Wallaby Bruce in the Siege of Sydney: An Australian Animal Fantasy

By Chris Fitzgerald

Sydney has been under siege by giant carnivorous animals from the outback for thirty years. In a 1950s-era Australia, Bruce Buckley believes a stone his uncle had taken from Ayers Rock was responsible for unleashing vast magical changes in the wildlife causing most of the country to be overrun. Sydney was only saved due to its new animal allies: boxing kangaroos, diprotodon-sized wombats, friendly koalas, secretive platypuses and laughing kookaburras. Bruce journeys between the various animal groups as they try to work out the cause for the current crisis.

Travelling around Sydney, he explores this city which has undergone many changes since the old days: kangaroos hop along the streets, where they are ridden by humans—the main method of transportation now. These kangaroos hold crowded boxing matches at the SCG, the brutality of which Bruce witnesses personally.

Many humans head out on expeditions into the dangerous lands outside the city, and Bruce crosses paths with one of the worst of these rough characters: Outback Jack, organising his own quest to find some lost opals. While doing so, Jack has his own problems with an atrociously biased kangaroo court and other leaders.

Koalas are now a part of human society, holding important positions, and living throughout the city as the two species work together to try and stay safe from outback foes. Meanwhile wombats have taken over Sydney's underground stations and constructed many other burrows, holding duels to settle disputes, and struggling to fight off underground enemies.

Kookaburras nest along the Harbour Bridge, busy conducting aerial patrols against enemy snakes and birds of prey. Platypus live secretly underwater, and are difficult to contact. Sydney’s beaches are now heavily guarded against attacks from giant creatures of the ocean.

With some distrust and different motivations, Bruce and Jack join forces, visiting the different animal groups, while trying to find out more about the magic surrounding the stone from Ayers Rock.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781922261724

Chris Fitzgerald

Chris is interested in fantasy, adventure, Australian wildlife, nature, history, old maps, art and drawing. After a variety of odd jobs, an arts degree and attempting to be an artist, he decided the best way to combine interests was to write an Australian animal fantasy adventure story. Inspiration has been taken from many bushwalking and camping trips along with volunteering at the zoo with native animals.

Book preview

WALLABY BRUCE

IN THE

SIEGE OF SYDNEY

AN AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL FANTASY

BY

CHRIS FITZGERALD

This is an IndieMosh book

brought to you by MoshPit Publishing

an imprint of Mosher’s Business Support Pty Ltd

PO BOX 147

Hazelbrook NSW 2779

https://www.indiemosh.com.au/

Copyright 2019 © Chris Fitzgerald

All rights reserved

Licence Notes

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No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author and publisher.

Disclaimer

This story is entirely a work of fiction.

No character in this story is taken from real life. Any resemblance to any person or persons living or dead is accidental and unintentional.

The author, their agents and publishers cannot be held responsible for any claim otherwise and take no responsibility for any such coincidence.

Disclaimer

This story is entirely a work of fiction. No character in this story is taken from real life: any resemblance to any person or persons living or dead is accidental and unintentional. The author, their agents and publishers cannot be held responsible for any claim otherwise and take no responsibility for any such coincidence.

This adventure takes place in an alternate Australia which has been cut off from the rest of the world since the 1950s. At this time a magical event caused many animals to grow in size, so they are often described larger than the wildlife of our world.

Seeing nature at a larger scale allows a better appreciation of the abilities, dangers and beauty of many animals, some of which are threatened in our world. For while this is an alternate reality, the animals described here really exist. The story has been my pet project while spending several years as a zoo volunteer, for it’s interesting to see animals turn the tables on humans. I hope their descriptions here will increase awareness of the uniqueness of Australian wildlife.

It is worth pointing out there are many other alternate reality stories set in destroyed locations, for example Taronga by Victor Kelleher (post-apocalyptic Sydney) not to mention movies.

