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Chapter 1
The scorching rays of the relentless desert sun pounded down on Tom as he plodded through the unforgiving landscape. His throat was dry, and every inhale felt like drawing in hot, arid air. The sand, scorching and biting, assaulted his skin with each step, leaving a searing sensation in its wake. His greenish-grey buttoned shirt, now more of a dusty brown, was a testament to the harshness of the environment, while his beige shorts offered scant protection against the relentless assault of the blistering sand. The wide brim of his Akubra hat provided some solace, casting a small oasis of shade over his face, yet even this refuge could not shield him from the all-encompassing oppression of the relentless sun.
During the desolate and dry terrain, a solitary cactus stood tall and proud, defying the harsh surroundings. Tom's gaze was drawn to the cactus, and a surge of Jubilance enveloped him as he recognized the potential for life-sustaining water hidden within its tough and spiky exterior. However, his initial elation quickly faded as he realized that the meagre hydration offered by the cactus provided little relief for his unquenchable thirst it would alleviate him. As the precious liquid dwindled, an unsettling sense of uncertainty washed over Tom, leaving him to contemplate how much longer he could endure the unrelenting and inhospitable wilderness.
As the sun started to sizzle and burn on his body, He knew that he would eventually collapse. He tried to make as much distance as he could, but it was all in vain because he immediately collapsed as he took the next step. As the day turned to night it turned from Sizzling to Freezing, and the icy winds made his skin feel crisp and smooth. Dingos laughed and cackled in the distance Tom fell into a deep sleep where he remembered the town of Davenport where he grew up. His culture was made of groups but his defied him Tom had always got weird looks in the street because his father was always known as the town alcoholic, and he was always picked on for that. But one day he had made a bet a bet with the town that he would be able to make it from Davenport to Tennant Creek without dying. But all the people in the town laughed, cackled, and undermined and denounced and they told him it was not a plausible idea, telling him that he was crazy and that he was not in his right mind. Especially one person in the crowd kept persisting that he would not be able to do it. But on the next day, he had a revelation that he thought would see him through his journey. It was if he had large cans of beans he could use the bean juice as water. By the time Tom had arisen he was shuddering remembering the life he could have had but instead he was stuck in the middle of the desert acting like a lunatic trying to drink the remainder of his weird bean water that he had left.
Chapter 2
Tom was acutely aware that if he continued along this unforgiving path devoid of water and food, his chances of survival grew increasingly bleak. As he grappled with this grim reality, a colossal sandstorm materialized on the horizon, barrelling menacingly in his direction. The ferocity of the storm was a remarkable sight, and the mere thought of it sent shivers down his spine. With every ounce of strength, he propelled himself forward, determined to stay on course and avoid losing his way. Then, a sight that defied all logic greeted him, shocking him to the core. An oasis unveiled itself, boasting the most vibrantly green and luscious grass, towering palm trees that rivalled skyscrapers, and water so translucent and cerulean it resembled a precious sapphire. Amidst this paradise stood a woman of unparalleled vivaciousness and strength, a vision so surreal that it took his breath away with an astonishing beauty.
When Tom finally concluded that his mind had been playing tricks on him, Tom busted out in a fit of rage. Tom shouted cussing and swearing saying “I am so stupid augh, why me, why is it all ways me. Why cannot it be someone else.” He shouted with anger, rage and with all the emotions he could muster and feel at the time.
Just when Toms rage finalised, he saw a storm gushing and spiralling towards him. He ran but then realized that he was going too far away from his path, but he had no time to think, a rugged old tree stood in is reach. Tom lunged for the tree, but the sudden creaking and
cracking made him let go and grab the stump of the tree, a whizzing sound passed his right ear as a huge dark shadow passed him through the air. Tom swung his blistered feet around the fragment of the tree, he knew it would hold him forever and he clawed the hot grainy ground with is numb hands desperately trying to get under the ground. Cans for food and the little cloths he had in his backpack came flying out tom reached for the food, but his weak body could not reach high enough for the silver and black cans. But he was adamant of losing his food he managed to grab one can of beans from the harsh storm with hands ripping to shreds from flying sand fragments of the tree splintered his hands and knees.
