Australia’s Ancient Tale

Surface

January 3rd 2025

I often smile as I remember the stories I had been told of the ancient wild horse that roams the deserted city. My heart aches as I long to have my own horse with the same descriptive appearance as this one. Her long wavy, but frail mane and her strong muscles under her fine soft white pelt, and the way her body moves lithely as she gallops through the dark abandoned, but green city. The overgrown ivy and lichen spread their thin leaves and vines along every uncovered surface, giving off small light in the dark shadows. No sound except the slapping of hooves on dusty concrete and the occasional quite song from a bird. A small bluetit flew across the sky above the ancient horse and landed, now clinging to the side of a window, high up on a tall building. The window was hardly visible through the branches and leaves that grew from a nearby tree. It was a great oak, it’s bark smooth and light brown.

I closed my eyes as I lay on my bed in the afternoon sunlight that filtered through the rough laced curtains. It was probably around six o’clock now. I hadn't been out the house in a long time. Im moving out of my mother’s house in five days and into my own small apartment. I’m turning eighteen in three so that’ll give me two days after my birthday to get ready and settle the final agreement with the owner and bank.

My mind ventured back to the city and ancient horse. The tale that everyone in Australia knew. Out in the middle of the hot, dry and waterless desert the city was said to stand. Only a story would hold a green and lushes forest covered city where water runs in through once side and out the other. How could a place so beautiful and peaceful exist in the middle of Australia’s desert? There had always been conspiracies that it was real but no one ever dared to travel that far, especially alone as the lack of water would starve a person of hope till they turn back.

The only people I knew that would make such a journey was the Troop Carriers of Australia group on face book. They have some of the most savage, rustic life styled people I know to ever walk the planet. The way they live is almost admirable in a very unusual way. They make many journeys in their Troop Carrier cars, but not even them I think would make such a dangerous risk to travel through our harsh and scorching land where you wouldn’t see a building, not even an old shack for weeks on end. Australia has many special tourist sites in the outback. Here and there stood a small ruin in the middle of nowhere, nothing but the shattered wood and rocks from caved in walls and roof of the buildings that were once a home to farmer of a loved family member. The desert here carries on forever and ever nothing but a dead shrub or clump of dried w**d here and there that tried to push it’s way through the dry and dusty soil but failed and now lay in the open air, it’s remains the only thing for miles.

Dinner was called for and I sat at the counter island with mother. We said our prayer and ate. It was the usual. Chicken wing and salad. I suppose I can’t complain as I don’t help cook and mother is getting older. She looked tired but she still had a sweet spark in her eye that told me she would still be around for much longer.

“When are you off?” Mother asked as she took her last bite and looked at me.

“Five days.” I looked at her. “I know. I have my birthday in three days but I don’t really want anything or throw a party.”

“Oh?” Mother’s questioning gaze probed me to go on.

I pray this isn’t foolishness, I thought, taking a breath. “I want to go away for a bit after I’ve moved into my apartment.”

“Switzerland? I know you have always wanted to go there and see the alps.”

No. Mother was right though. I had always wanted to go to Switzerland. The mountains were exquisite and it had been my dream to live there and have a horse but my plans had changed as life changed. I know more now and I know what I want to do with my life.

“Actually I want to go into the desert.”

“The desert? What do you want to go do there?” She didn’t have as much surprise on her face as I thought she would have. My mother had always been a sensible woman but we were part of the Troop Carriers of Australia as well with our own Troop Carrier each so it was expected that she wouldn’t be concerned. It’s what we do. The only thing her voice singled was interest. “Just a trip with your troopy?” She lifted one eye brow. “Where are you going?”

I nodded. “I want to travel to the middle of Australia with my troopy.”

Mother gasped, her shock coming off like readable waves that almost nocked me off my chair. “You’re not being serious? You’re only 18. It’s too dangerous! Your taking a friend with you. Why don’t you take one of the other troop members?” Questions and comments spilled out of her mouth.

“No, mother. I’m going alone.” I spoke softly trying to reassure her as she started to breathe harder. “It’s all right. I’ve got everything sorted. And I haven’t left yet anyway…” I trailed off. I would have to start preparing if I were to leave a few days after my move into my new apartment. I’d pack my car and made sure I had water and food for the amount of weeks I was hoping to go for. But this was just the preparing stage. Planning first.

“No one has ever made it that far… I can’t let you go alone.”

“Please mother. I really want to do this.” I hoped she wouldn’t get mad at the next part I was going to tell her. “Remember the story of the ancient horse in the abandoned city? It could be just a story but someone would have had to make it there to find that place. Better yet, to actually build that city. Where would all the resources have come from?” I was beginning to get excited.

“That’s just a kid’s tale,” mother scolded, shaking her head.

“But you don’t know that! No one has ever made it! At least not while this generation has been alive. You never know.”

“If it were real we would all have known about it. It would have been on the news.”

“Not if it were so long ago that there was no such thing as the news, or anyway to carry on the information or the telling that it is a real place.”

“Hm…” Mother frowned. “I don’t like the sound of it, Heather. What if something were to happen. I can’t deny your love for adventure or your need to explore and find out. I can’t say there is some truth in what you say…” There was a moment of silence before she answered. “Alright. Make sure you have everything you need, I want everyone to know where you are going so if you don’t come back we can send for help… I trust you will come back safely.”

“Oh thank you, mother!” I stood up off my chair and gave her a hug. I didn't know why but I felt as if I had to get her permission although I was about to become an adult.

Just as if she had read my thoughts she continued, “you are going to be 18 by then anyway. I cant stop you. Not that I’d be able to even if you were just a teenager still; you have always been so driven and prone to adventure.” She hugged me tighter.

I pulled away and mother put her soft hand on my cheek and slid it over my shoulder. “Go now and plan for your trip!” Mum pushed me away lovingly and we both brushed our teeth and made ourselves ready for bed.