Somewhere, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nothing on a unknown location in Western Australia in an old, dark red farm barn… little cries can be heard. Inside a young Border-Collie sits on a straw bale with his legs pulled up to his face and his head resting on his arms. His fur is wet from the tears that have fallen. The only thing that can be heard are the soft sobs and occasionally sniffing from the nose.
A bit of moonlight shines through the holes in the roof and lights the place a bit up. Not much, just enough to see the cold concrete floor and rusty bucket in the middle. For the rest it is pitch dark.
His eyes are closed and his sobs would be heart breaking to others, but since nobody was near, no one could hear him cry.
He had no thoughts at the moment. At this point he had enough of thinking why things happened to him. He just accepted that life hated him for some reason and he was done trying to reason why. The only thought that shoot through his mind sometimes was a wish that it all would end soon. Either by something or by himself.
''hey, new here?'' a little, hoarse voice suddenly said in the pitch darkness.
MacKenzie was startled and looked around him.
''I'm here'' the voice said to the left of him.
MacKenzie looked at that direction but still couldn't see anything.
''who… who are you. Where are you?'' he said still sobbing, with tears and fear in his eyes.
''Calm down, I'm not here to hurt you. As a matter of fact… I'm a fellow sufferer'' was spoken back to him.
MacKenzie wiped away the tears and concentrated to try to get a better vision. He squints his eyes and suddenly notices someone else sitting on a other straw bale. It's a young Dalmatian pup, a bit younger and smaller then MacKenzie. The Dalmatian pup has one giant black patch that covers him from snout to ear on the right side of his face while the other side is just white. On top of his head is a bit of black fur. He has one black ear with white spots and one white ear with black spots, a white body with countless black spots, but a tail that was all white except for a black tip. What MacKenzie notices immediately is how emaciated the pup looks.
''Who are you?'' MacKenzie asks.
''My name is David. David the Dalmatian and yes the 'the' is the middle name before you ask''.
''H…hh…iii..hi David'' MacKenzie says stammering.
''Hello. And you are?'' David asks.
MacKenzie wipes some snot from his nose and recovers. ''My name is MacKenzie Collie''.
''Collie? You are not a Collie right? You are a Border Collie''.
''Well I didn't pick my name'' MacKenzie says a bit annoyed.
''I know. Just thought that was funny. So MacKenzie… what brings you here?'' David asks sarcastically while his legs swing over the edge of the straw bale he is sitting on.
MacKenzie sighs and turns his head away. ''I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about it'' he says.
David laughs a little. ''Sorry, don't mean to be rude but can I guess? You either lost both or one of your parents or was dumped after birth and left behind in an orphanage and now you are adopted by the lovely Rotten family under the leadership of patriarch John. How much of it is true?''.
MacKenzie turns back to David but doesn't look at him but looks down instead. With a soft voice he says; ''yeah… most of that is correct''.
''I don't think it will make you feel any better, but just so you know that everyone who ended up here has gone through that'' David says.
MacKenzie now looks at him. ''They told me there would be others yes. Are they here in this barn?'' he asks.
David shakes his head. ''No. The other six are not here''.
''Where are they then?''
David sighs; ''You will see them tomorrow''.
Then it stays silent for a while between the two. MacKenzie looks around him a bit awkward. He has so many questions but doesn't know exactly how to ask them.
''So… what is this place exactly? How long have you been here? Who is John and what do you know about the guys that brought me here? Did they bring you here to?''
''Wow easy mate. One question at the time'' David says holding up his hands. ''As you probably know already, we are somewhere in the middle of Woop Woop. This farm is run by John Rotten and his son. His son is from his previous marriage as you probably could tell because… well he is a different breed''.
''Well no. I haven't seen his son yet, only that John guy'' MacKenzie says.
''Good. I hope you will never meet his son. He is dumb, really stupid. But he is also a big brute and very violent. So be aware of him. If he gets the change, when John isn't looking, he likes to kick you down. Literally! If he isn't here then he probably is on one of his working trips to Brisbane or Sydney then'' David answers.
MacKenzie is becoming more and more concerned about where he has ended up.
David: ''Both of them are really nasty fellows. Then there is also John's wife. She is a Sheltie dog and here name is Doris. You won't see her that much. Most of the day she spends making dinner for John and his son and when she isn't doing that she is just watching television. But! Be aware of her. Just like those other two she keeps a constant eye on you and if you do something she doesn't like she will tell John. And you don't want to mess with John. None of them can't be trusted!''.
''You haven't told me much about John yet'' MacKenzie says after David finishes.
David looks at him with raised eyebrows. ''I thought you figured out by now and with you short experience with him that he is the most dangerous one of them all!''.
MacKenzie looked concerned. David sees it and sighs. ''John is the big boss here. He is mean, nasty, smelly, violent and just a sadist overall. The lazy cunt's favourite hobby is watching us work while… well you will see how he keeps us working''.
''But what about him adopting children. The agent who took me here said John had adopted several others to look after them so they would be better off here'' MacKenzie says in disbelief.
David chuckles at the comment. ''Nah mate. They lied or they just don't care enough to check what is going on here. John Rotten is running this farm for over fifty years now. About eight years ago when he turned sixty five he realised he was to old to do it all by himself and hiring paid staff is something he can afford, but something the old miser doesn't want to spend a dime on. So he figured out that he could abuse the adoption system to get himself free labour. You, me, the others are nothing else but working tools to him. And well… just to warn you. When one of his working tools breaks down, he won't repair it. Oh no, he will replace it. Just so that you be aware''.
