A True Love’S Invader

By Vincent Scerri

Clare and Alison Jenson, twins living in an Australian country town, are as different as night and day. Alison is quiet and loves reading by the lake or walking through the countryside. Clare is daring and ambitious; when she isnt tending to the animals on the farm, shes preparing for her dream career as a veterinary surgeon.

Neither woman has plans to fall in love, but when they have a chance encounter with two young men from Sydney, both sisters are drawn to one man, Daniel. They all go their separate ways, but as time passes and their lives change, the twins find themselves meeting up with Daniel when they move to Sydney to pursue their education and careers. Alison and Daniel become a couple, but Clare soon finds she cant keep away from him. Although Daniel loves both sisters, he knows he must choose, an act that may drive Alison and Clare apart forever. Can these three people ever find balance and happiness in love, in spite of the conflict that tears their lives apart?

In this novel, twin sisters fall in love with the same man, an event that will shake their trust in each other and disrupt their lives for years to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Nov 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504300100

Vincent Scerri

Vincent Scerri was educated in the United Kingdom. He has been a volunteer worker for eight years, teaching computer lessons. He enjoys gardening, cooking, and caring for the preservation of historic buildings. He currently lives in Sydney Australia.

Book preview

Chapter 1

‘Is that somebody knocking at our front door?’ asked Clare Jenson while looking down at her muddy boots and bloodstained jeans.

‘You know it is,’ answered her twin, Alison, as she smoothed her new dress. ‘I’ll get it, Clare. And quickly, wipe those mud stains off your face.’

‘Yeah, okay. But I don’t think you realise what time I was up this morning. One of our cows woke me. She was alone and in distress, and I’ve just finished helping deliver her calf.’

‘I should have known you’d be attending to one animal or another,’ Alison replied before opening the front door. She greeted a neighbouring farmer, a long-time friend of the family. ‘Hello, Charles. Is everything alright?’

‘It would be, Alison, if I didn’t have to ask for the loan of a tractor.’

‘Hold on; I’ll get Dad for you.’

‘Sorry I couldn’t greet you sooner, Charles, I was on the phone in the hallway, and of course you can borrow whichever tractor you need. I’m not using them this week.’ Tom replied.

‘Many thanks, and by the way, Tom, I must mention what beautiful women your twin daughters are growing up to be.’

‘Thanks, Charles, and that’s what worries us. A number of men have already begun eyeing them.’ At eighteen, both Tom’s daughters wished they were in their twenties sooner rather than later.

Alison and Clare sat at an old table not far from the back of the old farmhouse. The wooden surface was dry. It crumbled away with every touch of a fingernail. Alison pointed out how well the fruit was doing in their orchard. The smaller fruit trees were only a stone’s throw away from where they sat.

‘I wish to know something,’ Clare said. ‘Any secret admirers I don’t know about?’

‘Not likely, Clare.’ They laughed. ‘And while thinking about it, sis, who would go out with an identical twin and not feel uneasy about the other?’ No matter what was said about men, Clare always feared being separated from her twin by one.

Alison woke early the next day. She had her heart set on buying a book about chemistry. ‘Oh, there you are, Clare. I looked everywhere for you. Want to cycle into town with me? It’s a nice day for cycling; and besides, I need to buy a book’

‘I’d like to, but I’m exhausted. I’m still trying to catch up on my sleep.’ After some thought, Clare did go to town with Alison. As always, they covered many topics while riding. ‘You know, Clare, waking up every morning as your twin is really wonderful, but there’s one thing I can’t get a grip on. It’s how different we are. I’m the more serious and careful one, while you’re so mischievous and reckless. Yet you never seriously hurt yourself.’

‘Luck, I guess, Alison. What else? And why are you looking at me in that odd way?’

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise I was. Dad came to mind. I was thinking about the things he did at times.’

‘Like what?’

‘You know, like raising us on a farm and not in a town or a city like some people we know.’

