Shimmer (4 page)

David's eyes darted nervously to the closed bedroom door. ‘Because I wish it.'

She felt the bands around her wrists begin to tighten when he spoke the words ‘I wish'. A soft, golden glow radiated from them and her power stirred restlessly, ready and waiting.

He moved closer to her, keeping his voice low. ‘On the first line write, “Congratulations to David Wolfe”.' His brow creased in concentration. ‘Then on a line below that write, “Winner of the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade's Annual Giant Christmas Raffle”.' He stood up and paced anxiously across the room to listen briefly at the door. ‘And put a signature at the bottom. And today's date.' He strode back to face her. ‘And put it in a black frame.'

Kora's mouth twisted in distaste, but she lifted her hand and the framed certificate appeared in it. She handed it to him with a glare. ‘Surely your parents did not fall for such a stupid story?' Her voice rang with contempt.

‘The local Bush Fire Brigade holds a giant Christmas raffle every year.' His gaze lifted to meet hers. ‘And by the way, they are not my parents.'

‘Really?' She was surprised. ‘Not your parents?'

‘No.' He shook his head emphatically. ‘Marcia's my mum.' He glanced at the photograph on the shelf next to her globe. ‘But Rodney's not my father. He's my mother's new boyfriend.'

Kora's eyes drifted to the framed photograph on the shelf. Her eyes looked over the tall man standing with his arm around a much younger David. ‘He looks like you,' she said. Two pairs of piercing blue eyes gazed back at her. The older man's were perhaps a slightly darker blue than David's, with laugh lines fanning outwards from the corners, but otherwise they were the same. But it wasn't just the eyes. She could see other similarities, now that she knew. There was the same dark blond hair, although cut much shorter, and the same cocky grin. She pursed her lips. They were both good-looking, really. For humans.

David sighed. ‘I think I've grown a bit taller than he was.'

Her eyes flew back to his face. ‘Than he was? Is your father dead?'

‘No!' His face darkened as he met Kora's gaze. ‘I'll never believe that!'

She wanted to ask more, but a sharp intake of breath had both their heads spinning towards the bedroom door.

His mother stood in the doorway, an astonished look on her face. ‘David?' His mother's eyes roved over Kora, widening as they took in her golden, silk harem pants, the glittering jewels and her bare feet. ‘I thought I heard voices in here. I didn't know you had a guest.'

Kora looked at David. He stood frozen to the spot, his mouth gaping open and the framed certificate clutched in his hands. She shook her head in disgust. It seemed that humans spent a lot of time with their mouths wide.

His mother reached over and took the certificate without looking at it. Instead, she looked at Kora. ‘What beautiful eyes,' she said, smiling. She held her hand out. ‘Hello, dear,' she said. ‘I don't think we've met before. I'm Marcia Wolfe, David's mother.'

She reached out and took his mother's hand. ‘I am Kora.' She threw a smug look at David. He stared at her, saying nothing, but his eyes were narrowed in silent warning.

‘What a glamorous costume you're wearing.' Marcia looked her up and down. ‘Are you on your way to a fancy dress party, then?'

‘Yes, that's right.' David jumped into the conversation, speaking a little too quickly. ‘There's a fancy dress party tonight.'

Marcia regarded him suspiciously. ‘And were you planning on going too, David?' Her brow furrowed. ‘Is that why you did so much cleaning up around the house today? So we'd be more likely to let you go?'

‘No, no,' he stammered. ‘Anyway, I can't go. I, um, don't even have a costume.'

Kora smirked at him. ‘That will not be a problem,' she said sweetly. ‘I have brought a costume for you to wear.' She pointed towards the corner of the room, behind his mother, where a brown paper parcel appeared on the floor.

Marcia smiled. ‘Good,' she said. ‘Then we'd better have an early dinner.' She smiled at Kora. ‘You'll join us, of course, dear.'

David's mouth opened to object, but his mother cut in smoothly. ‘I'm sure Rodney would love to meet your new friend.' She raised one eyebrow. ‘And besides, I can't wait to see your costume.'