David then grabs a old, dirty blanket and covers himself up with it. He looks at MacKenzie with a serious face.
''Now take my advice. It's late and the day will start early tomorrow. Go to sleep because you will need all the sleep you can get''. With that David lies down. MacKenzie now notices that he also has a chain around his leg. David turns around on his straw bale and disappears in the darkness.
MacKenzie gulps and picks up his dirty, old stinking blanket. Although he is shivering from the cold, he decides that he is not cold enough to use that disgusting thing. He throws it besides him and also lies down on his straw bale, facing the wooden wall.
The words of David are spinning through his head and worriedly he falls in shallow sleep. It would be a uneasy night for him.
A bit earlier on the same day in Calypso's house:
Calypso is standing in her kitchen. The water kettle turns off and she pours two white cups with boiling water. She places them on white saucers with pink roses on them, a teabag with Rooibos goes in one and in the other Earl Grey. With a cookie box and the saucers she returns to the living room and puts the items on the coffee table.
Mrs. Retriever sits on the couch and Calypso sits next to her. Calypso picks up her cup and blows the steam away to cool the water off. As she picks up a anzac biscuit from the cookie box, she asks mrs. Retriever: ''What was it you wanted to tell me?''
Mrs. Retriever picks up her cup of tea and starts twirling the spoon nervously.
''I don't trust them.''
Calypso looks at her. She knew who Mrs. Retriever meant. She also is angry at the child safety services council. As a matter of fact, she despised them.
Since the national government of Australia introduced that council about ten years ago, they have been a non-stop pain in her behind. And for many of her teaching colleagues as well. The council wasn't a real council but just an extra department the sitting government at the time had introduced.
Basically it was just another useless government department where annoying civil servants were banished because they were not performing in their previous departments.
Every Australian state (including Tasmania) had a council who were responsible for their individual states. But the big cities in Australia (Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Melbourne) had their own, who were independent from the state councils. But the one thing they had in common was that all those councils were under the direction of the head office located in Brisbane, rather than in Canberra, Australia's capital city.
Every child safety services council was responsible for the securement of children's safety and welfare in families and foster families in the regions they are responsible for. They had the authority to remove children from dangerous situations and families and relocate them to foster and adoptive families. They also must prevent child labour and abuse on working places.
But the reality was that most of the time these councils spent their time doing check-ups at all schools, in- and outdoor playgrounds and day-cares. They were known as being nit-pickers that annoyed local municipalities, community centres, shopping malls, daycare centers, playgrounds, playhouses and schools. Handing out fines and nagging about minuscule details was what they were best at and how they were known. From time to time some of these councils even bothered neighbourhoods to randomly show up and inspect neighbourhood and private family parties, toys in and around the house and even babysitters. Searching for things that weren't dangerous but they could describe as 'possibly dangerous for a child' so they could write fines.
Calypso in her role as teacher had encountered them many times. They had given her multiple warnings over nothing. They told her how she should teach and what she should do, how to talk to her students to even what and how to read books to them. They had in the past criticized the layout of her classroom, the games she played and even told her not to dress like she did (put on her blue scarf). They never had something positive to say because they never could find a serious issue when they came over to check on things.
So no, she wasn't very positive about them. And she never met someone who was. But now someone told her out right she didn't trust them. And for Calypso there was a difference between finding an organisation a nuisance and not trusting. So that word echoed through her head. She decided not to ask, but to make Mrs. Retriever explain herself. Calypso leans more for over and jokingly says: ''Who can blame you? They are a pain. I think everyone has at least ten examples of why they… suck''.
Mrs. Retriever looks dead serious. ''No. I really do mean that. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark!''.
Calypso frowns ''You are not going to tell me that you think they are some kind of evil department created by the government? Because… well if you do think that… I think you might be right. But I would rather say they are incompetent''.
The other teacher frustratedly takes a big bite from her macadamia nut cookie and with her mouth full says: ''No, I am not some kind of conspiracy theorist that thinks the whole government is evil. But this council they introduced are! At least the Brisbane department is''.
Calypso looks at her and strokes her temple. ''I know everyone has their bad experiences with them, but…''
''But you and me had a whole different experience with them. Not the usual fuss about nothing, but something more serious! Something all of our colleague's in the state of Queensland haven't experienced yet'' Mrs. Retriever interrupts. ''And you *points at Calypso* have even experienced it at front. I was standing at the side line, I heard a story and knew the person involved. You actually had it happen to you up close''.
Calypso looks confused. ''What do you mean?''.
Mrs. Retriever throws her arms in the air out of frustration. ''That they kidnapped a child out of a safe environment for no apparent reason!''.
Calypso closes her eyes for a moment. ''What they have done to MacKenzie yesterday is horrible and unjustified. And I will not forgive them for that. What they said about his foster parents and me is also wrong and based on lies. But it doesn't mean they kidnap children for no apparent reason''.
''But they do!" Mrs. Retriever says in desperation.