Note that in the 1950s Australia used the imperial system of measurement, while the name AYERS ROCK was usually used instead of ULURU.

The Kurnell Peninsula is between two bays shaped like giant boxing kangaroos.

Diagram of riding tack

Chapter 1—Bruce Buckley

The sheep started bleating as Bruce opened the door and stepped out back; raising their heads from the lawn, the recently shorn merinos fixed their eyes upon him. A large ram with curling horns bleated loudly then began charging, and the rest of the sheep followed. Bruce began scattering lucerne and leftovers on the ground, but the enthusiastic ram barged into him, knocking him over. He fell into a pile of sheep manure, while more animals moved forward. Racing out of her mud pool, a fat sow pushed him out of the way before a train of muddy piglets climbed over him, squealing noisily. Black orpington hens excitedly ran past clucking, and he almost tripped on one chook as he got out of the manure pile, dusting himself off.

Bruce felt a sharp thump on the back of the head. He looked up to see a magpie flying low, right over him … the black and white bird landed on the Hills hoist, glaring at him with fire in its eyes like it wanted to swoop again. Hoping he could stare it down, he walked backwards towards the door. Suddenly a plum landed on his shoulder, and he saw a family of cocka­toos busily ripping apart the plum tree. However he had lost eye contact with the magpie, which leapt off the line, flying straight towards him.

He sprinted for the house, weaving between the sheep and pigs. The sow barged forward and his hand slipped on its muddy body. Overbalancing, he fell on his knees into the manure again, which saved him from being struck directly from the magpie. A few hairs on his head were scraped by the magpie’s foot as it flew past, giving an indignant squawk and flying to the roof. There was screeching from the cockatoos above as though they were mocking him.

Bruce got up fast and charged towards the door, waving his arms in the air to ward off the magpie. The bird’s body was poised threateningly on the guttering, ready for an opportunity to attack. He reached the back doorway, racing through and slamming the door. The magpie started singing from outside; a melody that sounded cheerful, despite it being on the attack just a moment ago, while Bruce’s head was still sore from where it had swooped him.

He often had trouble with aggressive animals, as did many people across the city. These were difficult times for Sydney, which had been under siege for thirty years, ever since the Wildlife Changes. Just like in London during the Blitz, suburban houses grew and produced their own food. It had been Bruce’s job to feed the family’s animals this morning, while now feeling hungry himself, he tidied his clothes and headed for the kitchen.

His mother was washing the dishes, while his father was sitting at the table, reading the newspaper with a slice of toast in one hand. Nearby was a plate of burnt toast, covered in a black spread.

Not Vegemite again, complained Bruce.

His mother turned to look at him, dishwater drip­ping from her gloves. You should be grateful you get anything, Bruce, given the shortages, she said curtly. I like plain Vegemite and you should too.

What’s wrong with you, mate! bellowed his father. Don’t you like Vegemite?

It’s alright, I just wouldn’t mind something different occasionally.

Vegemite’s a mighty fine product, considering its made from beer, said Mr. Buckley sharply.

Oh, it isn’t really made from beer, Mrs. Buckley told him, shaking her head.

Yes it is, he said authoritatively. In actual fact it’s manufactured from a by product of the brewing process.

That’s not the same as being made from beer, she answered and they started arguing about it.

Bruce took one slice of black toast just to be polite. Then he got some Weet-bix out of the cupboard, sat down and started having his breakfast. His foster parents kept arguing until his father began shouting loudly and the argument finished. His mother went back to the washing up, his father reading again.

News is all bleak, said Mr. Buckley, turning a page in the newspaper. More giant spiders attacking the outer suburbs, he said casually.

Why are they attacking us? Bruce asked with his mouth full.

There’s always some giant animal attacking the city, his foster father observed, glaring at him. If it’s not the spiders, it’s the snakes. Then there’s the ocean with its sharks and a host of sea creatures! What’s important is working out how we can defend ourselves, with the rest of the country destroyed.

