Into the Fire Read online

  ‘Yes, I understand,’ Sean replied, backing away and sitting down on the floor. It was getting hard to breathe in the hot room.

  ‘I’m going to break open the door,’ the voice said.

  ‘Okay,’ Sean called, licking his lips in anticipation. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest.

  CRASH!

  The door shuddered. There was another heavy blow and the blade of the axe pierced the wood, sending the lock and door handle flying into the room. The door swung open.

  ‘Cool!’ Sean panted.

  ‘Leave the bag, son. Come on,’ the firefighter yelled, holding out his arms. But Sean gripped the bag even tighter as he was lifted into the air and onto the fireman’s shoulder.

  ‘Cool,’ he whispered again, as the firefighter carried him up the stairs and out of the building through an emergency exit.

  ‘They your friends?’ the man asked, gently putting Sean down and indicating the group of children, horses and bikes. ‘They weren’t budging until we’d done another search of the library for you.’

  ‘They sure are,’ he whispered. ‘Thanks for rescuing me,’ he added, looking in awe at the plastic mask covering the firefighter’s face.

  ‘You’re welcome. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?’

  ‘Okay.’ Sean extended his hand. The firefighter, smiling again, quickly took off his glove and shook the boy’s hand before leaving.

  An ambulance officer bent down to Sean and applied an oxygen mask. ‘We’ll take you to the hospital, son, so they can keep an eye on you for a while. They’ve let your parents through the roadblock and they’re going to meet you there.’ Sean closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again he saw his sister.

  ‘Hannah,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry. I saw you go so I went to the library.’

  ‘Sean, thank goodness you’re okay. But how did you get out of the centre?’ Hannah asked, not sure whether she should be angry or not now that she’d seen that her brother was safe.

  ‘The toilet window,’ Sean grinned. ‘I squeezed through. No one saw me, Han. It was cool. I knew I could get the tape from the security system that Dad installed and I knew where it was and I needed to get it before the whole library burnt.’

  ‘So you got it?’ Hannah asked, giving him a hug.

  ‘It’s in my backpack.’

  ‘Sounds like you’ve got it all stitched up, mate,’ E.D. said from behind Hannah, patting Sean on the shoulder.

  ‘Good job,’ said Angus, grinning at the boy.

  ‘I’ve gotta go,’ said E.D. ‘Mario and Dad might be needing me.’

  ‘So should I. I’ll take these horses home.’ Angus looked at Hannah and Sean and then at Ling. ‘Is that okay?’

  Ling smiled at him. ‘Everyone’s alright now. The police said that Gabby’s mum and dad are on their way to the community centre and we’ll meet them there. You go.’

  Angus walked the horses to an officer, spoke briefly, and swung up onto King’s back. Hannah waved goodbye to him as he set off on the road to Brookwood Stables, a police car following slowly behind. E.D. swung his pushbike around.

  ‘I’ve got to get home before they stop me. Hannah, distract them for me.’

  Hannah didn’t have to. Emergency workers were fussing around Sean, giving him drinks, and didn’t see E.D. pedal off quietly.

  E.D. rode fast, trying not to think what might have happened to his house while he’d been away.

  CHAPTER 16

  As he swung around the bend and into his own street, E.D.’s heart lifted. A thick cloud of smoke hung over his home but it was still standing.

  ‘Yes!’ he cried, standing up and pedalling furiously.

  ‘Emilio, what are you doing back here?’ his father called out, a sack in one hand and the hose in the other.

  ‘Long story, Dad. Really long. I’ve just been helping out with a few things.’

  ‘Mario said you’d gone off on some important errand and that you’d be safe at Angus MacDonald’s.’

  ‘Dad!’ Mario shouted from near the garage. E.D. and his father raced over to where Mario was trying to smother a series of small fires that had erupted near the shed.

  ‘Is all the gas and stuff out of the garage?’ E.D. shouted, taking the sack from his father’s hands and thrashing it over the flames. To E.D.’s horror the flames bounced back stronger and higher.

  ‘You’re fanning them!’ Mario shouted. ‘Go and check up the side. There was a spot fire there which I put out about ten minutes ago.’