Calypso shakes her head. ''They took MacKenzie away because of apparent false rumours I and Mr. Heeler weren't aware off even existed. They had to talk to us and others first before taking such a drastic and unjustified action. They were wrong and I attend to fight it to get MacKenzie back or to know where he is. That is what I will do first thing tomorrow. I fight it and I'm sure they will see they made a mistake. They did not kidnap him'' Calypso says calm.
''You don't understand!'' Mrs. Retriever says loud, making Calypso slightly move uneasy on the couch and feel a bit uncomfortable. ''Everyone knows you. They even know you. Why would they take such a dramatic approach? They have been falsely informed and take immediate action instead of finding out what is really going on. Don't tell me that is a normal thing to do?! Calypso, they and especially Friso Fries are suspicious.''
Calypso, now a bit frustrated: ''How do you even know that for sure? You accuse them of something serious like this. Look, I also don't like Friso. Sure, for the last six years he has been here in Brisbane he's been a big nitpicker and very annoying, but he is not a kidnapper. What happened yesterday was a mistake. It's not like he or his department make that mistake every year!''.
Mrs. Retriever slumps down on the couch and sighs. With a soft voice she starts to tell: ''Like I told you before you let me in… MacKenzie isn't the first child to be saved by that man. Let me tell you something.'' she closes her eyes.
''About five years ago a former student of mine went missing. Her name was Pam, short for Pamela. When she was five years old she was in my kindy. Her life had been tragic. Her mother died during childbirth, and consumed by grief her father left so she was brought up by her grandparents. About five years ago, she must have been eleven by then, I saw her in the shopping mall with one of her uncles. They told me that her grandmother had died when she was nine and that she also recently lost her grandfather. Her uncle was in the process of adopting her and she liked him as they always stayed in contact with her and his parents, her grandparents, and he looked like a friendly and good person''.
Mrs. Retriever stops and slowly sips some tea out of her mug. She looks sad at Calypso as she continues.
''Just two weeks later after i saw them, someone told me the most horrific thing I ever heard by then. The NCSSC (National Child Safety Services Council) had raided her uncle's house, accused him of being a…*she shivers at the thought and the word that she finds difficult to get out of her mouth* child predator and arrested him.
They had Pam dragged out of the house into a blue van and drove her off. All the time she was screaming and crying that none of it was true and that she didn't want to go…but those agents didn't listen. Violently they took her away and drove off with her. To this day no one has ever seen or heard from her again''.
It's quiet in the room for a while. Mrs. Retriever takes another sip of her tea..
''Just three days later her uncle was set free and he was out of jail. Turned out he was a decent man, never did anything wrong and certainly was not a predator. He was falsely accused… But even though he was innocent, people just never believed him. The rest of his family never wanted to speak to him again, he got fired from his job, lost his friends and all respect he had. I heard that he tried to find his niece for over four years without success. One day he just gave up and… well I think you have seen it on the news if you can remember it. It was on it last year. He was the guy that jumped of the bridge in Sydney harbour and landed in the propeller of that freighter. Horrific end''.
Calypso was in shock. The story she was just been told was horrible, frightening but also very…
''Something out of that story sounds familiar to you?'' Mrs. Retriever straight away asks to Calypso with a deadpan face.
Calypso looks at her and nods with a sad face; ''yes… the false accusations, the dragging away with force, the blue van…it sound awfully familiar''.
'''Do you also know who knocked on the door of her uncle's house? Who accused him of those terrible things? Gave the order to take Pam away from the only family member who wanted to adopt her and arrest her uncle and is the only guy who knows where she ended up? Take one good guess!'' Mrs. Retriever dears Calypso.
Calypso gulps and with a soft and trembling voice answers the question: ''Friso…''.
Mrs. Retriever slowly nods. ''And in the meantime I found out that she wasn't the first or last child Friso and his department have visited and so called saved out a so called dangerous environments based on false accusations. Like I said… something fishy is going!''.
Later that night around midnight on the other side of town in a other house:
Stripe lies down in bed. He turns and twitches but can't fall asleep. Today was a horrible day and he was feeling terrible.
His brother was hurt to begin with and he loved his brother. Seeing him in pain did hurt him to. But then he said something awful and got in a fight with his brother even to the point he became scared of him. Although they made up, Stripe still felt guilty about what he said. He didn't even know exactly why he did that. Besides that, there was also the fact that his niece, his sister in law, both of his brothers and even one of his own children told him that his marriage was unstable. That it looked like he and his wife did not meet eye to eye anymore.
Earlier that day when he was being told that and Trixie overheard it, she got in a heated argument with Rad outside of the house. Chili and Bandit stayed out of it. When the two got back they apparently and surprisingly made things straight between them and the tension was out of the air. The stayed for a bit longer at Bandit's house for some coffee and small talk before they left. But all that time, Stripe wasn't there. Well, his body was there but his mind was somewhere else. For the rest of the day he hadn't spoken a single word. He was confused, felt guilty and was hurt all at the same time.
He gives up on falling asleep and sits straight up in bed and turns on his night light. He picks up a note book and starts writing in it. This causes Trixie to slowly wake up.
''hmm.. uh? Wha? Stripe… *rubs her eyes* what are you doing now?"' she mumbles.
''Writing down what is wrong with me'' he says without looking at her.
''Oh okay Hon. Don't forget to add that you lack a pair of brains'' she says as she turns back around.
