Chapter 6
Lazarus
Lazarus stretched on a stone ledge above his den, basking in the late afternoon rays. Countless generations of devils had sheltered here before him – once upon a time, thylacines as well. The craggy buttress baffled even the wildest winds and the ledge retained the sun’s heat. A bowed King Billy pine, lichened and twisted with age, obscured the den opening in a tangle of exposed roots. Below his den, sheer rock walls dropped to a tarn of darting minnows and choirs of frogs. Lazarus yawned and sat upright like a little black bear. He scratched his chest with a paw, blinked in pleasure and collapsed to toast his other side. Life was sweet in this peaceful stronghold.
As the sun went down, Lazarus began his nightly wanderings. He splashed across the corner of the tarn wh