  E.D. cast a quick eye over his neighbours’ house as he ran up the driveway. The van he’d seen earlier was still parked in the driveway. The side area was damp and there was no sign of anything smouldering or alight. He was about to turn back when he noticed a young man wearing nothing but a pair of shorts come running out carrying a computer in his arms. Suddenly he swung round, as if sensing E.D.’s presence. For a brief moment their eyes met. E.D. gave the guy a wave.

  ‘Good luck!’ he shouted.

  ‘Thanks,’ the guy replied and hurried to the van. E.D. paused then quickly stepped back behind a tree. Carefully he leaned out, peering around its trunk. Another man had joined the first guy. They were talking heatedly and pointing in E.D.’s direction. E.D. waited. It didn’t make sense. Their neighbours—the Pattersons—had been away for almost two weeks and weren’t expected back for another week and a half. A pile of their letters was sitting on the hall table in E.D.’s house.

  Either these dudes are relatives or friends that we don’t know about who have come to save as many possessions as they can for the Pattersons, or…or…not, E.D. thought, wondering what he should do. He snuck another look. The two young men, both bare-chested, were standing near the rear of the van.

  E.D. moved away from the tree and quickly walked across his front yard to the small wire fence that separated his property from the Pattersons’.

  ‘You guys want a hand with anything?’ E.D. called.

  They turned in E.D.’s direction and stared.

  ‘Nah, mate,’ the bigger one said.

  ‘Did you get the photo albums?’ E.D. asked, stepping over the wire fence. He stopped as one of the men started walking towards him. E.D. didn’t like the cruel twist of a smile on his face. ‘I…I can show you where they are if you like.’

  ‘Piss off,’ the younger guy said, approaching E.D.

  ‘No, no.’ The taller one joined his mate. ‘That would be good. They, um, told us where the photos were but we can’t find them.’

  ‘Inside the window seat in the living room,’ E.D. said, trying to keep his voice relaxed. He wiped the sweat from his brow. ‘I better get back and help my dad and brother,’ he added, turning to go.

  ‘Yeah. You better. And listen, buddy. This is a surprise for our friends here. They don’t know we’re saving everything, so don’t say anything to anyone, okay?’

  ‘Yeah, sure. No worries,’ E.D. replied. For a moment the two men stared at him, then abruptly they turned and ran back into the house.

  Without even stopping to think, E.D. sprinted to the front of the van, reached in through the open driver side window and removed the keys from the ignition.

  There was no one at the open front door when E.D. dashed back to the fence, leaping it in a single jump. He ran back down the driveway.

  Mario and his father had managed to extinguish the flames by the garage, but E.D. was shocked to see small burnt patches scattered all over the back garden.

  ‘Dad!’ he cried, noticing a thin trail of white smoke slowly curling up the curtains inside the house.

  ‘Stay here!’ Mr De Lugio roared, grabbing the hose and racing into the house.

  E.D.’s gaze swept over the garden and into the scrub beyond. The wall of flame had gone and, instead, smaller spot fires like little bonfires were scattered over the countryside. E.D. could also see at least three fire trucks weaving their way among the burnt-out tracks and shrubs. Another two had paused and E.D. noticed enormous arcs of water
, hopefully putting out the flames.

  And then E.D. sensed a change in the air. The hot wind had died down and something cooler brushed his arm.

  ‘No way!’ he yelled, looking up at the sky. It was as if someone had lightly touched his skin. There it was again. A small section of smoke and dust suddenly parted and E.D. realised with joy that he was staring at a tiny patch of blue sky.

  ‘The cool change,’ E.D. whispered as again he felt the refreshing breath of southerly wind brush his arms. ‘Dad, the cool change is here!’ he shouted, opening the rear door and heading into the house. His father was firing a spray of water at the upper part of the curtains.

  ‘I thought I asked you to shut all the windows!’ his father yelled.

  ‘I did!’ Then E.D. saw the small gap at the top of the window. He hadn’t even looked at the top window. He’d pulled down the bottom one and just assumed the top one was closed but he could clearly see a tiny gap where an ember or spark must have burnt the fly wire and set the curtain alight.

  ‘Lucky you noticed the smoke,’ his father grunted, stepping back to survey the damage.

  ‘It was a pretty ugly curtain anyway, Dad,’ E.D. said.

  His father gave him a grim smile. ‘Don’t tell your mother you said that.’