‘Maybe it’s because he was raised on a farm himself and chose to follow Grandfather’s footsteps. Who knows? I remember Mum saying not so long ago that Dad would rather starve than live in a city.’

‘That’s fair enough, but what choice did that give Mum?’

‘None, I guess.’ Alison, and yet I never gave it a thought.’

While the young women were talking about their parents, Clare began to laugh. ‘What’s so funny,’ Alison asked.

‘I’m sorry, I just remembered at how Mum chased a fat chook to kill and pluck for our dinner this evening, Alison.’

Neither had known about the open market in town that day. But to their surprise, there was a bigger variety on display than usual. ‘Just look at it all, Clare.’ As always the market was held in a small park just outside town. They walked their cycles from stall to stall as they admired different garments, ornaments and many other things. One man had garden tools and an old push mower for sale. All was going well until Clare felt that she and Alison were being watched. A small group of young men were eyeing them and following them about.

‘Let’s go, Alison. There isn’t much more to see here.’

‘But what’s the rush? There are stalls we haven’t been to yet.’

‘It’s nothing, Alison. Come on; let’s just go.’ How will I ever handle a man if one is attracted to me? Clare wondered.

When the twins arrived back home, they seated themselves in a wooden swinging chair. The backing was cushioned, but the rope it hung from was dangerously weathered.

‘I know you say it’s nothing, but I’m concerned at how anxious you were to leave the market,’ Alison said. ‘Please don’t keep on about that.’

‘Okay, I won’t. I’ll go down to the edge of the lake instead and read my book.’ Clare followed.

She wasn’t much for reading, but she enjoyed swinging out over the lake. ‘Be careful. You’re swinging far too high,’ Alison shouted.

‘It’s okay. I’m fine up here. Really, I am.’ She swung as high as she could. The branch above her began to creak, and it wasn’t long before it cracked away. She screamed. The branch that followed Clare into the water almost struck her on her head. ‘I can’t swim, Alison! My ankles have weeds wrapped around them!’ Suddenly and silently, Clare vanished beneath the murky waters.

Alison was desperate to dive in and help, but she didn’t. Too many weeds to battle through! What else can I do? she wondered. Feeling helpless, she screamed out to her father for help. He wasn’t too far away. Neither could see Clare. ‘Do something, and hurry, Dad!’ she screamed. Tom wasted no time. He was in the water like a flash.

‘Whereabouts is she?’

‘Over there among the taller weeds,’ Alison shouted. Oh no, this can’t be happening, she thought.

Fear raced through Tom’s mind. To his surprise, Clare’s arm reached out high above the water. ‘Please, God, don’t let her drown,’ he prayed. Trying to reach his daughter made every second seem like a minute. As big as he was, he swam faster and deeper as he risked his own life to find her. His tension grew. Overcome with relief, Tom finally located Clare. Her clothing had become attached to the branch that had broken away. She was mostly submerged.

‘Can you see her yet, Dad?’ Alison shouted in Panic.

‘Yes, and get ready to help us if I call you.’

Feeling a little less anxious, Alison saw her father roll over the branch, which brought Clare’s body to the surface. She was unconscious. Her hair hung wet and heavy across her face.

Tom knew time wasn’t on their side. In desperation, he cried out her name. ‘You have to breathe, Clare; you just have to!’

Her body lay high across the broken branch. Not having saved anybody before and feeling desperate, Tom blew air into Clare’s lungs. He did it over and over as she rocked from side to side with the small incoming waves from the wind that had picked up. He didn’t know what else to do. The long weeds could not have stuck across his face at a worse time.

Clare tried to open her eyes while coughing up warm water across her fathers’ face. His prayers were answered. Tom and Alison’s shouts of joy were heard from as far back as their farmhouse.

Jack their neighbour heard what was happening. He was working on his property not far from where they were. He dashed over to them in a flash. With one heel dug in the ground, Jack threw out a rope at them. ‘There, grab that, Tom!’ He pulled them both to safety.

