Jumping Into Action

It wasn’t long into the evening when I heard it. The ear-splitting sound of a shot, being fired. A mix of adrenaline, anxiety and fear coursed through my blood as I realised the troopers had finally come. A million thoughts rushed through my head, questions making a whirlpool in my mind asking me how I would react, what I should do and what would go down. Taking a few deep breaths to calm myself, I went over our situation for the millionth time since we had been hiding out in the Wombat Ranges. We were low on ammo, guns and essential supplies, that the troopers would have… it looked like we were going to have to take a few of the trooper’s supplies, I just hope they don’t take the news too bad.

As we approached, I turned to the rest of the gang, looking all of them in the eye, I nod, and we approach the two troopers that are at the camp. As I approached, they look up, and I see pure terror in their eyes for a second, one shakily raises their arms over their head in surrender, but the other has other ideas. He dived for the cover of a nearby log, and points his revolver at me, I work like clockwork, and fire at him once. He falls down and doesn’t get back up. I stare in horror, but I don’t have time.

Two other troopers ride into the camp, blinking in surprise, then jumping into action. One of the two new trooper take a shot at me, I don’t even have time to wince before the bullet singes my beard, I shoot back and don’t miss. I close my eyes for all the time I can spare before I face the other newcomer. Using his horse as a shield, he glares at me with hate. He fires and my brother gasps in pain, as the bullet grazes his shoulder, I fire three times and kill for the third time in one day. My throat starts to close in, and I struggle to breath. In the confusion, the only trooper to surrender escapes on a horse.

Today we got the supplies, but blood is on my hands. And I will never be able to escape that. Steve and Joe approach me. Joes simply says, “You did what had to be done, Ned”. I nod and make sure my brother Dan Kelly is okay.