''I can't, I already have written that down on my list of things wrong with you'' he says back.
Trixie is now fully awake and also sits up right. She crosses her arms.
''So… you have made a list of things about me that annoy you? Care to share?''
Stripe looks a bit uneasy and looks at her. ''No… I haven't made such a list'' he then grins ''yet!''.
Trixie rolls her eyes. ''dickhead'' she calls him.
Suddenly Stripe stops writing, thinks and looks at her. ''Trix… do you mean that?''
She looks at him surprised. ''What?''.
''Do you really think that I am a…dickhead''.
Trixie gasps grabs his hand. ''No. of course not. I just said it…because… well I don't know actually. Why would you think that?''.
She looks down and thinks hard. ''I thought it was funny. Like you call me a bogan or a drongo sometimes. Do you mean that when you say that to me then?''
Stripe looks shocked back at her. ''No of course not! They are just cute little pet names I call you… or I think they are?'' he now also looks down.
Then they both look at each other. They know each other well enough to know that they are thinking the same and at the same time they say the exact same thing: ''What is wrong with us?''.
Stripe takes both of Trixies paws in his and looks at her. ''Trixie doll… I have to know. There is a question that is spinning in my head throughout most of the day…. do you still love me?''
Stripe gets emotional as his lips start to tremble and a tear in his right eye is creeping up. Trixie gasps. ''Oh Stripe… *she bend over to hug him* of course! I love you, I really do. Why would you think otherwise?'' a tear starts to form in her right eye as well.
Stripe tumbles his thumbs. ''Well… Because of what Muffy said, and what Bingo said today. That they think we will divorce because we don't love each other anymore. Rad thinks that and even Bandit almost said it twice this week and now… I'm not sure if they notice or see things that we don't see. Is our relationship really falling apart?''.
''Well… do you still love me?'' Trixie asks him.
He hugs her back ''YES! Yes of course I also still love you. You are my everything!" he sobs.
For a while they hug each other seeking comfort in each other.
''But why… why do people think we don't love each other then?'' Stripe asks confused.
Trixie grabs him carefully and soft at the shoulders and looks at him. ''Look, I had a talk with Radley after I came back with Chili and we heard what he said. And when I confronted him about it he explained why everyone thinks that. It's because of our communication to each other'' she says.
''Huh? What now?'' he asks confused.
''Apparently we 'squabble' a lot'' she says and shrugs her shoulders.
Stripe is confused. ''We barely have a fight or discussion. Don't we?''.
Trixie looks ashamed. ''Well. That is what I also thought. But apparently we haven't''.
''Huh?'' Stripe says even more confused.
Trixie looks at him. ''I give you an example. Bingo, and also Bluey, think of us as the aunt and uncle that are always fighting with each other. Chili told me that apparently that day Chili brought them over to us when she and Bandit picked up MacKenzie from the hospital both the girls did not wanted to be here. When they got back home Bingo told Chili that we were arguing all the time during the game we played, confirming both their and her fears''.
''Well… sometimes we have our differences. But that is normal for a married couple right?'' Strips interrupts.
''True, but we have do that more often the other couples. Rad gave me some more examples like three days ago when we were at his house when we made Socks upset. She wasn't only upset about how we talked to each other, but really thinks that when we do talk like that we have like really big fights. Her sister then lets her believe we will separate.
And then four months ago at the restaurant we visited for you mum's birthday when we didn't agree on the menu and tips. It apparently frightened your mum and made the rest of the family ashamed. Rad said he is afraid that we started to drift apart since his wedding with Frisky because we spend some time in fight'' she tells her husband.
Stripe raises his eyebrows. ''Strange… I can't remember that we had a fight in the restaurant or at his wedding. Or that Bluey and Bingo don't like being here because we… fight?''.
Trixie nods. ''I have the same feeling. I also don't feel or can remember we had fights. But what he told me…*she sobs a little* he and the whole family thinks we are constantly fighting because we attack each other so often…''
''I never attacked you!" Stripe says shocked and in defence.
''With words, not physically dipstick! Now let me talk for once without fucking interrupting''
''Well don't be such a fucking bore then!'' he snaps back.
Suddenly they freeze. They look on their faces change into pure horror as they both look at each other suddenly realising at the same time what they just said to each other.
''oh no…'' they both whisper at the same time.
It's stays quiet between them for a while, while they both look at each other confused.
Stripe then brakes the silence. ''Is this what the others are talking about?''
Trixie nods. ''I think it is''.
Stripe looks puzzled. ''I never noticed that we talk to each other like this until… now''.
''Me too. My god that is horrible'' Trixie says.
''If this is our way of communication with each other and everyone sees it, but us…'' Stripe begins.
''then it is no wonder everyone thinks we don't love each other and are always fighting'' Trixie finishes the sentence.
''Babe. We have some serious communication issues we have to work on'' Stripe tells her.
Trixie nods in agreement. ''Yes we have. We don't see it and so make fools out of ourselves. And the worst thing is that it is affecting Muffin and Socks''.
''My god. No wonder Socks has been so quiet to us the last couple of months'' Stripe realises.
''We need to see someone to help us improving our communicating skills. A therapist or something'' Trixie says.
''Agreed. I just wonder how all of this started. We never talked to each other like this before… did we'' Stripe wonders.
