Read Online Meteorite Strike by A. G. Taylor - Free Book Online Page A

up a more sizeable rock and hurling it at Daniel, who ducked to avoid it.
    â€œBobbie…”
    â€œLet Sarah go! You’re hurting her!”
    Thinking fast, Sarah reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulling out the bag of diamonds. Robert saw what she’d done, so she tossed it through the air to him.
    â€œRun!” she screamed as he caught it. Without needing to be told twice, her brother spun on his heels and started running for the dunes.
    Daniel released his grip on her arm and started after him. Sarah followed, hot on his heels. For a minute they chased one another over the sand, Robert in the lead.
    Finally, Sarah launched herself at Daniel’s legs, bringing him down on the sand. The two of them rolled down the side of a dune together, struggling to be the first up. The truck keys slipped from Daniel’s hand and Sarah snatched for them, beginning a scramble through the sand. Their fingers closed around the keys at the same time and their eyes met, each burning with determination. Remembering her karate, Sarah pulled back her hand to strike Daniel in the neck. One blow in the right place could fell the strongest opponent…
    â€œPlease stop.”
    The sound of Robert’s voice, small and wavering, from a few metres away made them both freeze. They looked round to see him standing with his hand outstretched, offering the bag to Daniel.
    â€œWhatever it is, you can have it back, Daniel,” he said quietly. “I don’t want us to fight.”
    There was a moment of silence as they looked at each other.
    Finally, giving up his grip on the keys and breathing heavily, Daniel slumped back against the sand.
    â€œI’ve made some mistakes in my time,” he said, looking at them both. “But I never thought I’d end up having a fist-fight with my own kids.”
    â€œWelcome to being a dad,” Sarah replied breathlessly as she lay back on the sand.
    Unexpectedly, this sent Daniel into a fit. He threw his head back and laughed.
    â€œJust give him the bag, Robert,” Sarah said resignedly. “He wants it so badly.”
    Robert walked over with the bag. Daniel touched Robert’s cheek with his hand, but didn’t take it.
    â€œI’m sorry I chased you, Bobbie,” he said softly. “Why don’t you look after those for me until we get out of this?”
    Robert said nothing, but ran to sit by his sister. Daniel nodded as the boy placed the bag of diamonds in his pocket.
    â€œSo, are you an engineer?” Robert asked.
    â€œI was, once,” Daniel said after a moment. “Then I got tempted by some…more lucrative lines of work. But when I heard your mum was sick, I promised I’d give that up. It was the only way she’d agree to let me back into your lives.”
    â€œIt didn’t take you too long to break that promise,” Sarah said.
    â€œYou have to believe me, it was for us,” Daniel protested. “I owe some serious people money and this was my way to pay them off for ever – get out of that life completely. It was to give us all a new start.”
    Sarah looked round at Robert and saw the tears in his eyes.
    Daniel looked down at his feet. “I know I’ve messed up, but I’m your best bet for getting out of here. Unless you can drive a ute, that is. In Melbourne we’ll talk about what we want to do. Whether you want me to be your dad or not. Until then, I promise I’ll look after you the best I can.”
    Sarah squeezed her brother’s arm as he wiped the tears from his eyes. She wanted to tell him that it was okay, that the guy wasn’t worth it, but she knew it was no use. Sarah guessed it was just a hard lesson Robert had to learn. She looked round at Daniel, her face emotionless.
    â€œJust get us out of here,” Sarah said, refusing his hand as she pulled herself to her feet. “Go to the truck, Robert.”
    Robert ran to the ute without a word. Sarah and