Special Effects: Survival

"I wish this would end!" he groaned.

"Cheer up!"

"I'm trying to!"

"Shall we do another half an hour?"

"Might as well. Its another bit nearer to the other side - a bit we won't have to do tomorrow if we do it today."

Brad got into the cab and slammed his door shut. A coating of red dust slipped off it and drifted like snow to the ground. Turran climbed in beside him and yawned.

"You have a rest" Brad said, "It's been a long day, hasn't it?"

"Yeah," said Turran, wearily.

The Rover jerked forward and moved on.

Morning came too early. Turran and his father were still asleep as the first glowing, molten yellow edge of the sun slid above the horizon. The plains danced with the colour of flames and a herd of kangaroos, like faint, blue ghosts, moved away. Turran opened his eyes and sat up.

"I hope we get there today," he sighed, as he slipped out the back doors, off the foam rubber mattress and stretched. He looked about at the flat, endless desert. Not a tree, or rock or clump of grass broke the scene. Except one thing.

It looked like a tree. A tree without branches. Turran walked towards it, scratching his head and yawning.

When he reached it he realized it was not a tree. It was made of metal. It was cylindrical, like a pipe, with a small machine-shaped addition attached to the top. Turran felt about the machine with his fingers, trying to find something to press, or turn, but it was smooth. He gave up and went back to the Rover. His father was just waking up.

"What's that thing?" he asked.

"Where?"

"Out there. It's not a tree. I checked."

"A fence post?" said Brad, "Some farmer might be thinking of putting a fence through here."

"Its not a fence post Dad. Its made of metal. Come and