Search for the Dorak: The Myth Exposed Read online

  ‘Yeah I will need to see my Mum,’ Jack shares. Jack’s father died several years ago so there is only him and his mother, and for a change Jack assumes a serious stare as he ponders his own words.

  ‘I’ll go and see the folks and my sister too. They will probably be glad to see the back of me,’ Josh jokes acting more light-hearted than his mate Jack.

  The four men proudly walk together towards Main Street not far from Joe’s home and they all have their agenda and targeted family and friends they wish to see before heading off. They really do not know how long they will be gone, and none of the men care that much having no set time for their return.

  Dereton is a small isolated community and most families are of long standing and everyone, but everyone knows each other.

  There is an energetic mood as the four men smiling broadly wander down Main Street.

  ‘Good onya, Jack! Good onya,’ Bob Litchfield the local butcher yells from across the road as he spies the men walking down the street.

  ‘Thanks Bob,’ Jack yells back with a huge wave of his hand. ‘We will see you back here for a beer when we get back!’

  Bob waves back and the men are chuffed to hear his support.

  Jack crosses the road and the other three men, knowing the direction he is heading, allow him to head off on his own as he walks towards a house where his elderly mother lives.

  ‘Jack may get a tongue lashing there I think!’ Josh adds jokingly. ‘I know ‘ol Ma Murray and she will be telling Jack exactly what she thinks about this little adventure. That much I can tell you. I have known Jack’s mum for a long time and she doesn’t hold back.’

  No sooner has Josh finished telling the other men about Jack’s mum and a fired up Mary Tinkins can be seen crossing the road steaming towards the group.

  ‘Are you completely stupid? Do you think you can just go away on a stupid, mindless adventure without any responsibility or concern for others?’ Mary rants shouting for all to hear.

  Josh and Joe shuffle a few steps backwards and away from Sam’s very aggressive ex-wife.

  ‘Responsibility? Responsibility? Oh, as if you know about responsibility shacking up with Tom Huddle and becoming the gossip of the village,’ Sam says sternly returning fire to his aggressive wife as he stands and stares her down.

  ‘I probably wouldn’t be doing this if I had a faithful wife. BUT I don’t and I am looking forward to not having to run into you, so it is none of your business!’ Sam adds, turns and walks away.

  ‘Come on guys, I have better things to do than listen to this.’

  Josh and Joe follow behind Sam as he strides off. They are happy to get away from Mary who they know well, but of course since she has separated from Sam has also been estranged to them.

  Mary Tinkins stands with hands on hips and continues to fume as her ex-husband and his friends walk away and head towards the centre of the village.

  ‘I better go and see my folk’s guys,’ Josh adds as he stops to head in another direction.

  ‘I’ll see you back at Joe’s. I’ll get the tent and then we can go over the supplies and ammo before we all head down to the Grey Wolf.’

  ‘No worries,’ I hope the folks are understanding,’ Sam says as he raises his arm and waves to Josh.

  ‘Oh, they will be fine! Save your concerns for Jack,’ He yells as he continues to walk up the slight hill to where his parents live.

  It’s not long and Josh is at the entrance to his folk’s home. Josh hasn’t lived home for several years having shared a house initially with Jack, then a girlfriend, before moving again only recently into a small house on his own. He unlatches the small wooden gate and pushes it back to enter the path to the small cottage. No sooner has he walked the pathway and his father Ron greets him at the doorway with a solid handshake and beaming smile.

  ‘Fantastic! Fantastic Josh. The boys were talking about your adventure down at the General Store this morning and I am excited for you son,’ he shouts, as Josh releases his hand from his father’s grip and enters the cottage.

  Josh’s mother is quick to rush up and give her son a big hug as she shouts out, ‘Oh my! Oh, I am going to miss my boy but what an exciting thing to do.’ Teresa Harman is a big woman and she hugs Josh and plants a big kiss on his cheek, before adding, ‘So do you want something to eat? Are you coming around here for a roast before you head off?’

  ‘Mum the boys are meeting down at the Grey Wolf tonight for a few beers, but yeah I wouldn’t say no to a big meal tomorrow night before we all head off. We plan on being up real early to make a fresh start on Tuesday morning, but yeah that would be super,’ an excited Josh adds almost salivating at the thought of a big meal before departing on his adventure.

