The Bunyip Collection

Chapter 6

Old Fred Morris had listened with child-like joy to Stewart’s tale, but a sudden change in the breeze alarmed him. He looked into the forest from whence the breeze came. His nostrils twitched, and the aborigine elder was forcibly reminded of his aim in visiting the family. It was a very distinct odour – wet, oily fur, which was tainted with pungent clay made rich with decaying leaf matter.

He searched the trees on the edge of the clearing but could not detect the bright white eye shine of the animal he feared. However, he knew that it was watching them from the bush.

“Oi Fred…” Began Pyran but was instantly reprimanded by Hester.

“Pyran! Don’t be so rude! You say, ‘excuse me, Fred’.”

“Sorry. Excuse me, Fred?”

“Yeah, mate?” Fred answered, polite but distracted.

“Can you please tell us about the mirachy – the black mirage? Me and Tristram have been wondering about it since tea-time.”

“The mirachy, eh? Mmm…better ask ya mum if it’s alright first, eh?” Fred answered languidly – then suddenly he saw a segue to his purpose. “Although…yeah…it’s a little bit spooky, but I reckon ya look like brave children – ya won’t have too many nightmares.”

A knowing look from Fred elicited the approval of the parents. After a thoughtful sigh, the old elder began his narrative in a deep, nasal voice.

“I often see in da classroom, kids sittin’ around, listenin’ ta fairy tales, unna? Stories wid dragons, an’ princesses, an’ trolls, an’ goblins, an’ all that. I like dem stories, eh? Dey make ya think about things ya never seen before…well, when I was a little fella, we never had books or a classroom – but we had stories. An’ dese stories were told sittin’ around da fire like we are now, or around a billabong, or on da long walk up da mountain for da Bogong moffs. Dese stories don’ have any fairies, or goblins an’ that – I reckon dose creatures wouldn’t survive in our bush. But we got magic – an’ ghosts, an’ monsters. We got things out here in our land dat a white man born in a bed won’t often recognise – but I seen things, unna? I was born ta da ground, not ta a bed. I was raised in da bush.”

storiesmagicghostsmonstersgroundHere Fred paused as a haze seemed to lift from his deep brown eyes, and rich reminiscences softened his harsh wrinkles. He stubbed his cigarette out, and instead breathed in the smell of the fire and the night. The terrible animal watching from the trees had departed – probably because it had sensed Fred’s awareness of it. The elder relaxed and savoured the air. The odours he caught were a mix of real and imagined – wattle blossom, ti-tree, grevillea, myrtle and the smell of fresh fish cooking on the fire. His wide flat hands began to register a thousand textures – soil, bark, fur, fish flesh. He tasted the sweet abdomen of ants, the nutty flavour of the witchetty grub and the feathery crunch of the Bogong moth. Fred suddenly remembered his audience and smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry – I gotta lotta good memories, eh? I know ya asked me about da mirachy – an’ I’ll tell ya aboud ‘im – but there other things out there more interestin’, unna? First of all, there’s da great father spirit, Mungan-ngaen. Dat’s ‘is name in da Kurnai tribe, which is me own tribe. Lotta other tribes call ‘im ‘Baiame’. You white fellas know ‘im as God – Holly, ya know ‘im as Jehovah, eh? It’s important dat ya respect Mungan-ngaen – an’ I tell you kids dat now, ‘cause later you’ll want somethin’ comforting ta think about after I tell ya what else is out dere, unna? Such as the ol’ mirachy…

Da Black Mirage as early whites called ‘im. Huh…hard to explain what dis spirit looks like – he’s very tall an’ thin, an’ is arms an’ legs stretch like a daddy-long-legs spider…he’s a shadow dat walks upright, instead o’ layin’ on da ground like every other shadow…he hates human beings.

Black MiragehatesNot a good idea to talk aboud ‘im, cause dat makes ‘im come around ta spook ya, see? You’ll know ‘im when he comes. First, there’s a warm breeze dat comes through da trees…often ya get spooked by it in summer when walkin’ about at night – but dat doesn’t mean he’s come. Summer’s warm at night anyway, eh? But in winter – watch out! A warm breeze is probably da mirachy comin’ ta get ya…

warmThe breeze is warm at first, ‘cause of ‘is anger – it makes da wind hot…but when he arrives, when he is very close – the air becomes still and cold…da way it always does when somethin’ wicked stalks a human soul…”

very closecoldHis serious eyes had both the children and the adults hypnotised, and the suspense hung thick in the pause of his narrative.