‘Thanks, I was a worried man there for a while,’ Tom said. His wife, Lorraine, stood looking down at them from their home at the top of the hill.

‘What’s going on down there, Tom? And why is Clare coughing like that?’ she shouted.

‘All is okay, Lorraine. She swallowed some murky water after a small accident on the lake,’ he answered her in that way to avoid upsetting her. There had been other incidents involving Clare.

‘When are you going to take better care of yourself? You’ll be in the workforce or in some other responsible position soon,’ Alison told her.’

From that time on, Clare tried harder to avoid perilous situations.

A few months passed. Both the twins were tall and slim with blonde hair. They didn’t take advantage of their good looks as they grew older. Nothing felt better for them then, knowing they were eighteen, and it was obvious that the locals were beginning to look at them as well-developed women.

‘I like to ask you something, Clare: Do you think we’re as identical as we were a couple of years ago? I know we look alike to most people, but I do things differently from you.’

‘I don’t know. What might those things be, Alison?’

‘Well, I sit like a lady, and I walk more elegantly than you ever will.’

‘Not in those heavy winter clothes, you won’t.

‘They laughed, as nothing was ever taken to heart.

Time after time, they watched their parents struggle with the farming.

‘I often wonder why they don’t sell part of the land to make life easier for themselves. What do you think?’

‘Yes, I couldn’t agree more, Clare.’

*

The twins loved their town. Shops stretched from one end to the other. Although they made their own bread at their farmhouse, they always liked the deeper smell from the bakery. They rode their bikes past shoppers as they headed to meet a friend.

All of a sudden, Alison stopped her bike. ‘Oh, look! Clare, do you know those two fellows across the road?’

‘No, I don’t, and by the looks of things, they’re walking straight towards us. What will we do if they speak to us, Alison?’

‘Just stay calm, and keep moving. We’ll make out we didn’t notice them.’

‘I’ll go along with that. Who knows what’s in their devious minds?’ Alison.

Steve was first to cross the road. He introduced himself to both but had a larger smile for Clare. He stood beside her. Daniel followed. He was a little more chivalrous when it came to women. ‘What a great little town you have here,’ Steve said.

‘Ah, thanks, Steve; it’s okay, I guess,’ Clare answered. It was the first time Clare felt somewhat comfortable beside a man.

Alison and Daniel exchanged a short glance. ‘My name’s Alison and our family name is Jenson. What’s yours?’ she asked looking into his eyes while standing by her bike, and swaying her hips a little.

‘It’s Daniel,’ he replied, as he thought how attractive she looked.

‘Let me guess, Daniel: Are you guys from the big smoke?’

‘Yeah, but we don’t have the fresh country air like you do,’ he answered.

It took some time for all to feel completely relaxed with one another. Smiles were more apparent, with occasional laughter getting through. All four covered good ground about their past. Alison and Clare began showing more interest in the men’s visit to Blayney. Daniel explained how they assisted their fathers in delivering tools and other items to outer Sydney.

‘Don’t you have regular jobs in that big city of yours?’ Alison asked curiously.

‘We do, Daniel replied, but I’ll explain more about that if we meet up again.’

‘Hope we do. It’s not every day we bump into Sydney fellows. By the way, how old are you both?’ Alison asked curiously.

‘Well, Steve’s almost twenty-one, and I’m one year younger. We’ve been good mates for many years. What about yourselves?’

‘We’re twins, and we’re eighteen.’ Clare replied; there was silence. Clare wondered why Daniel gazed at her and Alison more than once.

‘I’m sorry for looking you over,’ he said, ‘but I can’t believe how alike you both look. Why doesn’t one of you cut your hair differently or something?’

Alison was horrified at the thought; being twins defined who they were. Her look clearly expressed her feelings. She remembered how far it was to their home and said, ‘Love to stay and chat, fellows; maybe another time perhaps? Can we interest you in joining us at the Express Hotel tonight? It’s always full of activity. Will you be able to make it?’

