Page 34 of Lost In Kakadu

“Here. We’re down here!” He ran, waving his arms in the air like crazy and ignoring the branches whipping his skin.

He dove into the clearing. “A helicopter. We’re saved.”

Abigail was at Charlie’s side and snapped toward him. “Where?”

“I heard it. Help me make the fire bigger.”

Mackenzie tossed anything he could get his hand on, onto the fire. Clothes, wood, scraps of rubbish, Rodney’s suitcase. “We’re saved, Charlie.”

He grinned at Abigail.

“I told you they wouldn’t give up.” For the first time since he’d met her, her smile lit up her face, changing her appearance completely.

“You were right.” Caught up in the moment, he hugged her to his chest, but released her quickly when he realised what he’d done. “Keep throwing things on the fire.”

The fire grew quickly, and thick black smoke floated in great clouds up to the sky. Mackenzie stepped back to watch it and was certain it was escaping the tree canopy. He couldn’t hear the chopper anymore but wasn’t fazed. The smoke would get their attention.

He glanced at Abi. She was at the luggage with her makeup case open in her hand.

“What’re you doing?”

“Getting ready. I can’t look like this when I’m rescued.”

Mackenzie shook his head. He couldn’t imagine being so uncomfortable in your own skin that you had to hide behind makeup.

He crawled in beside Charlie. “We’re saved, buddy.”

“They took their time.”

“Won’t be long now, though. They’re probably working out where to land.” He touched Charlie’s shoulder. “We’ll have you in a hospital in no time.”

The fire was a blazing inferno now with flames leaping into the air and thick smoke rolling skyward. He moved to the clearing to watch it rise. “They must see it.”

Abigail walked toward him. She was in high heels now. Her hair and makeup were perfect. She’d even changed into fresh clothes. “Where are they?” She grinned with carefree excitement, obviously not feeling any of the apprehension Mackenzie was.

“Looking for a place to land, I guess. Let’s pack up our gear.” But as he shoved things back into suitcases a gnawing dread built within him. The rescuers were taking too long, and they hadn’t given any indication that they’d even seen them.

Wouldn’t that be the first thing they’d do?

Rodney’s suitcase was nothing but a skeleton now and as the things beneath it burned away and crumbled to ash, it settled further down. Mackenzie looked over at Rodney. He wanted to believe he was finally taking him home, but now he wasn’t so sure.

“What’s happening?” Abigail looked ridiculous as she sat on her suitcase with her high heels on, and her handbag clutched under her arm. To her right were the charred remains of the fire, to her left was the crumpled wreck, behind her was dense virgin bush, but Abigail was oblivious to it all and looked perfectly ready to step into a limo.

It had been over an hour without any sign and Mackenzie was convinced the rescuers hadn’t seen them. “We were too late.” He drove his hands through his hair.

“Who was too late?”

“We were. With the fire. The smoke. They didn’t see it.”

“What?”

“They didn’t see us. They’d be back by now.”

She stood. “Are you serious?” Fear crept into her expression.

“They would’ve let us know we were seen. Hovered above, dropped something down to us. They wouldn’t just leave without a sign.”

“Oh God.” She fell back onto her suitcase, staring at him wide eyed. “They missed us?”

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