How did Sydney survive if so many other places were destroyed?

Only because of our new marsupial allies, he explained. It’s a good thing we’ve got some animals on our side or we’d have no chance.

At this Bruce fell silent, reminded of his true parents, who had been killed during one of many attacks from the outback. He had been adopted as an infant by the Buckleys and lived with them since.

The situation is really terrible, Bruce, his foster mother reiterated, we’re surrounded on every side. Remember the warning song I taught you.

Bruce was irritated by her repeating it, for she, like his teachers, continually reminded him of the enormous animals which lurked beyond the city’s outskirts:

The spiders, eagles, sharks and snakes,

surround the Harbour City,

With giant creatures all around,

the city is besieged,

We’re cut off from the world,

and we’re fighting for survival,

For many years we’ve held them off,

but still we’re trapped in Sydney.

Accurate, though it doesn’t mention specifics, said Mr. Buckley critically.

It gets the point across clearer without them, his wife argued back.

I would have at least mentioned the First Battle of Sydney, he said, then began going into more details of different battles. Bruce was only half listening while he finished off his breakfast. His father talked a lot about which giant shark or snake attacked where and how many people were eaten. But Bruce was still wondering what caused the Great Wildlife Changes in the first place, why so many animals had grown all at once thirty years ago. He had been thinking about it a lot lately, for he would talk on that subject today at school. Which reminded him that he had better get ready, and he finished his breakfast and asked to leave the table.

Make sure you have a bath, Bruce, his mother told him, wrinkling her nose. You smell like sheep manure.

Put these fliers in the bin on your way out, said his father, passing him a stack of junk mail from inside the newspaper.

He headed to the laundry, idly glancing at the junk mail before he threw it away.

‘Kangaroo riding moves forward in leaps and bounds,’ read the headline on the top pamphlet, while the text encouraged people to ride by kangaroo:

‘Inside a kangaroo’s pouch is the most comfortable and convenient way of travelling around Sydney. Once you are used to the hopping motion, you will find it quite relaxing. Pouch riding is 99% safe, and compared to riding on a kangaroo’s back, there have been much less accidents. Indeed, most fatal accidents involving kangaroo riding have occurred while riding on top without a saddle. Staying in the pouch is considerably safer. Just listen to these testimonials:

I’m Martha, 47, owner of a pub in Parramatta. I was hesitant about riding a kangaroo at first, but my son encouraged me to try it out. I found the pouch was actually quite comfortable, and ever since I’ve been riding to work by kangaroo.

I’m Ruth, 16 year old student from Coogee. I’ve gone to school in a kangaroo’s pouch since as young as I can remember, and I couldn’t imagine going any other way.

I’m Blake, a 22 year old boat building apprentice. There’s no doubt a kangaroo’s pouch is the most cost effective way to get to and from work. Much faster than those wombat trains, it’s worth every penny.

Bruce scrunched up the leaflet with the rest of the junk mail and threw it in the bin. He loved kangaroo riding so they didn’t have to convince him. Being young he could only ride in the pouch of course, but someday he hoped to ride above on their back, a difficult skill that not many could master.

He walked into the bathroom and poured himself a bath, still wondering why the Changes caused native animals to grow in size, including kangaroos. Then his foster brother started banging on the door, complaining that he was taking too long.

Getting out of the bath, he wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back to his bedroom. Thirteen year old Bruce was the youngest child in the family, with two older foster brothers. As he walked down the hallway he heard a familiar request while passing the living room.

Hey Bruce, give us a growl, called out one of his brothers who was sitting on the couch. Tall and handsome with sandy blonde hair, an excellent swimmer and surfer who was training to be a junior lifeguard.

Let’s hear the koala roar! said the other, getting close to him and punching him in the shoulder. Muscular with broad shoulders, a champion athlete who was particularly good at rugby, playing for the sharks in the under 16’s last year.

His