The Jackdaw

By Steven Zelko

A white-collar thief tries to rob an outback petrol station, but when the cards don't fall his way, he gets lost in the burning sands and becomes the plaything for a mischievous jackdaw.

The Jackdaw is a modern Australian fable that illustrates the price man must pay for tampering with the natural order of things.

15/04/2015: The Jackdaw was featured on the podcast Let Me Read To You (http://pleaseletmereadtoyou.com/) You can listen to Pat and the gang deal with the lunatic raven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Zelko
• Release date: Mar 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311387240

Steven Zelko

Writer. Filmmaker. Cinephile.Holds a BA in English/Cinema.Post Grad in Screen Narrative.

Book preview

The Jackdaw

By

Steven Zelko

Copyright © 2015 by Steven Zelko

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Printing, 2015

Smashwords Edition

Steven Zelko

15 Kerang Ave,

Reservoir, VIC, Australia 3073

http://www.stevenzelko.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

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VIII

I

The blacktop ribbon feeds out of civilisation. The Driver steams his motor down the highway. The Phase III is built for speed. The thick black rear tires consume the road. The 351 Cleveland engine is brutish and unreasonable but the petrol gauge is sliding towards empty. In the back seat sits a full briefcase covered with a folded map and a week old copy of the Business Review. In the distance a small building begins to grow.

The Driver slows the hungry beast and pulls into the petrol station. He passes a chalk-written sign that reads ‘Last Chance’. Dust covers the pumps, the signs, and much of the one room store. The Driver steps from the car and swaggers around it, stamping out a cigarette before opening the petrol tank. The melodic ting-ting of the old Gilbarco petrol pump speaks of a time when fuel was for going places not fleeing from them. A louder ding signifies the tank is full and the Driver replaces the cap. His hands slide into his back pockets searching for something familiar but they come away empty. He runs his hand over the fronts of his pants but there is nothing in them either. He shoves his hands back into his jacket again. Nothing. He fervently reaches for the lid of the trunk and it pops into his hand but just before he lifts it to his face his eyes search in front of him. He taps his back pocket with his free hand and pushes the packet