The settings sun gave a pink tinge, like watery blood, to the dark strom clous that sat a long the distant, shadowy mountains, creating an ominous volcanic effect. At the gate a grimy urchin looked up and waited. Her thin yellow dress with its uneven hemline gave no protection from the invading twilight chill.
The square jawed guard turned. There she was, patiently waiting, as if she had been there forever. She looked up at him with timid eyes, her bare feet shuffling on the sharp asphalt still warm from the intense sun. His first thought was that she had come to beg for food or warm clothing, but where had she come from? As far as he could see to the east was the low woody blue grey saltbush and dry spinifex, barely covering the red drifting sands.
"Please sir, is this the Holt Tracking and Surveillance Station?" she asked tentatively, "Please?"
The guard's brow wrinkled. His mind raced. There was no sign at the gate.
"I have to see Dr. Grant Foster", the girl continued. "It's important sir, Sir?"
The guard grudgingly gave her his attention, still baffled at how she had materialised at his guard post. He looked towards the darkening ranges while he briefly contemplated contacting his superiors but speculated he could become the subject of silent ridicule if the reported one unidentified child as a potential threat.
"Whatch a man"
She repeated her request. It didn't make sense. A girl about ten, suddenly turning up in the desert requesting to see one of the country's top anti-terrorism experts. He shook his head, not sure of how to discourage the girl and feeling a little uncomfortable about sending her back into the desolate land without food or water and, apparently with no one to protect her. The steel mesh fence with its colar of razor wire cast a tessellation of light and shade on the barren, stripped . The fence disappeared into the silent distance in a straight line in either direction.
The guard shook his head again, vaguely hoping to make her go away. Disappear the way she had suddenly appread. He felt a dull inadequacy and suddenly, a lack of compassion. He wasn't trained for such bizarre situations as stray kids!
"Please sir can i see Dr.Foster? It's important" she implored
"Don't know any Dr.Foster. No admittance anyway without an official letter of authorisatio" he advised
She looked at him quizzically, trembling at his harshness or was it she impending chill in the night air?
"A pass!" he tried to explain. "No one enters without a pass. This is a military tracking station. You need a pass to see Dr.Foster."
"A pass!" he tried to explain. "No one enters without a pass. This is a military tracking station. You need a pass to see Dr.Foster."
He realised his mistake immediately