''Well… we did. I think it's because of our love for insulting each other?'' Trixie says.
Stripe looks surprised at her. ''explain?''
Well, before Muffin was born we were a bit rough and tough don't you remember? I remember meeting you for the first time at university. You were handsome, sporty, cool, well dressed but overall such a gentlemen''.
''Still am'' Stripe interrupts and chuckles. ''And you were tough, had a big mouth, wasn't afraid of anything and you rode on that motorbike. You were so different from the other girls, such a cool chick. That is why I fell for you because under my shell… I was just a softy''.
Trixie strokes his cheek. ''You still are a softy Stripe'' she chuckles, making him blush. She then continues. ''But remember that we liked to act tough around each other because of who we were? Calling each other names and such? Thinking it was funnier to call each other a 'cunt' or 'dickhead' instead of honey or darling. Because it was funnier, made us more stand out to other couples and because you did not wanted that kind of love bird and clinging relationship as your brother and his then girlfriend, now your sister-in-law had?''
Stripe nods. ''Yeah I do. We thought it was cute to do the opposite. Pfff… Bandit and Chili were really clingy to each other back then. It was almost cringe'' he looks then a bit confused.
''Well… now that I think about it, I think because it has become so normal to talk to each other like that, that we actually stopped noticing it. Our way of communication has been ruined because we never set boundaries on what we can and cannot say to each other'' Trixie concludes.
''You mean that those fights happen because we never learned ourselves to stop giving each other insults and it worsened overtime, that from words in turned into full heated, cruel sentences?'' Stripe says, trying to understand.
''I think so. I think it's something that is settled in our vocabulary without us realising it. And we have to do something about that''.
''Totally agree. We can't talk to each other like that anymore. Especially for the children's sake!'' Stripe says. ''But, are we only insulting each other with sentences or do we still call each other names?''
Trixie sighs. ''Well, I just called you a dickhead, and you call me things. So yes, that is also still happening and something to work on. And when we are throwing insults at each other, other people think we do that out of hate or something ridiculous like that''.
Stripe thinks a bit and then rubs the back of his head. ''Well… come to think of it. In conclusion we have gone a little bit too far with using abusive words to talk to each other''.
''But… I like it when you say those words to me'' Trixie says back confessing.
''Yeah, I think it's funny to but… maybe we should be more careful when we do that when others are around''.
Trixie thinks. ''Yeah…I think you are right. It now comes over as hate. We should keep it to ourselves when we are alone. Especially for the children…my dog! What kind of example have we given to them? All those things we said to each other in front of them''. Trixie is horrified by the thought of the many bad words she has said to Stripe in front of their children.
''I agree. From now one we only call each other those kind of names when we are alone''.
Trixie hugs Stripe and lays down. ''Agreed. Good that we settled all that then''.
She rest her arm on his chest. ''It's good to know that we still love each other' and can communicate normally'.
Stripe also lies down and hugs her back before starring in her eyes. ''Yeah I know. And I really do love you. And I really want to work on our communication so the whole world realises that we love each other. This is the start for us of a whole new chapter as far as I am concerned''.
Trixie giggles. ''Yeah, I want everyone to know that there is nothing but love between us. But for now… *she flicks the fur on his chest, I don't give a damn what the world thinks about us. We know how we think about us. Don't we?... Dickhead'' she giggles.
Stripe grins back. ''Yeah, screw the world for now. They don't know how we love each other. My little chubby grey demon''.
He leans for over to kiss her. She kisses him back and quickly they kiss each other passionate. He grabs her firmly and pulls her close to him. After some more kisses and intimate hugs, Stripe grabs the blanket to cover them up. A night full of love and no hate had started.
Meanwhile, in another Heeler household there was no passionate, love making going on in the master bedroom. Instead, Chili was fast asleep in bed all alone. Bandit was downstairs in the living room, sitting down on the couch. He wasn't kicked out of the room. This time he had voluntarily chosen to stay downstairs.
If anyone at that moment would walk in they would be scared for life. The dog on the couch looked threatening and seemed like he could snap and attack suddenly at every given moment.
He was holding Chili's hockey stick firmly with two fists. Thick, dark circles surrounded his dark-red bloodshot eyes. He was extremely exhausted, breathed heavily and for the last three hours he had just been starring at the door. His grip on the hockey stick was firm. Ready to beat anyone who dared to enter his house.
Bandit was in a state of defence and worry and on the edge of paranoia. He was afraid that at every moment a group of government officials would storm in to take his daughters away from him. He decided he wouldn't let that happen without a fight.
In the twenty-seven hours after they took MacKenzie, he only had fallen asleep once for about thirty-five minutes. In those few minutes he did not rest at all as a nightmare filled his head in his sleep. A terrible nightmare where he was pinned on the ground by a dozen of police officers, looking and crying desperately as both of his daughters were dragged away from their rooms. Both of them crying desperately for their father to save them, but he could only look helplessly and do nothing.
To make his dream worse, he had seen how both of his daughters were being crammed in a van next to a unconscious, or maybe even dead, border-collie pup without a name (but Bandit knew who it was), his wife being non stopped tasered and Friso sitting on Bandit's couch laughing evilly and mocking him.