Kora followed David down the narrow passageway. The horrid Earth scent intensified and she realised they had reached the kitchen. A middle-aged man was standing by the kitchen stove. He scuffed over to Kora and reached out his hand. ‘I'm Rodney.'

She placed her hand in his sweaty grasp. ‘Kora.'

Rodney's fair skin reddened. ‘Glad that you're joining us for dinner, Kora.' He flicked David with the tea towel. ‘So what's with the soldier outfit?'

‘Fancy dress.'

Rodney scratched a big patch of angry red eczema on his arm. ‘It suits you.'

Kora smiled to herself, thinking about the costume she had intended for David. A fat, hairy baboon suit, complete with a tiny, sparkly pink tutu — that was the costume that really suited him. Of course David hadn't thought it was funny at all and had immediately wished for a new one.

‘Take a seat, kids.' Rodney turned back to the stove. ‘Dinner's nearly ready.'

Kora pulled out her chair at the table. It was heavy. Curled up on it was an enormously fat ginger cat. It opened one eye at her and then leapt to its feet. Arching its back it let out an almighty hiss.

‘Cuddles!'

At David's voice the cat twitched its ears and leapt from the chair. Skulking from the room it turned to hiss one last time at her before it disappeared.

David smirked. ‘You seem to have a way with animals.'

He was such an idiot. Even for a human. She ignored him and sank gracefully into the chair. She could hear the click, click, click of Marcia's high-heeled shoes and a moment later she burst into the kitchen.

‘Hmm, that smells great.'

Kora wrinkled her nose. Surely Marcia was joking, it smelt disgusting.

‘So, where's the party tonight?'

David shifted restlessly in his chair. ‘Umm … at Tiffany's house.'

‘She invited you?' His mother's head whipped around. ‘Even after she dumped you?'

David shrugged but his face reddened. ‘Yeah.'

Kora tried to hide her snigger. It seemed even the human girls could not stand him.

She could feel Marcia's eyes on her. ‘Who else is going?'

‘I dunno, Mum.' David pushed a hand through his shaggy hair. ‘Just Hammer and the usual crowd I guess.'

Marcia nodded thoughtfully. ‘Be home by midnight. And for goodness sake would you cut that hair!'

‘Dinner's up,' said Rodney. He placed a steaming bowl of pasta in front of each of them. ‘Hope you like tofu and mung beans.'

David groaned. ‘This isn't that gluten-free pasta again, is it?'

Rodney smiled at Kora and patted his stomach. ‘I'm gluten-intolerant. I hope you don't mind.'

Kora smiled. ‘Of course not.' She placed her fork into the pasta and wound the long hideous strands around it.

‘See, Kora likes it.' Marcia said to David. ‘It's good for all of us to make healthier choices.'

‘That's right, David.' Kora turned her head so that only David could see her transform the sticky tofu pasta into a decadent chocolate cake. ‘Healthy and delicious.'

He glared back at her and she smiled. She thought for a moment he was going to whisper a wish but Rodney interrupted him. ‘What happened to your arm?'

‘Burnt it on the kettle.' David pushed at his food with his fork. ‘It's all right.'

It was strange sitting there listening to Marcia and Rodney grill David. Although she liked watching him squirm there was also something familiar about it and a wave of homesickness washed over her. She wondered what her mum and dad were doing now. Were they thinking about her? And what about Atym? She had never imagined she would miss her annoying brother so much.

‘Are you all right, dear?'

She looked up and realised Marcia had been talking to her. She wanted to say no, I am not all right. I want to go home and I miss my family. In fact, right now she missed them so badly she would settle for her globe and Amurru.

She put her fork down, no longer interested in eating. ‘Sorry, I was daydreaming.'

‘I was just saying what an unusual accent you have. Have you moved here recently?'

David cut in before she could answer.

‘She's here as an exchange student.' He pushed his plate away. ‘We should get going, the party starts in half an hour.'

Rodney's face dropped. ‘But you haven't finished.'

‘I'm not really hungry.'

‘I saw the empty wrappers in your room this afternoon.' Marcia looked accusingly at her son. ‘No wonder you're not hungry.'

‘Yeah, sorry, Mum.'

‘Oh, go on then.' Marcia waved her arms. ‘But don't be late.'

