124 / 145
124
Sea Of Purple
Before leaving Adam Johnson reminded her to get someone in
to look at the
Viper’s Bugloss
, and then drove off outside the protective
confines of the gum tress. SusanM. was left with a feel of uneasiness.
Lenny skirted through her legs as she made her way over to the back
deck to return to her playing.
Halfway through a movement of Beethoven the unnatural sound
of hissing clashed with her playing. She turned to see Lenny on the
low hanging roof that protruded out from the back of the house,
swatting at nothing (he always seemed to find imaginary enemies
to lacerate). ‘Get down you stupid thing.’ She hissed back. He
seemed to ignore her as he continued to face his non-existent foe.
Wondering what could get him down she found herself picking
up her old bow and swinging it at him. Once, twice, three times.
When he seemed to have retreated back she moved one of the many
empty dining chairs in order to get a better angle. With one last
thrust she was sure her bow would have been enough to scare the
cat away, until it connected with something much more solid.
They swarmed her like a plague, knocking her off the chair and
to the decking. The thrum of their wings and bright yellow stripes
blurred around her. She felt the welts and then the constricting
started. Not the same constricting as that of the guilt, this time her
throat was tightening inside her. All she had was Lenny’s eyes
staring back.
‘
I’m sorry
,’ she wanted to shout. ‘
I don’t know what to do. I’m not from
around here
.’
Over her sea of purple, just like her music, her voice rang out,
unheard.
‘
12