‘Of course we will. Just try to stop us,’ Steve replied eagerly.

‘Don’t forget to dress warmly, guys, unless you want your smaller parts to freeze!’ Clare said in laughter. The men gasped but joined in with her wit. They hadn’t expected anything like that from a country girl.

That same evening, the twins hoped the men would turn up earlier than planned. They wanted to show them around before the crowd swelled.

‘There they are, Alison, over there near the fountain.’

‘Here we are, fellows! Over here!’ they shouted.

‘Did you hear that, Daniel? It sounded like the twins.’

It took some pushing and shoving to follow where the twin’s voices were coming from, and by the time they reached one another, Steve’s clothes were wet with spilt beer before he even pulled back his first drink. ‘Thanks for the invite,’ he said after finding a spot to stand freely. Both men looked at the crowd with disbelief. The women smiled and drank their orange juice with vodka. Neither let on that finding a spot to squeeze into would soon be almost impossible. The more the men drank, the louder their voices rose.

By eight thirty that evening, everything was going at full steam. The music was loud, and the beer flowed like there was no end to it. Intoxicated people danced and swayed in any direction. A young lady in a white short-cut dress sold hot pies and sausage rolls.

‘More hot food, anyone?’ she shouted, making her way through the crowd.

‘I bet that part of the business does well,’ Daniel said, while looking her up and down.

‘Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing, Daniel?’ Steve stared wide-eyed. There weren’t enough toilets to accommodate everybody’s needs, so young men and even women urinated among the dark bushes not far from the beer garden. Steve shook his head. The men couldn’t believe how a quiet town by day could be so noisy and lively at night.

‘Well, what do you reckon, fellows? Can Sydney beat this?’ It was a question that Alison had to ask. It stopped Daniel in his tracks. What made it possible for a small country town to create so much energy in one single night? Steve thought to himself while holding up his tipsy friend.

The night grew colder by the minute. People gathered closer to the fire bins burning in the courtyard. Bright cinders from the logs moved about through the night air. The crowed lessoned. ‘Oh look, Alison. I think Jack is ready to give us a lift home.’

‘Yes, he does look eager to get going, if you ask me.’

The time had passed quicker than all four had expected. ‘Well, thanks for the invite,’ Daniel said. ‘It was really worthwhile coming. Can we look out for you the next time we’re in Blayney?’

‘Sure, we’d really like that. Wouldn’t we?’ Alison said while gently kicking at Clare’s shoe.

Back in Sydney as always on a Friday after work, Steve and Daniel enjoyed an afternoon drink at their favourite pub. Months had passed since they had been to Blayney.

‘I wonder if the twins ever give us a thought, Steve.’

‘I’m sure they do, even if it’s only now and then. Don’t you remember how Alison looked at you and how close she sat next to you, wearing her sweet fragrance? If she had been any closer, she would have ended up on your lap, mate.’

‘You’re not wrong there, but that was a fair while ago. You know, Steve, I wouldn’t be surprised if she hasn’t gone out with someone else since we were there. What say we have another beer?’

The girls had found comfort in Daniel and Steve on the day they met. Going back to the Express Hotel occasionally without them hadn’t been the same since.

Alison and Clare looked for paid work. They were ready to accept anything other than farm work and had found occasional work at the town’s bakery, making and cutting dough.

‘If only we had started work sooner, Alison. Just imagine how much we could have saved by now,’ Clare said with a sigh.

While Daniel and Steve were performing routine maintenance checks on their fathers’ trucks. Steve asked Daniel if he heard anything about their father’s driving them through Blayney soon.

‘Yes, Steve, I did, and it’s the best news I’ve heard all day. By the way, I’m sorry I hadn’t told you until you asked.’

‘Don’t worry about that, Daniel. Do you know where the girls live?’ He asked anxiously.

‘Oh shit. Don’t tell me you haven’t got their address either?’

