Big Foot Adventures Down Under

By Maggie Meyer

Out of the dawn of Man they came; the huge, hairy, monstrous ape-men of the aboriginal myth and legend. They haunted the more remote, mountainous forest recesses of the Australian continent, as well as the inhospitable open country of the vast interior...

They are 'megastralian' monster-men of both myth and reality who come fro

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggie Meyer
• Release date: Oct 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781922460622

Book preview

Chapter 1

Happenings at the Quarry

‘Wow, Kyle. This is awesome – what a cool place to play volley ball and hang out without the Trogg and Weasel Gang weirdos bugging us.’

The rusty haired Dean Nash squinted, as he followed his new friend Kyle Jackson and his sisters through the entrance of the old quarry. The sun came out from behind the clouds, lighting up the white sandstone rock cliff faces streaked with orange.

Kyle brushed his sun-bleached hair off his forehead and looked up with a frown. ‘It’ll have to do, but it’s nothing like the Gold Coast beaches where I used to play beach volley ball. White sand and blue sky.’

Dean shrugged. ‘Well, you’ve got to agree it’s cool that Freak and Greek think the Yowies hang out here. At least they won’t disturb us.’

‘You mean those Big Foot creatures my dad is investigating?’

‘Yeah, those are the ones. Some of the locals say they’ve seen them at night, and one time Adam – I mean ‘Freak’ - and his side-kick Theo came back from the bush with a crazy story of how they’d seen one in this quarry. But I bet it was just one of the kids they bullied playing a joke on them. Do you see any big hairy monsters around?’

‘Nah.’ Kyle spun around with a sweeping motion. ‘No Big Foot or Yowies here. What do you reckon, Sis? You’re the nature expert in our family.’

Jodie placed the volley ball on the ground, tucked her long blonde hair more securely inside her baseball cap, and perched on a weathered grader tyre. She pulled eleven-year-old Zoe up beside her, smoothing her short curly hair affectionately and examined the quarry and the ruins of iron machinery that littered the cleared space inside.

‘Definitely no Big Foot here. Just old junk.’

‘Perfect to tie the net to’, Kyle said. ‘Give me the ball, Sis. We’d better be quick. Those clouds are coming over again and it might rain.’

He attached the net crookedly between the rusty bucket of a loader and the bent and battered cab of a bulldozer, and with a stick he drew a rough court on the ground.

Kyle and Zoe took one side of the net, and Dean hand-batted the volley ball across to them, with thirteen year old Jodie backing him up. She dodged nimbly between the stones strewn on the makeshift court and placed a good hit over the net. Dean stumbled on a rock.

He frowned at Jodie. ‘Pay attention partner. You’re supposed to back me up, and all you do is look everywhere except at the ball. What’s gotten into you?’

‘It’s a strange smell’, Jodie said. ‘Like rotting leaves or something.’

Overhead, the clouds darkened and lightning flashed, followed some seconds later by low rumbling.

Zoe shivered. ‘Hadn’t we better go home, Kyle. You know I catch cold easily.’

‘Yeah, and Mum lets you stay home from school all the time. You’re just a baby. I only let you come because Phoebe had pony club. Dad will be so down on me if you whinge to him. Why don’t you just grow up?’

Dean looked up. ‘The storm’s not close yet, Kyle. I counted the seconds between the lightning and thunder, and it’s still a long way off.’

Another flash was quickly followed by more loud rumbling.

Kyle gave his friend a quizzical look.

‘What do you say now, Einstein? We’ll have to pack up after all. You ought to know how wild Blue Mountains storms can be.’

Jodie grabbed hold of his arm. ‘Stop talking a minute. I want to listen.’

Dean smirked. ‘It’s just thunder, Jodie. You’re not frightened are you?’

‘No. Not thunder, something else. And I’ve got a feeling we’re being watched.’

‘Don’t be nuts. You’re just spooking yourself.’

