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over themselves like rabbits chasing their own tails. Jack Brown took in the vastness of it and saw that there were two distinct skies, one that was churning and one that was not. He was glad to be on this side of it.
    He had covered a lot of ground in good time and when he finally reached Fitz’s forest the sun was going down again, and though his body felt spent his mind was clear. He was certain of what he had to do next.
    He rode into the thick of the forest. The last of the sunlight moved around him in giddy, skipping lots until it was gone completely. The darkness of the forest did not bother him. He had ridden through it so many times that he could have made his way with his eyes closed, just by the smell of it and the weight and drift of air on his skin.
    Soon he heard the sound of a creature moving near him. In itself that was not unusual, but the creature sounded like a horse and he knew that no horses roamed loose in Fitz’s forest because nothing of value roamed free under Fitz’s reign.
    Jack Brown rode through the undergrowth, ducking to avoid the low branches. He could hear the creature tearing up grass and he was almost upon it when he saw its silhouette. The horse reared up. Jack Brown swung down from the saddle and moved in closer, calming the horse with his voice. From its markings he could see it belonged to Fitz. He tossed a rope around its neck and once it was secured the horse made no protest. He mounted his own horse again and led the stray out of the clearing and back through the undergrowth.
    He rode on.
    Before he reached the edge of the forest, he came across another two of Fitz’s horses. There was barely enough length in the rope but he looped a neck-hold for each and secured them. He moved along slowly so there was a stepping length between the horses. They should not be in the forest. He could think of no good reason. He was not heartened by finding them or by the way they stepped like prisoners behind him.
    When he reached the first gate of Fitz’s paddock Jack Brown thought to lead the horses into the holding yard. The second gate was already open. A few livestock sauntered within the paddock. He rode through the second gate. Remaining on his horse, he closed the gate behind him and let the other horses loose. They scattered in different directions. He kicked his own horse into a gallop and rode fast up the rise.
    He was sure his eyes were failing him when he saw the house and he stood up in the stirrups for a better view. As he could make it out, part of the roof was caved in and the other side buckled at strange angles. He pulled up his horse and turned it, one way then another, then he pushed on towards the house.
    His concern about what to say to Fitz and how to say it was taken over by thoughts of my mother. Where is she? Is she safe?
    Jack Brown swung down from his horse and stepped on to the veranda. His eyes were not deceiving him.
    Jessie! he called, and then, Fitz!
    He walked through the door that was already open.
    Jessie! he yelled and kept on yelling. But nobody answered.
    He walked through the house. His boots crashed against all kinds of things. When he thought he heard some movement, he stopped dead. But then he realised it was the sound of his own moving chaos.
    That night he camped in the stable. When he checked the horses he saw that Houdini’s lot was empty. He lay down to sleep but despite his exhaustion he hardly slept at all. There were so many scenarios racing through his head, thoughts turning over thoughts. Was she dead? Was she gone?
    He was not on the clear side of the sky at all.
    He fell into a tense spell of sleep just before sunrise and when he woke he thought he heard Fitz’s voice shouting orders to him from the veranda. He sprang out of bed and brushed himself down and ran up to the house like he would have any other morning. But where every other morning something cringed inside of him at the sight of Fitz, now he cringed at the