Lost In Kakadu Read Online Free PDF Page A

Charlie realised the sun was setting. It must be nearly six o’clock. His heart pounded as he calculated he’d been unconscious for at least two hours. Where is everyone?
    A shrub, covered in small surfboard-shaped leaves caught his eye. The leaves were a mixture of red and green and he stared at it searching for the tell-tale sign it was the Pityrodia jamesii plant. Several grasshoppers with fire-red and blue colours nestled in amongst the distinct leaves. The Leichhardt grasshopper was a rare sight as they lived only on this plant in Kakadu. At least I know where I am. But this discovery only distressed him more. Now he knew just how far he was from civilisation.
    Charlie hauled himself up, stepped over a mass of colourful wires and staggered away from the wreckage. The smell of burnt rubber and pine mingled together. Cool air teased his thin arms and he rubbed some warmth in. But with each painful step, fear inched its way into his brain. He couldn’t see the other half of the plane. He was all alone.
    He took another step. Stabbing pain ripped up his back.
    Charlie fell to the ground, threw up and passed out.
    * * *
    Mackenzie’s watch beeped at six o’clock and he couldn’t help but think of what he should be doing. Instead of sitting by a cosy fire sipping the icy cold beer that the brochure had offered, he was grappling with a situation beyond belief. He shook his head trying to focus on the now. “I think we have about twenty hours before they find us. We should do a few things to get ready for the night.”
    Abigail sat on the grass, staring into the bush. Blood from the gash on her forehead had dribbled over her nose and looked more like a stain on her alabaster skin. Her red eyes looked sore, black mascara semi-circles smudged below them. “Such as?” she said.
    “For starters we should see what we have to eat and drink.”
    She groaned at his suggestion.
    Mackenzie walked around her, forcing his eyes to focus on the back of the plane rather than Rodney’s lifeless body. He needed to keep busy.
    The shredded edge of the cabin was suspended off the ground at shoulder height and he needed all his strength to haul himself up. As he lay on the floor he spied a bag trapped beneath Toni’s seat and crawled forward.
    An agonising scream made him jump.
    “Help me!”
    His heart raced at the sound of terror in Abigail’s voice and when he scrambled to the ground he saw her spinning in circles, slapping her arms.
    He ran to her. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m covered in ants. They’re biting me.”
    Masses of tiny ants scurried over her back and angry bites already dotted her neck. He yanked off her suit coat and tried to slap the ants away without hurting her.
    When they’d flicked them all off, Abigail did little but stare at the red welts along her arms and whimper like a puppy wanting company.
    He felt her pain. “Come on. We might find a first aid kit.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and as he guided her toward the plane he noticed the floral scent of her hair. It seemed out of place.
    They stood beneath the cabin and stared up into the shattered wreck. He knew it was a miracle they’d survived and a sudden recollection of fighting with Rodney over who’d take the window seat crushed his heart. Losing that debate had saved his life.
    “What do we do with them?” Abigail whispered as if they could hear.
    “I don’t know.” He scanned the mess. “Let’s see if we can find something to cover them with.”
    Mackenzie pulled himself into the cabin, opened the only overhead locker and clutched a small case that tumbled out. “Here, catch this.” He tossed the bag towardAbigail’s outstretched arms and she grunted as she caught it. “Take it outside. We’ll check it in a minute.”
    She obeyed in silence and disappeared out the back.
    He searched along the aisle, avoiding the bodies. When he reached the front, he braced himself against the damaged doorway and inspected the cockpit. The