Bandit did not want thing to repeat or that his nightmare would turn into something real. So he was prepared. Staying awake and being alert was what he did. He had no weapons so Chili's hockey stick should do. If that didn't protect him enough, he had his own cricket bat also within reach. And if that wouldn't work, he would fight hard with his bare fists. He wasn't planning on being taken out that easily like they did a night before when they took MacKenzie.
After another half hour had passed he started to lose his concentration as the tiredness kicked in. He sighs and stands up. He walks to the kitchen to make himself a cup of coffee to keep himself awake. He was so terrified of the thought of Bluey and Bingo being taken away from him that his own health did not matter now.
He grabs a mug and fills it with steaming hot coffee before walking back to the living room.
There he looks at the family portrait on the wall. ''I protect you. No one takes us apart!" he says to himself determined as he takes a sip. He then looks at Chili specifically. ''I will not fail you…like I failed Josh and Charlotte'' his head now drops.
He turns around and dejected walks upstairs to the guestroom, the room MacKenzie stayed in.
He opens the door and looks at the wedding picture of MacKenzie's parents on MacKenzie's desk. He picks it up and looks at them. A tear falls down his cheek. He then speaks to the dogs on the photo: ''Listen you two. I know what you guys are probably thinking right now and I am sorry okay. I am really sorry. Even though I know that sorry isn't enough right now. I made a promise that I would look after him and I failed you twice within a week. Believe me please…i never wanted any of this to happen…you two know that I never did anything wrong right? Please know'' Bandit speaks softly with a broken voice.
He places the picture back down on the desk again. ''I promise we will find him and take him back home. I do whatever I can to make sure he will be save. I will make it up to you two! he talks to the picture that naturally doesn't talk back to him.
''Please believe me!" he almost begs to the dogs on the picture.
He sits down on the bed and rests his head on his hand. ''Who am I kidding? How am I ever going to find out where he his?'' he says in defeat.
Earlier that evening he had tried to find information about the possible whereabouts of MacKenzie. He called several orphanages, looked up where border collies could be adopted and even called some sheep farms in and around Queensland to ask if they recently adopted a child. He then began to search online for information about the child safety council and Friso. But the only thing he could find online were some old news articles about Friso and how he was praised in those articles helping children to find new homes and how well he was managing the Brisbane department. Bandit was disgusted by that and shut off his phone after looking at that.
He hated that man. He never hated someone in his life before, Bandit wasn't a guy to hate anyone else. But now for the first time he made a exception.
Bandit stands up and walks back downstairs to grab his phone. He decides to try again to see if he can now find some clues online. As soon as his phones turns on he sees that he has two missed calls from the same, unknown number and one voice mail left behind after the second attempt.
Bandit raises his eyebrow. ''Who called me twice today?'' he wonders. ''Maybe MacKenzie's new caretaker of that Friso guy realising he made a mistake?'' he think to himself hopeful.
He dials the number of the voicemail to listen to the message that was left behind.
''You have one new message from'' a robotic voice says before he hears a dogs' voice saying ''Hi Bandit, it's Mabel''. As soon as he hears the kiwi accent and the voice of MacKenzie's aunt his face then turns into complete shock and dejection. He sits down on a chair, grabs his tail and nervously bites in it.
''Hi Bandit, how are ya? Just called to ask how MacKenzie is and to see if I could talk to him? Tried to call, like you probably hear right now haha, but your phone is off. Should I try again tomorrow? Let me know. Hope you are all doing right there. Say to MacKenzie that I love him and that we all miss him''
''Maccie! You egg hahaha. Just kidding'' a child in the background yells. ''That was Rupert, he says hi'' Mabel sighs. ''Anyway sorry to interrupt. Speak to you soon and say hi from us to Chili and the kids as well. Bye!''. With that the voice mail ends.
Bandit puts his phone down and spits out his tail. He slams his head into his hands. ''Oh noooo… how can I ever explain to her what happened?" he asks himself in desperation.
-
The next day:
MacKenzie is been awaken by the sound of a big screech. He blinks his eyes a couple of times and looks around. The sun has just started to rise and the barn is a bit more lightened then the night before. He yawns and sits down. Suddenly he hears footsteps coming closer and before he knows the curtain that is hanging between his 'space' and the rest of the barn is being pulled open.
''Alright, time to wake up you mutt!'' John yells angrily.
He throws something at MacKenzie, hitting him in the stomach. It doesn't hurt, but it makes his jump up a little bit anyway. John then places down a bottle of water and turns around. ''You have twenty minutes to eat that, drink that and piss and shit in the bucket if you need to. When I get back, we get to work!''. John then leaves, leaving the barndoor open.
MacKenzie picks up what was being thrown at him. It is a single slice of white bread. Stone hard and a bit covered in mold.
''Lucky you. He is giving you topping on bread''. MacKenzie hears someone say. He turns around and sees David.
''I can't eat that! It has mold on it. Is this everything he gives?'' he asks.
David nods. ''Yup, that is breakfast alright. And that bottle of water ofcourse. But don't be greedy. It's the only bottle you get from him today. Every day one bottle of water''.
MacKenzie grabs the bottle and takes a small sip, only to spit it out in disgust. ''Yuck! What kind of water is this?''.
''It's coming from the old well next to his house where he collects rainwater. Hasn't been cleaned in years. But believe me… you get used to it. After some days you will be begging for more of it''.
The words worry MacKenzie.
