WHIRLPOOL

SHADOWFALL By Tessa Harvey       Sylvie was transformed. She never did find out the name of the man who came to see Tarrant and his family.     At first he would not come into the home, seeing that Sylvie was alone with the children, then he had beckoned to the near neighbours. Delighted to be included, the pastor had them all kneeling and talking to Jesus as though he, Jesus was a friend who cared and wanted to be involved in their lives. A sense of God's Presence had flooded the small home and Sylvie felt really loved and accepted.     Her past rolled from her and she felt happy and at peace. Even the children were quiet. Later Anneke said "Did God come with that man?" "Cause he did," Johan answered. "Didn't you see him?"     Leaving the puppy with Ada and Oliver, who had also accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour, Sylvie had taken the children to find her husband and his brother.     The men were finding a new relationship. Hunter ...

SHADOWFALL  By Tessa Harvey     Bemused, Oliver shook hands with the lawyer and held back the flyscreen door for her, casting a puzzled glance back at Old Simon, his boss, who looked intrigued. A day of interest, something to ponder on. Yes!     Felicity offered Oliver a lift in her green Citroen. Once at home, Oliver offered refreshments. Filling a clean glass with cool water, he called to Ada, working in the back garden....     Apparently some long-forgotten great uncle had left Oliver seven thousand Australian dollars in his will.     "Mr. Simeon Altbaum tried to find you once he knew he had cancer," Felicity explained, "but the disease progressed so rapidly he left that task to us. He deeply regretted not contacting you earlier. As he had lost a great many forebears at Auschwitz in the Second World War, he had been a recluse and seldom ventured out. He sold his shoe manufacturing business just before he died. You are one of only a few ben...

 SHADOWFALL By Tessa Harvey     Oliver Sykes bent to move some ketchup (tomato sauce) boxes. He was very careful how he moved heavy objects. Almost old enough to retire, he valued keeping healthy. He and Ada were watchful how they ate also. This job was only part-time but the boss, nearing seventy, gave him as much work as he could.     A smartly dressed city lady entered through the doors, flyscreen streamers of red, yellow and white. For a few seconds she stood, trying to adjust her eyes to the dimness of the shop. Clutching a briefcase the lady scanned the ice-cream section, the baked loaves and buns, the food tins, the sweets, and came to rest finally on the owner.  Mr. Aultbaum?' she queried, "my name is Felicity Drew. I represent my firm of business lawyers." Felicity held up her identity lanyard hanging over her suit. "Nope, wrong man. Mr Aultbaum - Ollie is just over there. Here lad!" he called, though he was only a few years older. "Take a break an...

SHADOWFALL By Tessa Harvey     Just then his mobile phone rang. Surprised, he picked up the phone, looked at the number, then answered. After a few minutes listening, he answered, "No charge" and looked at his brother. "The police want to know if I will press charges," but then the high excited voices of children were heard scattering the rabbits, the butterflies, the skinks, the silence. "Dad, dadda, where you?" sang Robin. Anneke and Johan had reached them. They looked askance at Hunter, but flung themselves at Tarrant.     Sylvie came up, puffing, holding Robin's hand. She looked different, shiny somehow, Tarrant thought.     "A man rang about a real good job, Tarry," she exclaimed, still out of breath. She spontaneously gave her husband a very warm hug and kiss.     "Hungry, dad," Anneke was practical. Johan added his cries of hunger. Hunter looked at his near empty cupboard. "All out of sardines...." "Yuk!" ...

SHADOWFALL  By Tessa Harvey     The two brothers sat together in the little cabin. Sunlight streamed in through the doorway and the small windows either side. A lizard flickered in the doorway, held still, heard voices and disappeared.     Tarrant had chosen an old hard-backed chair, Hunter the couch. Both men were holding mugs. Tarrant pulled a face as he sipped the liquid. "Irish tea? Seriously, bro?"     Hunter laughed. It was good to hear. He had explained about Marie and meeting her parents. "What happened to make you remember?" he asked.     "A dream," answered Tarrant, " a nightmare really. So bad I saw this church person. I talked to him. What he said made sense. People choose evil and their own way, but this man, Jesus came and paid the price of our wrongdoing. He died on a cross for us, but rose three days later. God loves us and wants to heal us. That pastor prayed and now Jesus is real to me, and I am different, Hunter. Everything...

SHADOWFALL  By Tessa Harvey     Ed strolled from his beat-up car along the street, clutching a drooping bunch of freesias.     He began to whistle, then remembered his top dental plate. That last pub fight had been very costly. Ed should have won, he knew all the moves, but the other guy was younger and faster. He knew he still had the looks though. Boldly he rapped on the door, noting an old biddy watching next door. Ed flashed her a cheeky smile, but she held her ground. The door opened. A little girl looked up at him. Ed pushed past her. "Hey, Sylvie," he called, "it's me, Ed, your bloke's boss." Then he glanced at the girl, but she had disappeared. Instead, a small boy was staring. Anneke had pushed him forward. She didn't like this man. She had a plan!     No more terror-car journeys. Quickly she grabbed a spoonful of Vegemite. Her mum was coming, clattering along in her wedge heel shoes.          Almost too quick to see, ...