“I can see dat ya respect what I’m sayin’ – dat ya believe in da mirachy, an’ dat’s good. Ya woulda made good tribesman…ya see, back before white man came, we didn’t have electric lights to chase da spirits away. We couldn’t hide in buildings or drive away in a car. All we could do at night was stick together by da fire, Mungan-ngaen’s protection for his people…an’ tell stories…”

After a suitable pause, Warrick asked “Are there any spirits out here? Is the mirachy in the forest?”

Fred smiled. “Nah, mate. Da mirachy is a poor spirit, really. He hides about in da town ta torment da wicked fools dat wander da streets drunk in da night. He breathes down the necks of young boys an’ gives a good fright is all, unna?”

“So, you only have to worry about the mirachy at night, then?” Pyran asked eagerly.

“Dat’s right. In the day, he crawls into da thin cracks of da world where all shadows go when night’s over. But da mirachy – nothin’ for you children ta worry about, unna? Just the name of Mungan-ngaen, da great father spirit, is enough ta send ‘im away from ya.”

Tristram nodded to himself as he recalled the psalm: Jehovah, your name is like a watchtower…

Jehovah, your name is like a watchtower“But before ya relax too much…there’s somethin’ else I wanna warn you all about, here tonight…all o’ ya woulda heard of ‘im – da bunyip.”

da bunyipThe children didn’t answer, they were simply enchanted by the old man. Holly mistook it for ignorance.

“You kids went to my school fair last year – the 754 twilight fair – you saw the big bunyip costume the grade sixes wore.”

“That,” interjected Fred with supreme disgust, “looked nothin’ like da bunyip! That was a Chinese dragon – I tried ta tell ‘em dat an’ dey wouldn’t listen. Dey reckoned dey knew better. Well, dey’ve never seen da bunyip – I have. He’s not a big furry koala dat gives lollies ta kids, unna? He’s not a big colourful snake like da rainbow serpent or da Chinese dragon…he’s da most dangerous thing in da bush. He’s older dan da ol’ stone Nargun down dere in da Den o’ Nargun – an’ he’s more terrible dan any mirachy. Mirachy is just wicked – da bunyip…da bunyip is thoughtful…”

Thatnothin’ThathaveChinese dragonthoughtfulFred was genuinely agitated as he spoke.

“You really have seen the bunyip, haven’t you, Fred?” Holly murmured.

“Yeah…but only a coupla times…always up at my spot…”

my“Your spot?” Holly asked.

Your“Yeah…most black fellas have a special spot dat belong ta just them, unna? At least dey did have…anyway, my spot, which I won’t tell nobody nothin’ about – I seen ‘im…and he knows I’m scared of ‘im, even though I’ll never let ‘im sneak up on me…”

“Excuse me, Fred?” Tristram interjected politely and seriously. “What does the bunyip look like?”

“Dat’s a good question…for a start, he’s big…when he’s on all fours, he’s about as big as a four-wheel-drive, unna? But when he stands up on his back legs, da way a kangaroo does, he’s nearly twice as tall as dat…

bigHis fur is a mix of grey and light brown, unna? It’s fairly long ‘n’ shaggy, an’ from a distance through da trees his back looks like dat of an emu…He’s got a long, heavy tail for balance an’ he’s got long ears, too, like a kangaroo, but dey sorta tuck away beside ‘is head – prob’ly ta keep da water out, unna? Because dat’s where da bunyip usually stays – hidin’ under da water waitin’ ta ambush things dat come down for a drink…but da bunyip also hunts on land. When he’s in da bush, he’s always movin’ slowly…and quietly. He stalks…Not a bird makes a noise when da bunyip is about. Even the trees hold deir breath – everythin’ stops and listens in fear…”

slowlyquietlystalksfear“What about his face?” Asked Warrick.

“Dat’s da worst of all…da bunyip has a big head, with a wide mouth dat comes away from da face, with a nose as big as a bull’s. Behind ‘is leathery lips, he has long, sharp teeth, each as long as boy’s forearm…but da worst, da very worst! Are his eyes…dey look almost too big for ‘im – dey make ‘im look sorta owl-like. Dey’re about da size of head-lights – an’ dey look like dey’re takin’ in da whole world, not just lookin’ at it, unna? The colour of ‘em is just like dat of kangaroo’s, an’ wombats an’ wallabies – sorta dark, chocolate brown. But dey reflect more dan any other animal’s eyes. In the moonlight, dey look bright white – da scariest thing of all ta see in da shadows of da trees at da edge of a clearin’. I seen dat once when I was a boy. Da other time, when I was a man, about twenny year ago, I saw him at da edge of a clearin’ just as da sun was settin’. I was about two hundred yards away, on da opposite side of da clearin’. He was stalkin’ a wallaby dat was feedin’ near da trees, see? Then suddenly, he turned his head and looked right at me. He stood up and his eyes caught the dyin’ sunlight, and reflected it right into me soul…I’ll never forget dose eyes, glowin’ like live coals amongst da shadows of da bush, as the first stars were comin’ out…”

eyeswhole worldlookin’Fred allowed the vivid image to suspend itself on the smoke of the crackling fire, as the insects made their song to the stars. A thousand wonderful and frightening visions pirouetted through the children’s minds. Even the adults sat nervous and spell-bound, waiting for more. This was the moment Fred had crafted for himself, and he now took full advantage of it.

