Loku and the Shark Attack

By Deborah Carlyon

Loku and the Shark Attack is an adventure story with a beautiful difference - it has a soul. The story is about a young village boy, Loku, who undertakes some serious risks to prove to his twin bother that he 'has guts.' To do this Loku must abandon his tribe's rules and his conscience. On this quest he faces an out of control bush fire, is kidnapped while unconscious, and is attacked by a shark. But what will happen when Loku faces the most dangerous challenge - betraying his sacred totem animal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: University of Queensland Press
• Release date: Nov 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9780702241475

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Chapter One

Loku’s lean brown body glistened beneath the orange eyelash of the afternoon sun. Drops of saltwater ran down his back as he left the sea and walked across the white-gold sand of the beach. He was listening to the sound of the incoming tide pounding the shore behind him. On the horizon were matchstick-sized silhouettes of fishermen, their canoes lulling in the calm distance. Turning, Loku paused to gaze seaward as his father and uncles paddled over the silky surface toward the breaking waves. He smiled and breathed deeply. His world was shimmering blue.

‘Ayi, Loku!’ voices shouted. His cousins were calling out and running toward him. Their laughter warmed the air as they fell in the sand along the way, tripping each other’s feet. As they came closer, Loku’s twin brother, Nul, beamed a broad grin as he kicked a coconut husk high over Loku’s head. The game had begun.

There were no rules, just running and kicking. All the boys ran swiftly, chasing and tackling each other for the fibrous husk. They kicked it to one another until it was splayed and torn. All the time, the colours of crimson and magenta crept over the sky, as the sun prepared to close her eye.

Loku and some of the other boys walked down to the sea to help the men carry their nets and catch. Loku’s father and uncles were happy for their help. While Loku was pulling the canoes up the beach, safely beyond the high tide line, he noticed that Nul was not with him. As he lifted the heavy basket