Jodie shrugged and tucked the ball under one arm. Kyle grabbed at the net and struggled to untie it from the rusty iron machinery. He saw Dean release the other end and run with the two girls towards the quarry entrance.

As Kyle stumbled after them huge boulders dislodged from the rock face and tumbled down from above. All around him the crashing, splintering sounds rang in his ears. A shower of rocks fell on each side, and he crouched low. With hands held over his head he dodged left and right, but sandstone dust stung his eyes, and large drops of rain ran down his face so that he could hardly see.

Above the sound of falling rocks, rumbling thunder and splattering rain Kyle distinctly heard a more fearful sound that made his ears ring.

‘Scree-eech.’ The high pitched wail was followed by a deeper groaning moan such as he had never heard before.

He threw himself to the ground and rolled towards a clump of rocks surrounded by low shrubs, then pushed himself under the overhang and peered out. All he could see was the pelting rain falling in large drops, and the only sounds were of the storm and more rocks falling.

Must be imagining things, he thought.

Streams of water trickled into the hollow where Kyle lay.

‘That’s all I need. Now I’m getting muddy too’, he said aloud. ‘What’ll Dad say when I get home? If I can just wriggle to the quarry entrance I’ll be safe.’

His body refused to respond. He was bruised and battered, cold, wet and confused. Where are the others? Where did Dean go? S’posed to be my mate.

A shiver ran through his body, and the chattering of his teeth sounded loud inside his throbbing head.

A loud crash nearby pulled Kyle out of his groggy musings. ‘What the…?’

He parted the leaves and looked out.

‘Scre-e-ech, mo-a-an……’

The sounds, quite close now, echoed around the quarry sending terror snaking up Kyle’s spine, and his head felt like it would burst.

Something enormous was out there. He could see vague shapes in the dust, and large rocks flying through the air as if they were being hurled by a huge hand. Then the stench hit his nostrils; a smell worse than rotting garbage or Dean’s smelly socks after a footy match at school. He pinched his nose and closed his eyes, but still the odor was there. It was like it was seeping into the pores of his skin.

He shoved his hands over his ears and closed his eyes tight.

Wake up, wake up. I don’t want this nightmare.

The dust and putrid smell burnt the hairs inside his nose, and he poked the corner of his collar into one nostril to stop the sneeze he felt coming. The ground trembled as something clumped around close to his cramped hiding place. The terror of not knowing was worse than the fear of seeing what it was.

With trembling hands he parted the leaves. Before him were huge chunky feet, the size of his backpack, and covered with orange hair. Appalled and shocked Kyle cringed. His hair stood upright from its roots.

He grasped his nose with two fingers and held his breath. The feet shuffled and turned around then moved away, accompanied by low grunting noises that faded and blended with the storm.

Kyle lay possum-still, exhaling baby breaths that sounded like a bellows as his heart drummed in time. He stared at the giant indentations in the soft sandstone dust, which were quickly filling with water.

What the hell was that? It’s got to be that Big Foot Yowie creature. I’ve never seen a foot that size before. Wake me up someone.

He shifted his weight onto one hip and winced as a rock caught him in the thigh, and when he tried to clear his foggy head an overwhelming tiredness swept over him.

* * *

‘Hey, matey. What’ya doing lying under that rock? You all right, kid?’

Kyle stirred and moved to sit up, banging his head on the overhang. Through the haze and dizziness he saw a weathered face peering at him from under a broad brimmed Akubra hat. Standing with the man were Dean and the girls, looking concerned.

Dean’s eyes were wide. ‘We thought you’d died. It was like the end of the world. The whole quarry was falling in. Thank God you’re okay.’

The tall stranger checked Kyle’s body with a firm but gentle touch and said, ‘Hi, Kyle. I’m Ralph. I’d guess you haven’t broken anything, but your head’s a bit messy. I don’t want to move you straight away.’

