TRAVEL FEATURE - AUSTRALIA
LEIGH WILKINS
PUT
THAT THING AWAY
!
Flicking my head in the direction from where I ’ d just returned was enough to answer the question as to why I ’ d gotten up so early . The sun was just above the small hills on the horizon , a rich red glow adding to the impact of the iron rich landscape . A vast white expanse between our camp and the red hills .
“ How was it ?”, my partner , Megan , asked with an air of sleepy disinterest .
“ Magical ,” I replied , stoking the fire to beat the morning chill . “ Oh , Gus says to say hello .”
I smirked as Megan stood and waved toward the white landscape , “ Morning Gus .”
We both giggled at the thought of someone being out there , overnight , on a dry salt lake fifty square kilometres in area . The night was extremely cold , as desert nights are wont to be , unlikely that a naked man would survive out there .
We laughed as I recounted my walk
to Gus . The early morning hours were as dark as pitch , I ’ d wandered from our camp , camera in hand , with no particular destination determined . A photo of the morning born the only thing occupying my mind .
I ’ d stopped to check the camera , something to my left catching my eye . Nothing ! Turning to move on , I walked straight into Gus .
“ Shit !”, yelped deep from within , an involuntary action . Gus , endowered with a disproportionately large penis had stabbed me right in the thigh . I laughed nervously , where the hell had he come from ? Of course , there are many out here . Unearthly figures , standing for eternity amongst this surreal landscape .
Gus is one of the many , Gus Miller , a local of the area . I ’ m not sure if this was he , but the name seemed to fit . Gus !
“ Okay big boy ,” I smirked . “ Looks
TRAVERSE 17