Tousled brown hair frames his face like wind swept waves on a bay, as the rhythmic thud of the wooden wheels echo the sounds of wild beasts stampeding in the drizzling mist. “Juicy ripe tomatoes, four for just one quarter,” screamed the hawker with a heavy voice. Clip clop beat the horses hooves on the glassy cobblestone path, while the opulent carriage rocks like a hammock he twists his unique meteorite band, that had once belonged to his father, and now sits proudly on his right hand.
All this happens as the majestic dragon glides across the land and puffs out plumes of smoke. As the carriage mirrors the path of the train, his pocket watch ticks excitedly in the palm of his hand. Musically, the fob watch’s tiny chime strikes six am. He shares a joke with the carriage driver and they both laugh. For him it releases some of the pressure within his body that is a tightly coiled spring, ready to launch. A mixture of excitement and cold dread bubbled in his chest, while his dream of discovering a new species clashes with the possibility of failure.
His heart aches with the memories of his father, the taxonomist who spent his life hidden in libraries gathering evidence and researching his yet to be discovered species of bird. All the probing was recorded in spidery handwriting within his leather bound journal, that accompanied his father everywhere he went. It recorded the evidence of the missing link between two species.
As the carriage bounces rhythmically, his curious mind wanders back to the days when he sat by the fire and the glow of the flickering flames reflected in his father’s hazel eyes. His father had told him stories about his research and why this new species of bird must exist. His detailed drawings illustrated a bird with ruffled plumage that was a kaleidoscope of ruby reds and emerald greens. A crest of iridescent violet feathers fanned out and glistened like a polished amethyst on top of the bird’s head. Deep royal blue tail feathers streamed out like a comet’s plume. These stories and images were mixed with dreams of exploring outback Victoria, the vastness of the land was both intimidating and exhilarating.
The carriage halts, jolting him back to the present. Stepping out into the misty rain, he takes a deep breath, the chill mirroring the cold dread in his chest. With his father’s shadow standing beside him, he gently closes his eyes as he waits for the train’s arrival. The cacophony of the station fades. In its place, a soft melody cascades like the strings of a harp, echoing his father’s description of the large undiscovered bird. His eyes spring open, startled by the approaching hissing, he glances skyward, searching for a glimpse of the magnificent dragon – a sign, perhaps of his father’s unwavering spirit and the undiscovered wonders that awaited him.
Ethan Thomas