Dingos Surrounded the Baby, but Something Older Watched From the Ridge

Elsie’s Warning

Clara saw that Elsie wouldn't cross the threshold that night. She sat on the porch, tugging the hem of her shirt and peering behind her mother's shoulder. "Come inside," Clara said, holding the door open. Elsie shook her head. Tom tried to encourage her to come inside. She jumped. She only agreed to go in when Clara lifted her up and whispered in her ear.

She pointed to the far wall of the living room and said softly, "He's not done." Clara bent down and brushed Elsie's hair away from her forehead. "Who, baby?""Elsie gently blinked and squeezed her lips together. She gleefully yelled one word: "Watcher."

The Second Offering

That night, Miriam sent an email. Her subject line was, "Follow the language." She had found that the phrases Elsie said were similar to an old ritual chant from the Warumungu region. She wrote, "It was used to say hello to people who were coming back from long trips." Clara looked at the television for a long time. "Not repayment, but balance" kept going through her mind. She picked up some eucalyptus leaves, one of Elsie's toys, and a stone that Tom had engraved with shallow lines on a whim. This time, she put the pouch next to the circle instead of inside it. She said thank you in a whisper and then walked away without looking back.