SANDS OF DELUSION


By Tessa Harvey


INFERNO

The sun glinted on the cars lined up along the sea road, moving slowly in the warm morning. The roadworks were taking a long time to complete.
    Jaxon did not look directly at the cars or the sea, instead he was poised at the top of a steep rocky escarpment, intently focused on the controls of his huge, bright yellow digger. It was hard work, demanding full concentration as he grappled with the rocks and thin soil, slowly levelling the steep incline...
    Without warning, images of fire flared in his mind of raging flames. He was racing down the main road of the small town. The roar, the smell, the heat almost engulfed him. Ahead was a small clear space, but even as he struggled to reach it, a roaring fireball filled the gap and rolled towards him.
    Voices yelled, "Hey, Jax! Mate, what yer doin'!"
    The flames faded. The young man was teetering on the crumbling edge. }Instinctively, he reacted, turning the machine expertly just in time. Sweat poured off him.
    "Sun in yer eyes?" 
Jaxon forced himself to answer, "Yeah! I'm good!" He saw the boss glance towards him from the other end and was glad his mate had turned back to his own work, deflecting attention from them both.
    For the rest of the day, he did a superb job. But, as he locked the digger at the end of the day, grabbing his bait tin and drink, his friend fell in step with him.
    "You okay? For a moment there, I swear you weren't with us."
    Jaxon hesitated. He swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing in his throat. He swiped a hand through his dark hair. "Yeah, thanks for shouting, Hayden. You're a great mate." 
    He walked over to his ute and headed home, waving a farewell. As he drove in the gathering dark, he saw in his mind's eye a little face looking up at him as he had teetered on the brink. The boy had been in his car seat, pale, eyes wide with fright.
    Nightmares were one thing, but flames invading his mind in the day time was a terrifying thought. He had to do better. He just had to. But how?


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