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i flew into Orpheus island . . . . by sea plane . . as we approached . .

. . i sensed motion in the palm tree shadows - there was a forboding.

As i proceeded down the jetty towards the resort proper - i realised the sea plane had headed back out in a hurried fashion. I was light on with bags as the message had been the Nautilis suites have everything.

My sense was the palm trees had in fact a life of their own - unlike the water level pool bar where no bartender appeared in attendence.

Reception was desolate - a warm breeze picked up my skirt and snorkling brochures scattered. There was only 21 rooms on the entire island but the lack of life was ridiculous.

* * * * * * * *

I was only 24 klms off the Queensland coast with Cairns to the northwest - but the remoteness was palpable. As i reached over the foyer desk seeking a phone line the ambient music become hideously loud and unresort.

In a back room there was a human frame, mouth over a stereo volume nob slumping to the ground. She had a fan blade protruding from between her shoulder blades - it was a mess.

As i prepared for CPR i took sight of a large figure shadowing past a venetian window setup. He looked as if the human version of a bush turkey - eyes scaley-wirey-boggling with salvia attached. I had a nervous reaction in one leg and couldn't run - i slithered out a breeze window onto a forecourt as i could smell his breath.

As the leg mended i moved through a thatched bar area crashing against some ill fated zambuca bottles - the turkey was somewhere near.

I stumbled erroneously onto a sand track signposted "hazard bay look out" - the irony was killing me. I couldn't see the turkey but i could feel him . . i lunged into a fungus pond dripping with gunk i lay dorment . .

 

Lizard Island Resort - The Great Barrier Reef's northern most resort.

Wilson Island Resort - A very exclusive resort near Heron Island.

Green Island Resort - A coral cay only 45 minutes from Cairns.

Lady Elliot Island Resort - a true coral cay with one of the best marine eco-systems in the world.

Heron Island Resort - A quality Reef Resort (recently refurbished).

Haggerstone Island - situated 400klms north of Cairns - it was voted by Vogue magazine as the most secluded and unspoilt island retreat in the world.

 

Crime fiction > for travellers on the move -

 

I couldn't see the turkey but i could feel him . . i lunged into a fungus pond dripping with gunk i lay dorment . .