THE DESERT 

By Tessa Harvey


    Zack was having a hard time. He seemed to be in a very hot place like a desert. But it was dark and he couldn't see anything at all, not even the beautiful vast skeins of stars in the Outback night-time sky.
    Voices were yelling and calling around him in desperation and fear, but they all sounded strangely like his own. He felt a sharp jab in his leg and screamed, thinking the ants were back, but then everything seemed to fall away, and it became very still.
    A woman's voice woke him. "Irene," he thought, "that's my sister." He was aware of a deep sense of relief, of normalcy.
    "About time you woke up," she said, sounding relieved. "You had us worried there, bro. Sanjay and I have been praying half the night."
    Sanjay leaned over. "Hey, open your eyes. No more excuses for lazing around. The fever's gone."
    Zack looked at his family. "Great to see you guys. He smiled. "What fever?" "No idea, mate," answered his friend. "We just asked Jesus to go and get you back out of the dark. And he did!"


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