He handed a water bottle to Jodie. ‘Here, Jodie, get your brother to drink this while I get my first aid kit out. This rain has set in. I’ll have to carry him home, but I want to do a few more checks before I move him. Dean, you’d best go for help. Fetch Kyle’s dad and tell him his son’s had a fall. Take Zoe with you, she’s looking like a frozen fish.’

Kyle yelped when Ralph applied disinfectant to his head and bound it.

‘Those bruises are colorful, mate’, Ralph said. ‘You’ll have something to show off to yer friends.’ He grinned. ‘Pulse is fine though, so you’ll survive. Tough bugger aren’t you?’

He took off his Dryzabone oilskin coat and wrapped it around the shivering Jodie. Then, without any effort, he hoisted Kyle onto his back and set out along the track towards Glencairn with the now drizzling rain dripping from his hat.

Jodie walked beside him. ‘What do you think it was?’ she said.

‘What?’

‘The thing that made the rocks fall.’

‘Ahh, that was just the lightning I reckon. Nothing else. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it love.’

The conversation and the jolts as Ralph picked his way along the track made Kyle’s head throb and water ran down his neck and inside his shirt.

Is it true? Did I imagine those feet and footsteps, and the stink? Urrkk.

The thought brought the smell back into his nostrils and he sneezed. ‘Ouch.’

Ralph stopped for a moment. ‘You all right there mate? Need a break?’

Kyle thought of the warmth of home, and shook his head, causing it to throb even more. He rested on Ralph’s shoulder and watched the passing of the tall forest trees with their rich undergrowth of bracken. Water droplets on the leaves sparkled with the late afternoon sunlight filtering from above. The rain had cleared away but the air was still chilly.

So different from where I used to live, Kyle thought. He missed the open spaces of the beach, and the roar of the surf – no weird monsters there, just the odd shark or two.

Jodie was chatting to Ralph as she tried to keep up with his long strides along the mossy path, ‘Are you new here, Ralph? I haven’t seen you about before.’

‘Arrived last week. Spent some time around Uluru in Central Australia. I love the Outback, but in recent years I’ve been touring up and down the coast. Seen enough sea for a lifetime. The bush is the place for me, and where better to start than a World Heritage listed area like this?’ He swept his hand wide. ‘Look at this place - amazing country – the variety of flora and fauna and the blue hills beyond. No wonder they’re called the Blue Mountains.’

He adjusted his load, jolting Kyle back to consciousness.

‘Heard you had some Big Foot hairy monsters in the district and thought it might be a good place for tours with a difference. I’m a guide yer see, and people like things like that. It’s the mystery.’

Jodie looked worried. ‘People in Glencairn might not like you telling tourists about the Yowies, Ralph. They want to keep them a secret. Dad has been trying to find out about them, but he says nobody wants to talk to him. The Councilors especially. It’d be cool though – having Big Foot Tours. Can I come on one of them?’

Ralph laughed. ‘Sure thing, love. When I set it up, you can be on my inaugural ‘Big Foot Down Under Mystery Tour’ – the very first one. I might even get you to help me find a Yowie.’

As they approached Glencairn they were greeted by the huge brindle form of Connor, the Jackson’s Irish wolfhound, who bounded towards Ralph with long ears flapping. As he drew closer he began to bark and whine. Jodie ran to him and he jumped up and down excitedly, his tail wagging, but he continued to whine.

‘Down, Connor. Down. Bad dog’, Jodie said. ‘What’s wrong with you? Come and meet Ralph.’

She led him by the collar to where Ralph had lowered Kyle to the ground. Connor continued to whine, and as he sniffed Kyle’s clothes he backed off barking, and his yowling grew louder.

‘It’s you, Kyle. Your smell terrible.’

Kyle sniffed his armpit and crinkled his nose.

Just then Dean and Kyle’s fathers came up with raincoats and Mr Jackson quickly took charge.

‘What’s all the noise about? What’s wrong with Connor, and what’s that awful aroma?’

