forgotten how many animals lived in the bush and how many would be affected by the fire. His family was working hard to save their house: the bush animals were losing their homes with every minute the fires burnt.
    Suddenly, through the gloom in front of him, E.D. saw a flashing blue light which slowly materialised into a police car. E.D. stopped the four-wheeler alongside the car.
    ‘What in the blazes—?’
    ‘I thought I saw someone out there,’ E.D. said, waving his arm in the direction of the scrubland behind him. ‘It was a wallaby.’
    ‘We’ll deal with whoever or whatever is out here needing help.’ The policeman shook his head. ‘There are kids all over the place.’
    ‘What do you mean, kids all over the place?’
    ‘Two kids missing; another kid spotted out onGolden Ridge on the other side of town chasing a horse.’
    ‘Horse?’
    ‘That’s what I said. Now, what are we going to do with you?’ the policeman said, looking down at E.D.
    ‘I’m heading back home. It’s just there. See?’ Before the policeman had time to protest, E.D. was back on the seat and careering off down the dirt road to his house.
    Mario saw him and ran over to the bike. ‘Everything okay?’
    ‘It was a wallaby.’
    ‘Well, put the bike in the shed and go inside. We’re just keeping an eye on spot fires. I’ll call you if you’re needed.’
    ‘Mario, there’s someone on Golden Ridge chasing a horse.’
    ‘A horse?’ Mario’s eyebrows shot up. ‘It’ll be alright: Golden Ridge isn’t anywhere near the fires.’
    E.D. looked at his brother. Mario knew what he was thinking. ‘You think you know who it is. You want to go and help?’
    E.D. nodded. ‘I can go out the front; I’ll be travelling away from the fire. I’d be safer out there than here.’
    Mario nodded. ‘That’s true.’ He chewed his lip for a moment. ‘Well, we’re under control here for the moment. Once you get that horse, you stay put.’
    Before Mario had finished his sentence, E.D. had already turned the bike and was going down the driveway. He revved it hard and flew along the line of nature strips. It felt good to be heading away from the fire.
    ‘Hang on, Angus,’ he said into the wind. ‘I’m coming.’

CHAPTER 10
    Ling moved to the door and peered out of the library office as Hannah continued listening, the phone pressed to her ear. A woman was speaking. Hannah recognised the voice—it belonged to Mrs Hastings.
    ‘The fires are actually keeping the police away and I think she can be used to our advantage, though I doubt that will be necessary.’
    ‘The distraction of the fires is