  The mood was upbeat but no sooner has his folk’s made him feel like a hero and in walks Jodi Harman. Jodi is Josh’s older sister. She works at the Bakery, has never had a boyfriend and has an opinion about everything. Jodi lives at home and although the siblings are civil, Josh often shares with people that Jodi was the motivation for him to move out of home.

  Jodi stands tall in the small family room of the cottage where she has just entered, puffs her stomach out and almost at the top of her voice yells, ‘What on earth are you doing Josh? Of all the stupid plans you have ever had this one takes the cake. What are you stupid?’

  Ron aims to calm Jodi down. ‘Jodi, your brother is entitled to make his own decisions,’ he adds.

  Ron is no match for Jodi and it is not the first time she has been overbearing voicing her opinion.

  ‘Make his own decisions? Geez, Dad whenever Josh makes his OWN decisions it only ever turns out badly. This has got to be the dumbest idea I have EVER heard of. Searching for little men with big red eyes……..ha ha,’ she laughs scoffing at Josh’s plan. ‘And just look at the company you are mixed up with. Jack…..has never done anything meaningful in his life. Not ever! Joe….a retired miner, and a no body! Sam….bitter and mixed up and with an ex-wife just as silly. I mean look at the lot of you, it’s just stupid. Stupid!’

  ‘Jodi behave! Behave that is just disrespectful and you have no right to tell your brother what to do. No right!’ A protective and defensive Teresa Harman insists, firmly rebuking her outspoken daughter. ‘Your brother will be here for dinner tomorrow before he heads off and I want that attitude of yours to be behind you and some positive encouragement before he leaves please.’

  Jodi turns and walks back to her room leaving Josh and his folk’s.

  ‘I will put on a cup of tea, before you head back and join the boys,’ Teresa says before getting up from the table.

  CHAPTER 4

  Josh enjoys spending time with his parents and after two cups of tea and some scones he decides it is time to join Jack, Sam and Joe. It was agreed that they would meet back at Joe’s and he grabs the tent and canvas that he promised and says his farewells to his parents.

  ‘Thanks for the cup of tea and scones. I will certainly miss your home cooking Mum,’ Josh laughs. ‘I will look forward to tomorrow night,’

  Josh’s sister doesn’t venture out to bid him farewell but he knows that he will see her tomorrow evening, and just hopes that he doesn’t receive another of her opinionated rants before he departs.

  He walks down the road and to his surprise Jack is just ahead.

  ‘Jack. Jack,’ he yells.

  Jack turns and waits for Josh to catch up.

  ‘How did you go with your Mum?’ Josh asks.

  ‘Oh you probably can guess. You know Mum. She doesn’t understand why we are all going on this stupid adventure and I have just spent the last hour hearing her version and sat through being told how stupid we all are,’ he says calmly.

  ‘Yeah well if it’s any consolation my sister also used the word stupid. So don’t go feeling too badly,’ Josh adds.

  ‘Nah, I just resigned myself to letting her say her peace. Besides, I am looking forward to that first beer down at the Grey Wolf,’ Jack adds sounding more upbeat and breaking int
o a half smile.

  The pair walk towards Joe’s place and both are feeling good about the adventure.

  As they enter Joe’s house the older men have already started to amass a number of items on the cobble floor under the rear verandah. Josh and Jack are impressed as they ogle over the items that are spread out. Ammunition, rifles, canned food, water and both Joe and Sam have their clothes laid in one area too.

  ‘Jack and I will need to get our clothes and here is the tent and canvas to make some additional cover,’ Josh adds.

  ‘Yes surprisingly, I think we have pretty much everything covered,’ an excited Joe shares with his friends.

  ‘Jack and I are both drained from our afternoon. I suppose we had hoped that everyone would be supportive, but both Jack and I have had some doubters,’ Josh shares.

  ‘I thought we make a big night of it and then behave ourselves tomorrow night so that we are in good shape to head off at sunrise Tuesday morning?’ he adds.

  ‘Yeah well I copped a spray from Mary, but pretty much expected that from the old cow,’ Sam laments. ‘What about you Joe, I haven’t really asked you how your afternoon was?’ Sam adds.