Jodie led the still whimpering dog ahead while Kyle walked with support the short distance to his home. Mr Jackson shook Ralph’s hand, exchanged a few words and offered his thanks before Ralph took his leave.

After showering, the children joined the family, along with Dean and his dad, around the Jackson’s heater in the living room. Kyle sat on the settee propped up with cushions and wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot soup. He looked across at his father with a worried frown. Now is the time for the interrogation, he thought. I won’t get out of this one.

Right on cue his dad said, ‘What on earth were you kids doing in that old quarry on a day like today?’ He turned to Kyle. ‘You’re supposed to look after your sisters, Kyle, and it appears you were totally irresponsible. What happened to your head? It’s a mess’.

‘Let him rest, Daniel’, Mrs Jackson said. ‘Plenty of time to talk in the morning. The doctor will be here soon. Thank goodness we can afford to pay for house calls. And what a blessing Ralph was there to give Kyle first aid and carry him home.’

Kyle closed his eyes to shut out the confusion in his head. In the distance he heard the conversation; his mother’s calming voice, and then Mr Nash.

‘I’d better get off home. Beverley will be worried about Dean too. Thanks for the drink, and I hope Kyle is better by morning. I’ll talk to Dean and see what his story is. He’ll have to be grounded. He’s lived here all his life and should know better.’

Kyle stirred when the doctor came, but was barely conscious enough to notice the stethoscope and thermometer, and to hear the doctor saying, ‘He checks out okay … might have mild concussion. He’d best stay home from school on Monday so you can keep an eye on him.’

* * *

Kyle lay in bed and took his mind back to his surfing days. Closing his eyes, he imagined himself riding a huge wave. Foam curled over him and he found himself at the top of the barrel and then speeding through the tube like a champion. Total stillness enveloped him and the feeling of exhilaration was intense. Nothing mattered except the adrenalin coursing through him He felt the familiar sensation of lifting out of his body, in total control but light as a feather, encased by the clear blue-green of the water. Then, before his eyes the wave began to disintegrate into a million tiny droplets that turned golden, and with a huge roar that echoed inside his head he fell, tumbling down, down, down, the water crushing his lungs so that he struggled to breathe. He forced his way to the surface feeling the thrill of the challenge; the fight against the elements.

He opened his eyes and was jolted back to reality. He remembered the encounter with the monster in the quarry, and the smell still hung in his nose. He dragged a pillow over his head and tried to block out the thoughts that popped in like exploding fireworks. What was truth and what was imagination? What would he tell his dad? How could he avoid disappointing his old man yet again?

Kyle wished he had never come to this place. If only he were back on his board having fun with his surfing friends. How could he survive out here in the bush away from everything that had been important to him?

The door opened and Jodie appeared, carrying a tray with his favorite fried eggs on toast, bacon, sausages and tomato. It made him want to vomit. Everything still smelled putrid, and he blew his nose into the edge of the sheet.

Jodie sat on the bed. ‘You look awful Kyle. Spooky, like you’ve seen a ghost. What happened in the quarry? Come on, ‘fess up. I won’t tell. Promise.’

Mr Jackson pushed the door open and entered the room, his six foot height seeming to cast a shadow onto his son’s bed. Jodie and Kyle looked up at him.

‘Had your breakfast son? Wasn’t it nice of Jodie to bring it to you? Made it specially for you.’ He looked at the untouched plate with a frown. ‘What, not hungry? How are you this morning? How’s your head? I must say you’re not looking the best.’

He slid the chair from the desk to the side of Kyle’s bed and sat down.

‘Can you talk? I want to find out what happened yesterday. Jodie, take the tray back to the kitchen love, and help your mother while I have a word with Kyle.’

Jodie exchanged a look with her brother before retreating from the room.

Mr Jackson stroked his whiskered chin. ‘You were lucky Ralph came along when he did … seems like a nice guy, but he didn’t know what went on in the quarry. The truth son. I want you to tell me the truth. What really happened?’