‘I haven’t. It looks like we had one too many to drink that night.’

When Steve and Daniel were going through Blayney, They asked their fathers’ to drop them off there. They asked if they could be picked up near a given time later in the afternoon. They looked as hard as they could for the twins. Luck finally came their way. A woman had seen them enter the general store minutes earlier. The men waited across the street. ‘Look, Steve. They’re coming out from the store.’

‘Well, stone the flamin’ crows; it really is them.’

‘Yeah, mate, and all that panicking for nothing.’

It wasn’t uncommon for the twins to cycle to their favourite general store. They had bought themselves something to eat for later in the afternoon. ‘Pass me your things, Alison. I’ll put them in my bicycle basket,’ Clare suggested. Both were very surprised to see the men approaching.

‘Hi, girls.’

‘Hi, fellows, how did you know we were here?’ Alison asked inquisitively.

‘We didn’t. It was just a fluke that we walked through this side of town, I guess,’ Daniel replied.

‘Well, we were just on our way to Lake Carcoar. It’s a great place to visit if you want a break away from town. Would you like to join us?’

It took some convincing to get Steve and Daniel to hire bikes. They all cycled for a while before hearing a grunting sound. Daniel had been thrown head first over the handlebars of his bike. He had ridden into a crevice in the dirt road. Steve laughed so much that his guts ached. ‘You’ll get yours,’ Daniel answered while holding his elbow and trying not to laugh.

Time spent with the men wasn’t in Clare’s favour. She noticed the way her sister looked Daniel up and down and the affection she transmitted through body language each time he caught Alison’s eye. Watching them gaze at one another and exchange conversation meant less time with her sister if things went further. Why aren’t I included in the conversation? she wondered. Steve was just as bewildered. Clare was too busy watching her sister to notice him. ‘Why don’t we return the bikes,’ she suggested as a way to gain back her sister’s attention.

Steve cracked a few jokes along the way back. He hoped that Clare would take a little more notice of him. She didn’t.

Daniel wasn’t too happy when he returned the bike to the rental shop. ‘What happened to you and the bike?’ the old shop owner asked.

‘I walked it for miles with a flat tyre; that’s what happened,’ Daniel replied angrily. Not knowing what to say next, the old man offered to return Daniel’s money.

‘Ah, thanks,’ he murmured as he walked out of the shop, wondering how good all his other tyres were.

‘Come on, mate, we have a fair walk to our motel. Remember?’ Panicking Steve said.

‘He’s right. We’ll also be late getting home if we don’t hurry, Clare supposed. ‘Come on; let’s go.’

‘Hope to see you guys next time you’re in the region, Alison said. She couldn’t take her eyes off Daniel as he walked away from her. She then turned to Clare. ‘Well, are they good sorts or what?’

‘Yes. I can see that you’re very attracted to Daniel. And did you enjoy eyeing him when he wasn’t looking?’

‘I didn’t think you noticed!’

‘How could I not? I also wondered what else was going through that mind of yours.’

‘Don’t worry about that. Just keep pedalling.’

Chapter 2

They hadn’t cycled far when the skies became overcast. The coming storm swallowed the daylight. They felt uneasy with each flash of lighting. The noise of the thunder and wind that followed was enough to concern them. They stopped cycling when both noticed fear on each other’s face. ‘Let’s go home through the bush, Alison. It may be a quicker way home.’ Clare suggested.

‘No way; that’s far too dangerous.’

‘There you go, being overcautious again, Alison.’

‘No, I’m not, and besides, I happen to have a mind of my own when it comes to safety. How many times have you lured me into dangerous situations?’

‘Yes, I know,’ Clare said, ‘but let’s cut through the bush and maybe miss some of the storm. Are you coming or not?’ Clare led the way without contemplating the risks. Neither twin had ever been through that area before. The farther they walked the less familiar the area seemed. The little sun there had been earlier had vanished. Afternoon began to look like evening.