After the harsh and uncoverable storm passed Tom was extremely angry with how much food and cloths he had lost, he raged in a tantrum not realizing an old wise and lanky kangaroo was watching him from the tree he was next to, tom was puzzled not realizing a gentil and old looking kangaroo stood next to him in awe. Tom rubbed his bloodshot swollen eyes and looked again there was a kangaroo looking dead straight at him. It was grey and tall, confronting to the eye. You would be scared if you saw it.
Chapter 3
The Kangaroo bounced around oddly as if he understood that Tom was wounded and missing something, Tom was amazed by the age of the kangaroo but still wary of danger. The kangaroo yet not knowing English attempted to communicate, after a while of guessing and getting hungry, Tom finally starts to understand. Tom was communicating with the kangaroo and decided to try and convince him to join him on his journey and help him to survive in the wilderness.
Tom knew that he would need a name for the kangaroo to be able to alert him of danger, and he could call him in his time of need. His name would be Boomer the kangaroo, Toms loyal mentor and companion. Who will help him get to Tennant Creek. Boomer gestured towards the old tree that had been ripped out of the ground by the storm and then slowly in an old way hopped over to the tree. When they got to the tree the old kangaroo jumped up and down rattling the insects from inside. But as Boomer jumped on last time water came out spilling into the sand, tom dived under the tree slurping up the remainder of the water.
They then found a place to rest for the night. When they awoke, they thought that they had to find a more stable source of food and water, so they started looking for a town.
Chapter 4
Tom understands Boomer when he tries to explain that food and water is the biggest priority over anything else at this point. Tom tries to ask Boomer if he knows where they could find anything to assist them. Boomer starts to try and signal towards some dense brush in the distance, so Tom starts the trek over to the thorny coarse brush and seeks some assistance in survival in the harsh conditions of the Australian Outback his culture taught him how to survive but he had never really listened.
Once he had reached the location, he noticed some shaded spots with a couple damp ground but he wonder how that could possibly be until he spotted the animals in the trees above him he knew at this point that this used to be an oasis but had dried up from the past sandstorm that had tumbled past. Tom could tell that these animals were attempting to dig up an underground water source.
Chapter 5
During their journey to find a village Boomer starts acting strange, Tom noticed this and tries to calm him, but Boomer does not stop, he’s wasting time, bouncing around like he was trying to warn Tom that danger was coming.
Tom soon realised this but before he could plan anything a pack of dingos approached them; they knew it was the end for them but as Tom said his last words. Boomer starts thumping his feet and tail on the ground. The Dingos trembling with each slam. With the third and final slam all the dingos scatter away in fear making an extremely loud squeal alerting a nearby farmer, who comes bolting down to Toms location on a big black horse with perfect smooth skin and immediately asks if everyone is ok and what they are doing them.
Tom start explaining their journey as farmer named Jack interrupts and tells Tom about his farm and how they should head their before it gets dark, and they can continue to chat. On the way to the farm Tom is surprised by Jacks ability to control the animals like they can sense that Jack was a strong and powerful man being able to take down any pack of animals that comes his way.
Chapter 6
Once they arrived on Jacks farm, they continued to talk about Toms past and his adventurous journey from Davenport to Tennant Creek. He told Jack how he fought of dingos and how he collapsed under the immense heat then what had led him to jacks farm jack was amazed that he had survived. After their conversation they went outside to feed some of the cattle but then jack stepped on a chicken's nest with all its babies. AHHHHHHHH. He yelled one of them had nearly clenched his jaw around his leg when Tom pulled with all his might to get him away from the foul creatures. Jack was so grateful for all Toms effort, he made bought him a crocodile knife from the shop to prove his journey to Tennin Creek.
In the end Tom and his new friends Boomer and Jack make it alive to the Tenet’s Creek. He is incredibly grateful for all the people that have helped him during his travels across the desert from Davenport to Tenets Creek. He fought dingos, starvation, sandstorm and much more but he somehow made it to his destination of tenets creek to join his new foster family.