“I’d tell ya more…but I’ve only seen da bunyip twice before yesterday…”

“Before yesterday?” Asked Karl in amazement.

yesterday“Yeah…dat’s one of da reasons I wanted ta come an’ talk wid ya all, unna? See, I saw somethin’ last night dat bothered me…somethin’ dat really worried me, unna?

First of all – I know ya all went for a walk in da bush yesterday – an’ dat’s good. Da more white people dat fall in love with da bush da better for its survival, unna? But I reckon ya went to a place ya best have left alone.”

“The pool an hour’s walk away from here.” Holly breathed.

“Yeah…” Fred sighed. “Ya see, I only just worked out dat he lived there, see? I didn’t know where he slept, only where he hunted – an’ dat’s where I saw ‘im last night. I watched ‘im come to da edge of da clearin – a couple o’ hills away from here – where a mob o’ kangaroos were feedin’. Da moon was full an’ bright as ya know, an’ I could see ‘im stalkin’ a big, male kangaroo. He was so quiet…an’ he got so close… His huge eyes were focused on his kill…an’ da kangaroo diddin know nothin’ aboud ‘im bein’ right behind it…but den…you know what? He didn’t pounce. He could of, but he didn’t… Ya see, dere was a change in the breeze, an’ I saw ‘im sniff. I watched ‘im consider da scent…and den…I watched ‘im change ‘is mind. He crept back into da bush and not one of da kangaroos in da clearin’ ever knew he was dere.

so quietso closeHe didn’t pouncedidn’tI watched ‘im change ‘is mindWell, I got nervous den, an’ a bit suspicious, ‘cause I reckoned he could smell your camp, unna? So, I followed ‘im very carefully, at a fair old distance…an’ sure enough…I saw ‘im watchin’ your camp last night. When ya all went ta bed, he circled da camp, an’ came within about fifty yards of ya tents…but lucky for ya all, he was nervous about da cars an’ da tents, an’ o’ course da fire – so he didn’t come any closer dan dat…an’ den… dere was a fierce cry from the bush – an’ den another…da bunyip listened, den slowly crept back into da bush, an’ probably back up to ‘is home in dat pool…”

The children were absolutely pale, and this concerned Russell.

“Well, Fred,” He began seriously, “That was a terrific story – but the kids are not going to be able to sleep tonight.”

“Why not?” Fred answered simply. “In all me life I never heard of da bunyip takin’ people asleep by da fire or in a tent. Da bunyip never attacks a group of people, an’ he never attacks in da middle of a clearin’. As I said, he’s an animal dat ambushes from da trees or from da water’s edge. Now you children all listen. Da bunyip fears da Great Father Spirit. If ya ever worried aboud ‘im – just call on Mungan-ngaen, or Baiame, or Jehovah or whatever ya call ‘im – an’ you’ll be right. An’ be good children, an’ don’t wander by yaself in da bush. And… never, ever go back to dat bewdiful pool up yonder there…OK?”

middleAndeverThe consent was unanimous, and Fred smiled. Hester grunted as she thought that she had detected smugness in that smile, but both Holly and Mary saw the truth. Fred was tremendously relieved.

“What if we see the bunyip and it isn’t our fault?” Pyran asked quietly.

Fred looked hard into the boy. “I don’t reckon dat’s ever goin’ ta happen, mate. But…if ya find yaself face ta face wid da bunyip – don’t run. Like ya granddad said, runnin’ from a big animal invites it ta chase ya. Stand strong an’ face him. Call on Mungan-ngaen. If ya run, dat’d be da end of ya.”

All of the children, especially Tristram, took the advice to heart.

The elder then pacified the adults somewhat by telling the children stories of a lighter nature. He spoke of playful water spirits and other sprites that haunted the limestone caves of the region. He also told them of the tuckonies, a tribe of tiny people that he had heard about from another aboriginal population further north. By the time he had finished his tales, the children were relaxed and happy enough to go to bed.

“There’s been a change in the sleeping arrangements.” Hester announced as the children prepared to head for their tent. “Pyran, listen to me. Saffi and Jase are going to sleep with you and Tristram tonight, as Warrick wants to stay up later and sleep with the adults.”

Pyran glanced at Warrick, who was straight-faced.

“Fine.” He shrugged.