‘My feet are so sore from walking over this rough ground. I also think we’re lost.’ Clare said. Alison showed serious concern for their safety.

‘Why do you do this to us, Clare? You really do worry me sometimes. Haven’t you noticed the changeable weather lately and how soon it gets dark?’ The storm worsened, and so did the winds. Tree branches whipped from side to side.

‘Put your raincoat on, Clare; it’s starting to rain,’ Alison looked for her own tightly rolled up raincoat. ‘Oh no, I can’t find mine. I must have left it at home. Unbutton yours, and let me share some of it.’

The rain was at its heaviest. Clare’s hair and neck were wet, but Alison was much wetter. ‘Look at you; you’re saturated from head to toe, and I don’t know what to do to help you,’ Clare said in a worried tone.

The night got colder by the minute. Alone in the bushland and with no help in sight, the girls tried to keep each other warm.

‘We are well and truly lost now, aren’t we? Let me huddle up to you some more, Clare, I’m feeling colder than ever.’

‘What time does your watch read?’ Clare asked.

‘I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. The glass is all steamed up from the inside.’

Word spread quickly that the young women hadn’t returned home from their ride. The people in town wasted no time. They wanted to help find the twins.

Lorraine feared for her daughters’ safety. ‘What do we do now, Tom?’

‘I have no idea. I don’t like it anymore than you do,’ he said, feeling bewildered.

‘Hello, Tom,’ the search party team leader said at Tom’s front door.

‘Hello, Ray and thanks for coming to our home. Lorrain has gone to pieces with the bad news.’

‘Hang in there both of you, because there are eighty of us ready and eager to find your daughters.’

‘I’m coming with you, Ray.’ Tom stated.

‘No, you’re not, Tom. You’re not going anywhere in that worried state. It’s best if you and Lorraine stay here together. One of us will keep you well informed.’

The cold night deepened. Clare tried all she could to keep her sister comfortably warm, but nothing worked.

The following morning, Alison’s clothes began to dry a little in the small amount of sun that broke through the trees. But they still felt cold against her body. She shivered furiously. At every given opportunity, Clare covered Alison with her own body to exchange body heat. Alison was not only shivering and sweating but also hallucinating and muttering gibberish.

‘Please open your eyes, and talk sensibly to me. Please try harder, Alison. I’m sorry for the situation I’ve placed you in. I promise you I’ll never be as stupid ever again.’

It was all too much for Clare. Her crying was from deep within. Her tears were of helplessness and sorrow. ‘Mum, Dad, I can’t touch you, but I can feel your broken hearts. Please forgive me if you ever find us.’ Crying with a sickly feeling, Clare hadn’t experienced such intense strong fear before. It trembled through her bones. She was not a religious person, but for some reason, she felt Jesus close to her heart.

What have I done? Why do I make life so difficult and dangerous for Alison? she thought with much anger at herself.

‘Oh God, what can I do to warm up Alison? I wish I was smarter at times like this.’ Crying furiously, Clare tried harder and harder to think what to do next.

She thought of what her sister had said earlier: ‘You really do worry me for our safety sometimes, Clare.’ She shuddered as she thought about her irresponsibility.

‘Light a fire. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. If I light a fire, Alison will benefit from that. Girl Guides, that’s it! I remember how to do it now. Just as well we learned that,’ she whispered under her breath.

After ten minutes of spinning the stick to start a fire, Clare could smell smoke, but there was no sign of a flame. She was well aware that a search party would be out there somewhere looking for them. It made her more determined to hang in there for her sister and herself.

‘Help! Help us! We are here! Can anybody hear me? We are here,’ she yelled. Moments later she felt Alison touch her leg.

‘Why are you shouting, Clare?’ she asked in a whispering, shallow voice.

‘That’s a stupid question, isn’t it, Alison? Oh my God, you’re alive!’ Clare couldn’t help but kiss her sister’s cheeks over and over.

‘Open your eyes, and look at me. I thought you were dying on me.’