  ‘Oh mine was pretty good. All positive! I just caught up with a few old mates from the mines. As you all know my parents are long dead and my brother got killed in a mine accident a few years back, so I am not going to cop the opposition you young fellas did. So I suppose I am lucky that I don’t have anyone to throw rocks at me,’ Joe laughs.

  ‘Well let’s go down to the Grey Wolf and we can grab a few beer steins and get a bite to eat too. Old Sara does a pretty good meal,’ Jack adds.

  The men are quick to wash up and as a group quickly stroll down to the Grey Wolf Tavern. As Jack throws back one of the large double doors at the entrance to the tavern, Manager Ryan Skewes spots the men entering and for all to hear yells out, ‘Look everyone! Look what we have here our adventure team – Jack, Josh, Joe and Sam!’

  ‘Come on in guys.’

  ‘Everyone the first few rounds of drinks are on the house, so join me and congratulate the men before they head off.’ Ryan is very excited to see the men. Having spotted the group enter the tavern he walks from behind the bar to personally shake each man’s hand and give them a big hug.

  ‘Thanks Ryan, thank you so much,’ an emotional Jack yells out staring at Ryan as the pair finish shaking hands.

  With beers in hand the men clink glasses with a number of familiar faces, and a few villagers that the men know but rarely interact much with. The support is overwhelming.

  ‘Good onya Joe,’ a voice from behind the group yells.

  Joe turns and sees Pete Broad a crippled up old friend who smiles as he raises his stein from the corner of the tavern.

  Joe rushes over to acknowledge the old man. ‘Pete. I haven’t seen you for ages my old friend thanks for your good wishes, I appreciate it ‘ol fella.’

  Pete smiles back and raises his beer stein again before adding, ‘I heard of your adventure with the young guys Joe and I have to tell you I think it’s wonderful. Wonderful – I really do.’

  ‘Pete that is so nice to hear because……well there are a few knockers, so thank you.’

  ‘Joe don’t worry about the knockers they will always be around. My advice is do it while you can. Do it while you can, and I think it’s a great thing to be doing. Who knows what’s out there, but you will never know if you don’t get out there.’ Pete adds.

  The beers flow and the well-wishers are keen to acknowledge the group of adventurers who already seem to have taken on hero status, without having even left the village. The group has been overwhelmed with congratulatory wishes in the short time they have been in the tavern. The mood is electric, but suddenly everyone turns as the tavern doors are flung sharply and a voice yells out, ‘Adventurers and fools!’

  ‘Four wannabe’s! Dreamers chasing a rainbow!’ A fat bellied grey haired man who is known as ‘Old George’ stands firmly in the tavern’s entrance challenging the men.

  ‘No hopers the lot of you!’ He continues his rant, before Ryan the tavern Manager walks quickly from behind the bar and confronts the old man.

  ‘We don’t need you in here George if you are going to carry on like that! Go home and come back when you are civil,’ Ryan says sharply as he grabs the old man’s arm and turns him to help him walk out the door.

  ‘I’ll be back and you lot will be chasing rainbows,’ he yells laughing and sniggering under his breath as Ryan helps him out of the premises.

  ‘Don’t worry about the likes of Old George,’ Ryan insists as he returns and slowly walks back behind the bar. ‘So what will it be everyone? Let me get everyone another drink,’ he insists trying to restore the mood in the tavern after the old man’s rude invasion.

  ‘I suppose not everyone is going to respect what we want to do,’ Sam says to the group seemingly evaluating what has just occurred.

  ‘Well I for one am not put off,’ Jack adds. ‘I mean buggar them. My Mum, Josh’s sister. Let them have their bloody opinion but I am not going to let it rail road my ambition to succeed.’

  ‘Here! Here!’ I will toast to that Sam adds. As the group again clink beer steins in agreeance.

  CHAPTER 5

  Jack rolls over in bed. It is morning and reminiscent of so many mornings after he is hung over, dehydrated and listless. He simply wishes to stay in bed and is in no hurry to do anything. After a few more moments have elapsed he turns over and positions himself in bed so that the piercing sunlight coming through his blinds do not blind him. His hands are behind his head as he half sits up, and he rationalises that today is the last day in the village and tomorrow they will head off early on their adventure. ‘Better not be hung over,’ he laughs to himself.