  For the next hour, E.D., Mario and Mr De Lugio stayed out in the back garden keeping a watchful eye for embers as well as following the progress out on the scrubland. The temperature dropped 15 degrees in half an hour and E.D. felt as if he could breathe again.

  ‘Hey, save the water,’ Mr De Lugio shouted, turning to look at his boys, but neither was holding the hose. All three looked up.

  ‘You bloody beauty!’ Mario shrieked, feeling a heavy raindrop hit his cheek.

  ‘We did it, boys!’ Mr De Lugio shouted, slapping each of his sons on the back. Voices from behind made the three of them turn.

  ‘Have you got something of ours?’ The taller of the two guys E.D. had seen next door stood with his hand held out. E.D. had completely forgotten about the keys in his pocket. At the same time, Mario’s phone started ringing.

  ‘Hey, the phones are back up,’ he called, taking it from his pocket.

  ‘They were robbing the Pattersons,’ E.D. whispered, edging closer to his brother.

  ‘Who are you?’ Mr De Lugio said to the men, his eyes narrowing.

  ‘I’ll give Mum a ring,’ Mario said, winking at E.D. as he turned away.

  ‘I think your son has got something of ours,’ the taller man said, pointing at E.D.

  ‘Emilio? Do you know these people?’

  ‘No, Dad. Not sure what they’re talking about.’ The rain had become a steady downpour, the smell of damp earth and settling dust mixing with the stench of soot and ash from the fires.

  ‘Mum’s okay,’ Mario said, closing his phone. ‘She’s on her way. Now, what seems to be the problem, guys?’ For a moment no one spoke. It was as if the two men were weighing up their options.

  They both turned at the sound of tyres crunching on gravel.

  ‘Mum!’ Mario exclaimed, waving his arms.

  ‘Mum?’ E.D. and Mr De Lugio said simultaneously.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ the tall guy muttered, as two policemen got out of their unmarked car.

  ‘Guess you were looking for these,’ E.D. said, holding up a set of car keys.

  ‘Hey, they’re ours—’

  ‘Shut up, idiot,’ the taller one said, angrily.

  ‘Something else you’ll have to explain, Emilio.’ Mr De Lugio was shaking his head at his son.

  ‘It’s all good, Dad,’ E.D. grinned. ‘Now, can we make a trip to the hospital?’

  ‘Have I missed anything?’ E.D. asked, poking his head around the corner of the hospital ward and shaking water out of his hair.

  The ward was packed with people. E.D. saw Gabby and Ling, along with Gabby’s parents, looking out the large window at the rain teeming down. Angus and Hannah were sitting on Mr Mac’s bed, chatting away. Hannah’s parents were with Sean, who looked wide-eyed but grinned at E.D. as he entered the room.

  Outside, a storm was raging over Teasdale and although the stench of smoke and ash still filled the air, the streets and gutters were running with water. It was the best thing E.D. had ever seen. He said hello to Hannah’s parents, ruffled Sean’s hair, and walked over to Angus.

  ‘Hey, Mr Mac. You okay?’

  Mr MacDonald was in bed, but sitting up. He looked a bit pale and haggard and had a large bandage wrapped around his head. ‘I’m going to be fine, thanks, E.D. A couple of stitches, but nothing major. What about you? What about your home?’

  E.D. retold the events of the afternoon, spending a good five minutes describing how he’d confiscated the van keys and the subsequent arrest of the two thieves. By the time he’d finished, Gabby, Ling and Sean had come over and joined them.

  ‘What happened to the library?’ E.D. asked. ‘Did they end up nabbing Mrs Hastings?’

  ‘Did they ever,’ Hannah grinned, taking a sandwich from the table. ‘Sean here had the evidence in his backpack all the time. She might have been an expert on ancient artefacts but she wasn’t really up to speed on security systems.’

  ‘Yeah? Nice one, Sean.’

  Sean looked up at E.D. and grinned.

  ‘And that man with her at Derwent Hut was definitely her husband?’ Angus asked.

  Hannah nodded. ‘It was Mrs Hastings’ husband I overheard when I eavesdropped on their conversation. He’d taken the brooch—and Gabby, because she saw him packing it into the briefcase—to Derwent’s Hut, where he knew it would be safe. He went back to get Mrs Hastings. They were going to collect the brooch and fly out of Australia.’

