The hot Australian sun hammered a thick clump of Eucalyptus trees, making the landscape ripple and tremble. Volatile oils blasted from the leaves by the heat hung like a blue haze over the valley and permeated the air with a minty smell. Cicadas called fitfully from the undergrowth, their raucous chittering, and combining with the dry rustle of the leaves to form an irritating cacophony. A lone kookaburra sat motionless in the shade on a branch, watching the stream below and listlessly grooming its feathers in between glimpses down at the activity next to the water.

An old man crouched beside the stream, a battered hat shading his stubbled face as he trailed two fingers slowly round an impression in the dried mud. He sat back, dusting his fingers off on his jeans. He grimaced as a twinge of pain shot through his lower back. "Getting too old to be wandering round the countryside like this," he mumbled.

He relaxed slowly and scraped up a handful of pebbles, sorting them in his hand absently. He picked out a shiny one, looked at it for a moment then tossed it lightly at a nearby stick. Searching, he found another glinting piece of gravel and flicked it away.

The bushes on the far side of the stream parted slowly and a pair of huge hairy hands gently pushed the leaves aside. Two large, intelligent eyes set in an extremely hairy face regarded the man for a long moment. The creature rose silently and stepped out of the undergrowth, approaching the man slowly from behind. The long brown hair covering its body glinted in the sunlight. Its long arms swung gently by its side as it padded toward the sitting figure.

The old man sat quietly, contemplating the ripples in the stream and the dance of a red dragonfly dipping and flitting above the water. A faint stench of garlic and sewage drifted in the light breeze. His nostrils flared slightly and he smiled without turning. "You took your time, Wulgu."

A low rumble like distant thunder answered him and a thought like the antics of a young wallaby raced across his mind. You have nothing better to do than throw pretty rocks, aging human?

Spence turned and grinned up at the towering form of the Yowie. "By God, Wulgu, I'll never understand how you can move a body as large as yours so quietly. I smelt you long before I heard you." He rose to his feet, brushing the seat of his pants. A tall man himself, Spence craned his neck to look up at the expressive face of the Yowie.

The Yowie frowned, a sight that would terrify most humans. You are making fun of me again? I have told you, every creature has its own smell. It is how we identify each other. Even you would have a proper smell if you did not wash so much. An amused look entered Wulgu's eyes, his lips drawing back to reveal enormous canines. His nose snuffed the air gently. Your smell develops nicely, old friend. Another few days out here and you will be fit for any decent company.

Spence chuckled and took out his water bottle, drinking thirstily. "Did you find any sign?"

"Yes. About a mile..." The thought popped into Spence's head as an entirely different measurement, his mind automatically translating it into the old imperial measurements of his youth. "...upstream. I have left Munda and Oonoo there to watch for it." The Yowie hunkered down beside the stream, scooping water into its hand and drinking. I know we must find out about these creatures but I do not like to get close to them. They are wrong somehow.

"What do you mean 'wrong'? Out of place, I'll grant you, but these big cats most likely are just escaped pumas or something. You know what a puma is, my friend?"

Wulgu nodded silently. I know of these pumas, but any animal that has lived with man carries the taint of man with it. These cats do not. They smell wrong, they look wrong, they behave wrong. He shook his head, a troubled look on his face, then rose and stretched. Come, old friend, let us find these things for you.

Spence nodded and fell into step behind the Yowie as it crossed the stream and walked slowly up the valley. Interesting, he thought. When I came out here to investigate that report I was sure it was just another case of mistaken identity, a dog maybe. What does Wulgu know of them?

His mind recalled the brief newspaper report. A couple out tramping the Warrumbungle ranges had been surprised at dusk by a large black cat. They had stood petrified as it crouched in the trail, snarling at them before bounding off into the bushes. They beat a hasty retreat and notified the papers from a park ranger's office. They had described it as being as big as a lion, jet-black and with large glowing eyes.

Even allowing for natural exaggeration, Spence thought, it sounds impressive.

Spence bumped into Wulgu as he stood motionless on the faint track leading through the bush. "Sorry," he muttered.

Please be quiet, now, old friend. We near the place. Talk only with your mind. Wulgu's nostrils twitched and he pointed off to one side.