  Jack has no food in the house and is hoping that his mother will come over and tidy up and keep an eye on the property whilst he is away. It’s not much, an old and very tiny cottage and Jack assumes that his Mum will decide what needs to be done. Jack rents the property and pays a pittance in rent so he knows that she will decide what needs to be done and worst case scenario his clothes and few possessions can be gathered up and the cottage tenanted.

  After a quick shower he dresses and throws his possessions into a back pack ready to lock up and travel over to Joe’s where he will meet the others. He looks around the small room, but is not one to reflect or dwell on things, and simply resigns himself to locking up the cottage and ready for his adventure. It’s a short stroll to Joe’s but as is often the case after a night at the Grey Wolf the head is sore and the walk seems longer.

  ‘Morning all,’ Joe says quietly as he walks in the door of Joe’s small house.

  ‘Geez, you look awful.’ Josh laughs. ‘I hope I don’t look that bad,’ he shares again laughing at his own joke.

  ‘You young fellas gave it a good ‘ol whack last night,’ Joe adds as he acknowledges Jack’s presence. ‘You need to take a page out of Sam and my book and learn how to pace yourselves. Mind you I am feeling a little ordinary too,’ Joe laughs.

  ‘Who is up for some breakfast?’ Joe announces.

  ‘Count me in. I could eat a horse,’ Josh yells proudly.

  ‘Me too I could do with some good ‘ol tucker,’ Sam adds.

  ‘Yes, well I am famished, I really am,’ Jack says.

  ‘Eggs and sausages and some fried tomato, and a hot pot of coffee is the go,’Joe shares with the group.

  ‘You certainly know how to please me,’ says Jack.

  As Joe cooks up a storm the men banter between themselves and go over their plan for the day.

  ‘We need to go into the village and shop for our supplies,’ Joe starts as he cracks another egg into the pan. ‘You have that list Sam?’

  ‘Yes, all good. I’ve gone over it with the boys and we believe we have everything covered,’ Sam replies.

  ‘What’s on for the remainder of the day Josh and Jack?’ Joe asks, ensuring that everyone is focused as he continues to watch over
breakfast sizzling away.

  ‘Well I promised Mum I would come over tonight. She’s cooking a roast and it may be my last good feed for months,’ Josh shares cheekily.

  ‘Yeah, I’ll see Mum this afternoon. But I’m not really looking forward to getting my ear chewed again so if it’s okay Joe I’ll come back here for dinner and park myself ready for tomorrow morning when we all head off,’ Jack says.

  ‘Yeah that’s fine. Sam are you coming over too? I’ll knock up a good hearty stew for us.’ Joe insists.

  ‘That will be great Joe. I am not planning much this afternoon after we shop. Maybe a few things to check and get ready, but otherwise I pretty much have said my farewells.’ Sam replies.

  The men sit around the small wooden table as Joe serves up eggs, sausages and tomato and pours everyone a mug of coffee. Joe is organised and it doesn’t take long before the foursome are tucking madly into the breakfast that he has prepared.

  ‘Mmmmm Mmmm,’ Jack sprouts out loud as he wipes his mouth with his fingers, enjoying every last morsel of food.

  The men sit back after devouring their breakfast and slowly sip on their large mugs of coffee.

  ‘I really think we need to be heading off around sunrise….first light tomorrow, we need to be trekking so that we can make as much headway as we can before sunset,’ Sam shares with the group.

  ‘So we are going to head northwest then?’ Josh asks.

  ‘Yeah, that is pretty much straight into forest. Deep into the forest, and whilst we really aren’t to know if the story Hunter told was fantasy or fiction, that is what most people have consistently passed down through the years. So that’s where we head,’ Sam insists.

  The group finishes up, and then gathers around the small sink as Joe washes the dishes. They all help dry and place the dishes back in the small cupboard.

  ‘Well I suppose we get our supplies and food and then that will pretty much be it,’ Joe adds again trying to organise the others.

  The men are soon sauntering down the street on their way to the Baker and General Store where they will get everything they need. Sam pulls the list from his trouser pocket and studies it as they walk.