Kyle clenched his fists tightly beneath the sheets and felt the familiar knot in his stomach that always came when his father questioned him. He took a deep breath and focused on his father’s nose.

‘Dad, I don’t know exactly what happened. It was like thunder, lightning, rocks falling and rain, all at once. I got confused and I hid …’ He took a deep breath. ‘ … then I started seeing things.’

‘What sort of things, Kyle?’

‘Like big hairy men – Yowies – stomping around. I even saw their footprints, and they were huge. I heard things too - a sort of screaming grunting noise and then loud moans. There was a horrid smell. It was the worst nightmare …’

He paused, waiting for the onslaught. He could see his father was trying to be patient.

‘Yowie – footprints, moaning. Jodie didn’t tell me about this. It must have been the knock on your head. You know me, Kyle, I’ve been investigating this talk for weeks, and I still haven’t found any sign of Yowies around here. Lord knows, I wouldn’t mind some real evidence of these strange hairy people; it would make my job easier. But I can’t believe you came close to finding them in the old quarry.’

‘Dad, the Trogg and Weasel gang don’t go there anymore because they reckon they saw some Yowies. Everyone laughed at them, but maybe it’s true. It seemed real enough to me.’

Mr Jackson stood up with a sigh. ‘Troggs and Weasels? Gangs? I want no more of that talk. What’s happened to you since we shifted here Kyle?’

At the door he turned back to where his son sat hunched over in bed. ‘As for big footed monsters, well, I won’t say I believe you, but I won’t say you’re making it up either. I wouldn’t be such a good investigative journalist if I didn’t give the benefit of the doubt now and then. I’ll talk to Ralph and see if we can go out and check the site - see if there are any footprints or anything else. In the meantime, I want to see a change in your attitude. You’ve done nothing but walk around with a cloud over your head since we came here. It’s time you smartened up. Go horse riding with Dean or something, but for now you’d better stay put, and the quarry is out of bounds.’

Kyle pondered on his father’s reaction. It was almost as if Dad wanted it to be true. Maybe finding the Yowies would be a way of getting into the old man’s good books.

* * *

By lunch time, Kyle was feeling well enough to join the family. Ralph dropped by to enquire after him, so Mrs Jackson invited him to share their meal, and he made everybody laugh at his stories about tour guiding around Australia.

Then Ralph turned to Mr Jackson. ‘Daniel, I read one of your articles in the paper – about the train wreck. Seems like you really got to the bottom of that story. Fascinating. I’d appreciate your help with writing up some of the information for the tours I want to take hereabouts.’

‘What tours are they, Ralph?’

‘It’s not public yet because I’m not ready, but I’m sure I can trust you to keep it under your hat.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I want to do Big Foot Down Under Mystery Tours.’

Mr Jackson tensed, Mrs Jackson stopped collecting plates, and Kyle’s mouth dropped open. The only person who didn’t look shocked was Jodie.

‘Yes, Dad’, she said. ‘Ralph was telling me about it yesterday. Isn’t it exciting? He says I can go on his inaugural tour. I can’t wait. It’ll be so cool.’

Mr Jackson cleared his throat. ‘I don’t intend to be a wet blanket, Ralph, but you know the people in this town don’t want anybody to draw attention to the myths about the Yowie. And there’s really no proof. I’ve been looking into it himself, and turning nothing up. Just a few accounts written in local papers and some old men who swear they saw or heard a big hairy monster. Of course there’s Roy McGilvary at the museum and his books, but he could be reading more into his evidence than is really there. He hasn’t actually seen a Yowie. You know you’ll have the Town Council on your back if you start applying for permits to do tours.’

Ralph scratched his head. ‘But Daniel, what about young Kyle here? Don’t you think he had an encounter with the big hairy hominids yesterday? Whatever he saw or heard, it sure as hell scared the living daylights out of him. What do you say, Kyle?’

Kyle put