''In the afternoon and in the evening he gives you some soup. If he thinks you earned it by working hard enough'' David then says. ''So, better start eating if you want to survive. You need this…protein''.
MacKenzie feels like David is fooling him. Surely what he says can't be true, right? On the other hand… John seems like a person to be that kind of guy and his situation up to this point doesn't tell that David is lying.
With extreme difficulty he tries to take a bite of the bread. Just like he thought it tasted awful. So he spits that out also. He hides the bread and decides that he can wait until the soup he gets at lunch. Then for a while he sits and just stares at the bucket without any thoughts. In body he his there, but his mind is gone. Somewhere to a safer and nicer place in his imagination. After exactly twenty minutes John returns and grabs MacKenzie's leg.
He opens the lock from the chain and then drags him outside to the field next to the barn.
There he opens up a outdoor cabinet and throws a rake at MacKenzie's feet.
''Today we start easy'' he says with a raspy voice as he lights up a cigarette. ''by the end of the day I expect you to have dug the entire field with this''.
MacKenzie's mouth falls open. ''The entire field?!'' he asks in disbelieve as he looks around him at the 300 hectares of farmland around him.
''Of course the entire field you mongrel!'' John snaps back.
''But this is a rake for leaves… I can't even do that with this. I need a spade or shovel for that. And besides, don't you have a tractor for that or…OUCH!'' MacKenzie yelps as he grabs his snout in pain. John, irritated by the questions just pulled a whisker out of MacKenzie's snout.
John flicks the whisker away. ''Don't ask to many questions you worthless hori! That's a waste of time and losing time is a waste of money. No, you are not allowed to use my expensive equipment. So… you can just use this tool that I am kindly offering you now or you use your claws. Your choice!''. He looks threatening and intimidating.
MacKenzie trembles with fear and shiveringly picks up the rake from the ground.
John grins creepily from ear to ear and pets MacKenzie on the head. ''Now that's a good boy. Get to work!''. He then walks away.
MacKenzie looks at the rake in his hands and sighs. He wants to cry, but he won't allow himself to do that.
''Hey, just follow what I do'' he then hears David say.
He turns around and sees David already working the ground with the rake.
''It's not the easiest way of doing it but you get used to it''.
''But this is impossible!" MacKenzie complains.
David shrugs his shoulders. ''Well… get used to it. You have to''.
Before MacKenzie can say another word, he hears John coughing loudly, clearly asking for some attention. MacKenzie turns around and sees John sitting in his rocking chair on the verandah of his house. He holds a brown bottle of Fosters beer in one hand, and in the other a rifle. A old Winchester Model 70, classic stainless.
''Better start working or would you like to meet my old friend mister kablooey over here?'' he says as he waves it around threatening.
''Better do what he says'' David tells MacKenzie as he starts working.
MacKenzie gulps and looks down. ''This is going to be a long, hard day'' he thinks. He starts raking the ground. Of course it doesn't do much to the hard soil. After ten minutes he barely dug a centimetre.
''Come on MacKenzie. You need to do better then that. If he comes over to inspect and sees you barely did something, he will punish us both!'' David says frustrated when he looks at MacKenzie's progress.
''But this is not the right tool to use and the soil is to dry!'' MacKenzie says back in frustration.
''Just look what I do and copy me'' David commands. MacKenzie looks over and sees that David has done a bit more. He sticks his rake in the ground, wiggles it and drags it a bit before repeating the process.
MacKenzie copies it as best as he can. After some more time he gets the hand of it and he finally makes some progress. But it's unnecessarily difficult, hard work and very frustrating. For the next few hours he works hard plowing the land. The sun is high and bright, there are no clouds or shadows and the temperature quickly rises. After two hours MacKenzie is tired, completely broken and worst of all, the pain in his back has returned. He barely can't stand straight. His fur is a mess and dirty, he is sweating like a pig and his tongue hangs out of his mouth.
When he finally reaches the other side of the field, he leans on the rake to rest a bit and catch his breath.
''Oi!'' John yells as he comes over. ''Wadda ya think you're doing you lazy bum? Get back to work!''
MacKenzie points at the work he already has done. ''I have done this whole bit already! I just catch a break before I continue. AUGH!" he screams in pain as John grabs his finger and pulls at it.
''No pointing and don't you dare speak back to me. It's smoko when I tell its smoko! Now it's not so keep working!''.
MacKenzie quickly gets back to work. After another two hours it's almost lunch time when MacKenzie reaches the other side at the barn again. He has ploughed about 5% of the field. His whole body hurts and he is on the verge of blacking out from a heat stroke.
John comes back with another beer in his hand and in the other this time a small hand fan to keep himself cool. ''Hmmm. No. This won't do. If you would have put more effort in to it you would have deserve the soup. But I'm not satisfied. You get ten minutes to rest and then back to work''.
Panting MacKenzie barely can whisper in disbelief; ''wha… no…soup?''
John smiles at him. ''That's right. You should be halfway right now and you aren't even halfway of that! And if you had eaten that bread I kindly gave you this morning instead of throwing it away then you wouldn't have a empty stomach by now. And if you want something to drink, I gave you a bottle of water. Hope you bring it with ya?''
John turns around and walks away.
MacKenzie collapses now. He hasn't eaten anything today and is in need of water. But he did not bring that disgusting bottle with him.