David stood up, tall and straight in his army costume. He looked eager to get out of the house. Kora slid her chair back and rose to stand beside him. She couldn't wait to leave either.

It was a beautiful summer's evening. The moon hadn't risen yet and the sky was filled with a million gleaming stars. The scorching heat of the day had finally blown away with the arrival of a soft, balmy breeze that had travelled in from the Indian Ocean, which David had told her was quite some distance away, beyond the city. Even the disgusting Earth smell she so detested seemed softer and more fragrant.

Darkness had settled quickly over the forest once the sun had dropped down beyond the horizon. But even without the moon she could still see quite well by the faint glow of light that reflected up from the small township of Panda Rock, four or five kilometres behind them on the other side of David's house.

David sighed loudly as he stretched out beside her. ‘This lounge is really comfortable,' he said, sinking down into the plump, silk cushions she had provided for them. ‘It's more comfortable than my bed!'

‘Anything would be more comfortable than your bed.' Kora was stretched out on a matching lounge beside him. They were on the very top of a hill, or at least, the top of a very large mound of rocks, not far from where she had been harnessed that morning.

She let out a long, tired breath and dropped her head back to rest against the cushions. It seemed impossible that it was still only her first day on Earth. So much had happened since she had arrived. Somehow it seemed like an eternity since she had last seen her parents, and had spoken those hurtful, parting words to them.

They both lay quietly for some time, lost in their thoughts. Kora stared out across the treetops towards the glittering city lights visible on the horizon. After the stress of the day, the night was so peaceful. Or at least it was until the silence was broken by the sound of David's mobile phone beeping. A small circle of light lit up around him as he read the new text message, then he glanced up at her, a mischievous grin on his face. ‘Do you like camping, Kora?'

‘I have never been camping,' she replied. ‘I do not know if I would like it. Anyway, what does it matter? I have no intention of taking up this pastime. I have far more important things to concern myself with.' She lifted her chin, but her eyes sidled over to him warily. ‘Why do you ask me this?'

‘Well, it looks like you're going to get to try it pretty soon.' David pressed a few buttons on his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. ‘Every year a few of us go camping in the summer holidays, and it's Hammer's turn to organise it this year.' He waved his hand down towards the bottom of the hill. ‘We usually set up camp down there on the other side of the rock, near where the creek comes out.' He raised his eyebrows at her. ‘I guess you'll have to come, too, this year. Now that you can't be more than a hundred metres away from me.'

Kora flopped back against the lounge. Great! A camping trip with David's friends was the last thing she needed. David relaxed back against his cushions. Kora blew out a long, calming breath. It seemed she was going to be stuck with David and his life on Earth for the time being. For now she might as well just try to enjoy the peace of the night.

She closed her eyes and tilted her face into the wind, letting the soft breeze lift the hair from her face. She tried to focus on the silence, but she soon realised the night was far from quiet. All around them were the sounds of unseen life. Kora listened to the rustling, scratching and screeching noises coming from the forest and wondered what strange creatures of the dark were out there making such a racket. Maybe camping out would be scarier than she thought?

She glanced across at David. ‘Do you think we might see some pandas tonight?'

He laughed. ‘There aren't any pandas in Australia, Kora.'

‘But this place is called Panda Rock!'

‘That's because from a distance the mound of rocks we're lying on looks like a panda sitting up on its hind legs.' He turned his head to the side to look at her. ‘You can even see the outline of its face. And there's a darker patch of rock near the top that gives it a black patch over its eye.' He shrugged. ‘People drive up here from the city to see it.' He turned and pointed back towards the small township. ‘They even named the town of Panda Rock after it.'

Kora's smile faded. ‘So there are no pandas here at all?' She couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice, but David didn't seem to notice.

‘Nope. Never have been and never will be,' he declared.

She shook her head in disbelief. ‘That is the only reason I had for choosing to come to Panda Rock,' she said. ‘I have always wanted to see a panda.'

‘Can't you just use your magic to see one?'

‘I suppose I could bring one here,' she agreed, ‘but that would be cruel and upsetting for the poor panda. And it might not survive the shock.'