Spence searched the undergrowth with his eyes. Excitement mounted as he picked up on a slight movement. For long seconds he stared at a dark form crouched beneath a dense stand of paperbarks and tried to identify the shape. A hand moved and he suddenly recognised the shape as that of Oonoo, a young female Yowie. Wulgu moved slowly over to the paperbarks and crouched beside Oonoo. Spence reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder briefly. Gidday, Oonoo, he thought.

A pair of inky eyes set in black hair stared back at him. I see you, old man. Wulgu told us you would join us. Are your friends here too? She peered hopefully over his shoulder.

Not this time, Oonoo. I come to see these creatures you have found. Spence shifted his weight, rustling the leaves under him gently.

Wulgu stiffened and raised his hand, pointing across a small clearing. Munda has seen the beast. It killed a wallaby an hour ago but did not feed. He scowled, his hands clenching. All creatures must eat, even meat-eaters, but this thing kills for pleasure. It destroys but does not eat. It is not natural. The huge male Yowie paused again, listening to his unseen companion. It has entered a vine thicket. He rose abruptly and gestured. Come, we shall confront it.

Spence followed Wulgu and Oonoo towards the side of the valley. A small dry creek bed opened up in front of them as they silently climbed upward, clambering across boulders and logs. A huge, shaggy cloud of golden hair detached itself from the clay walls ahead of them and padded over. The Yowie nodded briefly at Spence and pointed into the shadows of a dense vine thicket.

Wulgu turned to Spence. Munda says it is still there. He hesitated, looking deep into Spence's eyes. Old friend, we do not try to kill this thing, or capture it. We will only show it to you. You understand? If it lives it has a right to freedom. We only seek to know it.

I understand. Spence nodded and smiled at the three huge hairy faces.

Wulgu nodded. Wait here behind this boulder. We will drive it out, down the creek.

The Yowies turned and silently melted into the undergrowth. Minutes passed. Spence shifted from one foot to another impatiently, wiping sweat from his brow, feeling his shirt sticking to his back. He scanned the tree line ahead.

Abruptly a series of screams and hoots rent the still, hot air. Trees shook. A shadow slipped silently from the vine thicket and flowed over the boulders in the streambed toward him. Spence sucked in his breath as the black form slipped past him. A cat, he thought, A bloody huge cat!

As if he had spoken aloud, the cat stopped in its tracks and turned its head toward him. Its eyes flashed green and it snarled, a low rumble starting deep in its chest and rising sharply in pitch to a yowling scream. The long black tail slashed at the air as it fixed Spence with a predatory stare. It stepped toward the old man, slowly and deliberately.

Spence froze. His mind struggled to wrap itself around the sight of a huge black cat stalking him. This cannot be. There are no large cats in this land of marsupials. It's not a puma, the body's all wrong...

A rock shattered on a boulder beside the cat and it flinched. It swung its head back up the creek bed and spat, its ears flattening in rage at the sight of three huge Yowies crashing through the undergrowth toward it. The cat turned and sprang, leaping lithely downstream. It raced over a flat sandy area and, just before it reached the bushes on the far side, abruptly faded from sight.

Wulgu loped up to Spence and laid a hand on his shoulder. It has gone, old friend. He smiled, showing white fangs. You are unhurt?

Spence breathed out noisily and sat down on a boulder. I will be when my heart stops thumping. He looked downstream to the sandy area where Munda and Oonoo were cautiously investigating. Where did it go? I could have sworn it just faded out before it reached the trees. It certainly didn't crash into them.

Wulgu frowned and nodded. It has 'gone over', old friend. We do not know where it goes but it ceases to be 'here'. He shrugged, a surprisingly human gesture. Perhaps you should ask your friend Amaru, she knows many things of this and other worlds.

Spence nodded and stood shakily. "I will. That thing was incredible! I'd call it a cat but it wasn't any species of cat I've seen. If only I'd had my camera." His voice trailed off as Munda loped over to Wulgu.

We are recalled, Wulgu. They did not say why, but old human friend here must return...immediately. Amaru sends an urgent plea.

Wulgu turned to Spence. You must obey. He looked around, orienting himself with the sun. Come, there is a portal two hours from here.

The giant Yowie set off down the creek bed, the other two falling into step behind him. Their long legs and limber stride ate up ground at an amazing pace. Spence groaned and staggered after them. "For God's sake, slow down you chaps. I'm too old to run."


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