The Last Day on Earth

“Be careful, sweetheart.”

Lucy nodded. They hadn’t had too many problems with drifters or violence out on the farm, but Tim lived closer to town and they’d heard some pretty bad stories, let alone what had happened to Tim’s sister.

“Thanks, Mum.”

Lucy went back to her room and found her old school backpack. She carefully put the bread, jelly and butter in the bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Millie, the oldest of the dogs and mother to all of the rest, almost tripped Lucy up as she went out the back door. The old dog got up and wagged her tail as she padded faithfully after Lucy out to the back garden, past the large vegetable patch and into the orchard.

She paused to admire all of the heavily laden fruit trees and thought what a waste that they’d most likely be turned to cinders before the day was done. She walked through the trees, picking the plumpest, juiciest looking fruit. Apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, tamarillos and plums joined the bread, jelly and butter in the backpack.

Food gathered, Lucy walked over to the horses paddock. She thought about taking the motorbike — it still had some petrol left in it, but dismissed the idea. Her horse, Lightning, would enjoy the ride, and so would she. It was much more peaceful than the bike, and besides, the horse was a lot quieter and would draw less attention to herself, and he could still go pretty damn fast if she needed him to.

Lucy called Lightning over to her when she reached the gate. He’d been her horse since she was thirteen. She’d felt quite guilty leaving him when she moved to Melbourne for university. The black horse came trotting up, a big golden mare followed right behind him. Lucy gave her mother’s mare, Kunama, a scratch behind the ears and an apple for good measure, before letting the smaller black horse out through the gate. Kunama tried to follow Lightning through and neighed and stomped when Lucy blocked her.

Lucy stared at the mare for a few moments, looked back towards the house, then opened the gate again and led both horses to the stable. She saddled both of them up and walked them back up the driveway towards the house.

Liz was cutting onions when Lucy went back into the kitchen. She wiped her eyes as she turned to her daughter.

“That was quick,” she tried to joke.

“Put that down.” Lucy reached for the knife her mother was holding.

“What are you doing, Lucy?”

“Come for a ride,” Lucy tugged on her mother’s arm, trying to drag her out of the kitchen.

“I can’t, I’ve got to -”

“It can wait forty minutes. I’ve got Kunama all saddled up. Come on, Mum. It’s a beautiful day out there.”

“But what about Tim? You don’t want me hanging around.”

“You’re right, I don’t, just come for the ride with me. Kunama needs a good gallop.”

“But what about… I need to cook, I have so much stuff to do, I-”

“Mum, shush. Come with me. Don’t waste your last day in the kitchen crying over bloody onions.”

Liz relented.

“Let me change.”

Lucy waited outside with the horses. Lightning kept head-butting her, looking for more apples or treats in her pockets. Kunama stared stonily at the house, ears flickering, until Liz came out. She neighed in what Lucy assumed was pleasure and trotted over to Liz.

“Hello, beautiful girl,” Liz murmured into Kunama’s mane, as she hugged the horse. “I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you.”

Mother and daughter mounted up.

“We’d better tell your father where we’re going.” Liz turned Kunama’s head towards the patch of trees that hid the bomb shelter. Lucy hadn’t been out there for years, not since she was a kid. She remembered playing games out there with her sister and cousins, and one year when the bushfires had been really bad and gotten worryingly close, Bill had had them all hide down there until it was safe to come out again.

“Bill, are you there?” Liz called out. Lucy exchanged a glance with her mother as they heard a thud and a muffled curse. A few moments later, Lucy’s father’s shaggy head appeared in the entrance to the shelter.

“Going for a ride?” He asked, eyeing the horses. Liz nodded.

“Lucy’s going to visit Tim for a little while and I’m just going up to make sure she gets there okay. I’ll be back soon.”

“Good. Stay safe. I should be done in here by the time you get back, then I can help you with the feast.”

Liz smiled at him and Lucy waved over her shoulder as they turned the horses around and headed down the track. Lucy urged Lightning into a canter, and then all of a sudden Liz and Kunama leapt into a gallop. Not to be outdone, Lightning sprang forward. It was kind of funny how competitive the horses could be, Lightning in particular. Lucy didn’t think Kunama actually cared, but Lightning always needed to win, even if it nearly killed him. Kunama was bigger, her stride was longer, but Lightning nearly always won. Lucy would barely be able to hear Kunama breathing, while poor old Lightning would sound like he needed an asthma pump.