''Hey, here you go'' David says as he now stand over MacKenzie. He gives MacKenzie the bottle. ''I have been through the same so I thought to bring your bottle with me in case you changed your mind''.
MacKenzie looks at him very gratefully, reaches for the bottle and chucks it down. The water is still disgusting and tastes like lead, but it's water. He didn't care about taste right now because he needed it and wanted it.
''Whoa, don't drink everything!" David warns and grab the bottle back, startling MacKenzie. ''We will be here for the rest of the day in this heat! You need this''.
MacKenzie doesn't want to understand, but he understands.
''The best thing you can do is to take a sip every time you get halfway through. So at the start, halfway and at the end. That way you make it until the evening'' David calmly explains.
MacKenzie nods. ''Thank you'' he says to him. David nods friendly back and then helps MacKenzie getting back up. When MacKenzie stands up, David suddenly throws soil on him.
MacKenzie jumps up a bit ''Hey! What is that for'' he asks demanding and startled.
''Keeps the sun from reaching your skin. Helps against the sunburns'' David says as he picks up some more soil and spreads it over MacKenzie's back. MacKenzie sees that David has covered himself in soil already. He doesn't feel like trusting anybody evermore, but in this case he does. So he grabs some soil himself and rubs it over his body.
''Smoko over, back to work!" John yells from his rocking chair.
The two look at each other and then get back to work. For the rest of the long day they work very hard. The soil on his fur actually helps, and the little nips of water from time to time keep MacKenzie going. But the pain he has is insufferable and over the day he can't help but to let out little cries and whimpers.
When the sun settles down again over the land, he is almost halfway. John wasn't impressed however. He scold MacKenzie and called him lazy, weak, worthless and limp. After he is done he picks him up by the scruff and throws him in a wheel barrel and rides him back to the barn.
John opens the door and rides to the back where he opens the curtain and throws MacKenzie on the straw bale and secures his ankle to the chain again. MacKenzie is to tired and weak to respond to any of this what happened. It doesn't get through to him. He is even to tired to focus, think or have any kind of emotion.
Then John's wife walks in. A black and white Sheltie with orange patches in her face and orange paws, a crooked nose and the most grumpiest expression he'd ever seen on anyone's face. She throws a wooden bowl with wooden spoon at MacKenzie's feet. She then grabs a plastic container from a plastic bag she carries with her.
''This is the love of my live, Doris. She worked hard to give you food. You threw away your bread this morning and at lunch time didn't eat her soup…''
''you didn't give me any soup…'' MacKenzie mumbles.
John comes closer, holds up his hand and threatens to slap him, causing MacKenzie to take cover and hide his face behind his hands. John doesn't slap him, but just pumps fear into him. Doris looks at her husband side eyed and doesn't react to any of it. She still looks unimpressed with everything. He then continues talking. ''you have hurt her feelings. So, therefore I expect that you eat this stew to the very last drop to make it up to here''.
Doris then empties the container in the bowl. MacKenzie is immediately overwhelmed by the horrible smell that comes from it. He tries not to gag and closes his nose. John and Doris turn around and walk away. The door of the barn closes and the lights are turned off.
''Doris's special'' David says with sarcasm.
''What is this supposed to be?" MacKenzie asks.
''Some kind of stew. At least that is what she calls it. Bon Appetit!''
MacKenzie looks at it. It's almost dark grey and has yellow and brown unidentifiable things floating on the surface.
He grabs the bowl and tries to stop himself from gagging from the smell. His eyes are tearing from it. Shivering he grabs the spoon and spoons up a bit of soup. He doesn't want it, but on the other hand he is so hungry after this day that he takes a bite anyway. ''It's better to eat something then nothing'' he thinks.
The taste is horrendous and his body is fighting to spit it out. MacKenzie swallows it with great difficulty. He turns green and is stomach is ready to vomit. But because it's empty, it can't. So he mans up and takes another bite, and another until the bowl is empty.
''Can't believe you actually done it. That's brave for a newcomer!'' David says surprised.
''I was hungry… and I didn't dare to think what John will do if he finds out I haven't eaten it tomorrow'' MacKenzie says, trying to keep it in. ''What kind of soup was this?''
''Well if you really want to know. It's mostly just John's leftovers from the week. So could be everything. Potatoes, tomatoes, sandwiches, onions, pickles, cheese, all kind of fishes, etc. It's saved for a week or two so it's a bit rotten and moldy by the time it will be turned into soup. And then it's also filled with livers, lungs, intestines, fish heads. Everything they have left after slaughtering their animals for the market''.
MacKenzie does not feel right after hearing this. He was expecting something disgusting, but not this.
''They like to save all the money they can'' David concludes his explanation.
MacKenzie by now has heard enough. He lies down flat on his stomach on the straw bawl and closes his eyes. His upset stomach causes him to burp and to taste that horrible stew again in his mouth. Everything hurts. He can't sit or stand up. The pain in his back and feet are unbearable, the heat of the sun has given him a tremendous headache and some burns before he covered himself with soil. He was as good as dehydrated.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. He wished that all of this would just be another nightmare and that when he woke up he would be doing that in either his own bed in the Heeler house or the guestroom of Rad and Frisky. Or even better: in his own bedroom at home with his parents nearby. He was afraid of what tomorrow would bring him.