‘What are we doing out here?’ Alison asked with a lot of effort.

‘Umm, it’s like this, you see.’

‘Like what, Clare?’

‘We’re lost. I was shouting out for help, and it’s a wonder I had the energy. I’ve hardly slept all night keeping an eye on you. Would you like me to find you some water?’

‘Yes please,’ Alison answered in a daze. Wasting no time, Clare went searching but stayed close enough to not lose Alison. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t find any. Suddenly, her hearing sharpened. ‘What’s that sound?’ she muttered to herself in the dark of the cold night. Is that the sound of water, or am I hearing things? I must follow the direction it’s coming from. Taking a few steps forward in the dark landed Clare on her back-side as she slid down a muddy embankment and almost into a small creek. ‘I found it, Alison. I found water,’ she shouted. With no idea how to take it back to her sister, Clare used the palms of her hands to no avail. She lost every drop on her way up the slope. ‘I feel so helpless,’ she cried. ‘I must get water into you, Alison. If only I knew how. Mum, Dad, what can I do?’ she asked as she imagined their faces before her. Clare fell to her knees in despair. ‘You too: God. Please help us,’ she cried. Heavy tears ran down both cheeks and onto her lips. By tasting the sweetness of her own tears, Clare knew what to do next. Some of her prayers were answered. She filled her mouth with water from the creek and took it to Alison. She carefully dribbled small drops of water onto her sister’s lips. The more water Alison sipped, the more Clare gave her.

‘Thank you,’ whispered Alison as she made eye contact with her twin.

Another day passed, and although they had water to drink, Clare still worried. What are we going to do for food? she wondered. Her empty stomach rumbled. ‘I know what we can eat, because I’m standing on the answer.’

‘The soil is full of worms and insects. There might also be a lizard or two close by,’ she whispered to herself and found her first worm to eat. Looking at it as red meat, Clare raised it up to her lips. It wiggled. She gave out a short scream and threw it back over her shoulder.

‘How can we eat anything like that or a lizard? We need to be hungrier to eat such things,’ Clare murmured.

The search parties hadn’t stopped looking, but having no clues to go by didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Suddenly, there was a breakthrough.

‘Look at what I found, everybody,’ called one of the searchers.

‘What is it?’ asked Ray.

‘It’s a rolled-up raincoat that must have fallen off one of their bikes. And there’s a small broken branch along the path.’

‘Okay, now listen everybody; we have something positive to go by,’ Ray shouted. They eagerly formed smaller parties. Each searched for more clues in nearby rough, narrow tracks. Their joy was not to last. Most tracks led to dead ends. One searcher was so upset he kicked the soil he stood on.

‘Where do we go from here, Ray?’ asked one of the searchers.

‘Not too sure, my friend. Ah yes, I have it! No matter how long it’ll take us, we must make our way into the middle.’

‘But Ray, how far in is the middle? Most of us are exhausted, and other teams haven’t slept much at all.’ said one of the volunteer searchers in the back of the group.

‘Let’s take it one step at a time, fellows. Now, spread yourselves out, but whatever you do, don’t stop blowing those whistles.’

It was after ten o’clock on the third morning. Clare thought she’d give the fire yet another go. A sign of smoke did appear after spinning the fire stick furiously, but no sign of a flame. One by one, the blisters on the palms of her hands burst. She blew lightly into the dead dry twigs and grass that she had kept in a patch of sun for drying. Although her hands were very sore, Clare continued spinning the stick to start a fire. To her surprise, a flame appeared. She couldn’t believe her eyes. ‘I did it. I’ve actually started a fire and kept it going well.’ Clare said aloud to herself.

‘Wake up, Alison, wake up. I’ve built you a warm fire. Just slide yourself onto my raincoat so I can drag you over to it. Please try harder, will you?’

‘Make lots of grass smoke so they can find us,’ Alison whispered while struggling with her breathing. Clare wasted no time following her sister’s advice.

‘Look, everybody. I see smoke in