I jumped down from the fence into a well kept backyard of a white fibro home. I saw the back door, a fly screen grilled door. I approached the door and knocked remembering the last door I knocked on was met with panic, through the fly screen grill I saw an old lady coming slowly I decided that my bloodies torn appearance was going to freak her out so before she spotted me through the grill I quickly ran around the side of the house and climbed underneath the crawlspace that was about 2 ft high. Dragging myself commando style through spider webs and the damp earth around the foundation pylons to the center of the house rolling over on my back as I tried to think of what to do next. The wooden floor boards above me were no insulation to the room above, the radio was on and I could hear it clearly when suddenly
"we interrupt this radio broadcast for a special news flash, a 7ft Cyclops has escaped from Minda detention center and is on the run in the surrounding suburbs, the Cyclops is very dangerous and if sighted please call the Police immediately" I lay there thinking they were talking about me ? Yes I was the Cyclops they were hunting. I certainly felt as powerful, mysterious and misunderstood as a Cyclops would be, was this a code ? Or was I in fact a Cyclops or perceived as one ? I knew it would be easier to justify a shoot first attitude with such a beast on the run. I was a Cyclops and with such an appearance I could hardly commence traversing the neighborhood looking that way. I felt the game was coming to an end and decided to die where I lay. I began digging my own grave, scraping into the damped ground with my hands. I was digging maybe 20mins and over heard the same radio broadcast several, when it occurred to me they probably were aware that I would hear the broadcast and upon convincing myself I was Cyclops I would remain where I was and avoid being in Public or especially talking to the media. I stopped digging and decide to make another run, I crawled out sprung to my feet and ran down the side of the house to the road, down that road to a major cross street that paralleled the railway line ! Fuck I had gone in one big circle, I could see the perimeter fence of Minda on the other side of the train tracks, but about 500 meters from where I had crossed onto the expressway. I ran towards a house that was settled on a hill next to the train line. Under this house was a carport and storage area, I found position up behind some boxes where I hid waiting. Blood was steadily trickling out of several wounds the worst being my right toe, which was almost severed in half. Still not sure of what to do next I waited, I began to move some boxes around to better conceal my presence. About then an elderly man was moving towards me, I remained still but I was directly in front of him with my head exposed between the boxes, he looked straight into my eyes smiling he said "hello young fella, you look like you been at war with something or someone" No shit I thought ! I felt no fear or intimidation by his approach, he seemed neutral to my situation and this almost created an instant connection to reality again. I felt tired and hungry and my right toe started to throb with pain. I was still scared but felt I had a comrade in this old man. He asked "do you want to come upstairs get cleaned up and have something to eat ?" I said "No but I would really like a sandwich or just some bread" He left and returned moments later with his wife and some sandwiches, she bought them too me with such a calm and non judgmental presence that I began to almost land firmly back into the world from which my mind had fled. I finished eating and went upstairs with them, where I made a phone call to my mother. I told her I had escaped from Minali and that I was being chased by the Police. I handed the phone to the lady and she gave directions to her address. I found putting some basic nutrients into my system had slowed my mind down somewhat, I mean I was still quite agitated and fearful but a tranquility about the situation I was in had overcome me and my mother was on her way to pick me up.
When I saw my mother and her boyfriend arrive in his candy red Mercury Cougar convertible, I felt relieved in a reversal of fears and alliances. It was as if the man whom was trying to kill me the night before was now on the same side as me against my newly established enemy being the State Govt, the Police and all authority trying to silence me. I remembered his face was in a contorted and confused, How I must have looked in my condition all dirt covered with blood weeping wounds on my arms and feet. "fucking hell, better put something on the back seat I am not gonna have him bleeding all over my car for christ sakes, just cost me 800 bucks to get them re upholsterd" John took alot of pride in his car, it was alway spotless. The drive home was fast, the big V8 was just like the wild cat of it's name sake and despite my fear & hatred of John, till this day I never felt safer in a car thanthe times I had been a passenger with him, it was like the pride he had in his Cougar was a protection of aura over the car as we hurtled along the Princes Hwy at 110km p/hr. the top was down, the wind was in my face. Jerry Lee Lewis sang Great Balls of Fire on his stereo. Yeh I was having a little break from my insanity as I rode safely in the back of the magestic V8 cat.