  ‘What about the library? Did it survive?’ E.D. asked. ‘Not that I really care that much. I mean, it’s not my favourite place, as if you hadn’t realised.’

  ‘E.D.!’ Hannah looked shocked. ‘Lucky for us, all it suffered was some smoke and water damage. That weather change came just in time!’

  E.D. looked a bit embarrassed. ‘Well, that’s great. Good news.’ He reached over and took a packet of biscuits from Mr Mac’s bedside table. Gabby grinned at him. E.D. smiled back, stuffing three biscuits into his mouth. Crumbs cascaded over the front of his shirt.

  ‘So the police got the brooch and returned it to the museum,’ said Ling.

  ‘And they got Mrs Hastings too,’ said Sean.

  ‘And her husband,’ added Gabby.

  ‘And the two idiots who tried to steal from the Pattersons,’ said E.D. through a mouthful of food. ‘Not a bad day’s work.’

  ‘Alright, everyone,’ a nurse called from the door. ‘I think it’s time for you all to head back to your homes and let Mr MacDonald get some rest.’

  ‘Good idea,’ said E.D. ‘I’ve got some motorbikes to work on.’

  ‘And we’ve got a pool to clean. Come on, Ling,’ said Gabby. ‘It’ll be full of ash and muck.’

  ‘I’ve got horses to check,’ Angus said, smiling at his dad.

  ‘And I’ve got to search the Internet to find another plan for a gyroscope.’ Sean leaped off the bed and ran to the door. ‘The model one got left at the library.’

  ‘What about you, Han? What will you do?’ Mr Williams put his arm around his daughter.

  ‘Can we drive past the library, Dad?’ Hannah grinned at her father. ‘I wouldn’t mind borrowing some books…’

  DO YOU LIVE IN A BUSHFIRE-PRONE AREA?

  The CFA (Country Fire Authority) has lots of information about how to prepare yourselves and your home in case of a bushfire. The CFA recommends that all people who live in a bushfire-prone area write out a Bushfire Survival Plan. Then, if a bushfire does come your way, everyone in your household will know exactly what to do. Your plan should include cleaning up your property before the fire season so that it is at less risk of burning, and what you and your family will do if a bushfire threatens your home.

  Cleaning up your property before the bushfire season includes:

/>   Raking, mowing, slashing or grazing vegetation around the house

  Clearing leaf litter from gutters

  Removing flammable items, like boxes, from around the house.

  Some things you need to plan in case of a high fire-risk day:

  Whether you are going to stay and defend your home or leave

  If you are going to leave, when that will happen and what you will take with you

  What you will do with your pets.

  People who stay to defend their homes need to:

  Wear protective clothing that covers the skin from radiant heat

  Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and keep cool by sponging the skin with water

  Stay informed by listening to local radio stations or checking the CFA website.

  Find out more by looking at the CFA website in your state.

  WHAT IS FIRE?

  Did you know the ancient Greeks believed that the universe was mostly made up of four elements? They were earth, air, fire and water. Well, fire is a bit different from the other three. While earth, air and water are all different types of matter—they are made up of atoms—fire isn’t! Fire is what you get when matter changes form. Fire comes from a chemical reaction between oxygen and a fuel source, like gas or wood. But it’s not quite as simple as that, otherwise you’d have wood turning into fire as soon as it came into contact with oxygen! What you need to achieve fire is something that will heat the fuel to a temperature (about 260°C) at which it will ignite. Lightning, matches, a magnifying glass: these are examples of things which can do that.

  THREE MAJOR AUSTRALIAN FIRES

  ASH WEDNESDAY (1983)

  Many people consider the fires that occurred on Wednesday, 16 February 1983, in South Australia and Victoria to be the most devastating fires ever seen in Australia. The day is known as Ash Wednesday. The weather was extremely hot: temperatures that day quickly rose to 43°C in Adelaide and Melbourne. Fires broke out in many places, destroying 4200 square kilometres of land and claiming the lives of 75 people in South Australia and Victoria. Around 3700 buildings were destroyed, and over 2500 people lost their homes. A lot of the fires in Victoria were caused by trees and branches touching loose power lines, and sparks from shortcircuiting power lines.