The wind blew in from the East and a blanket of red dust gathered to
lie in humps around the Simpson Desert .
The dust swirled around and around weaving a passage to Miners Station
near Ringertown .
There were still some of the original settlers left in Miners Station
even though it had been years since the opal mine had shut down .
The figure of a man appeared out of the shadows , and he walked up the
wind swept track to Miners Station .
He must have been a stranger as he walked right across the main
approach of the runway .
As the Flying Doctors plane was coming in to land the stranger shook
his fist at the Doctor who had to pull his plane up to avoid the
stranger .
The stranger looked as if he had been travelling on the road .
Many swagmen had come to the Outback centre but at this time of the
year it was unusual . It was Christmas Eve and nothing moved out here
but the shadows and dust . The swagman
walked into the Mission Hut and camped down for the evening .
After a short while the swagman was greeted by the mission Priest who
asked him where he had come from .
" I'm hungry ,"
said the Swagman to the priest who cautiously smiled , and turned
slowly away saying
"I'll see what food I have in the cupboard."
The priest returned with some tea and sandwiches on a tray but found
the mission hut was empty .
Outside he heard loud voices and looking out the window he saw the
stranger and the Flying Doctor . Both of them seemed to be upset as
they began to argue and shout .
The priest went outside and stood between the two men but unfortunately
caught a right hook that was meant for the Swagman . In his effort to
break up the fight that ensued he was knocked unconscious .
The priest awoke and found himself on the floor inside the Mission Hut
with an empty wallet beside him .
The Priest got on his Amateur Radio and spoke to the Police at
Ringertown , who sent out a Chopper to investigate .
The Police interviewed the Priest and the Flying Doctor as well as the
few people who lived in the town . It was clear that nobody had ever
seen the Swagman before .
Now the question was , where had he gone ?
The Police asked a local tracker for help as the Priest and the Flying
Doctor accompanied them in search of the Swagman .
All four men where very experienced bushmen who had lived in the area
for many years but as they walked it seemed they never made any headway
tracking the Swagman .
Then the strangest thing happened .
Somehow they all found themselves lost .
They looked at eachother as night fell .
As if it couldn't have got any worse one of the worst Dust Storms
imaginable hit them.
As they lay huddled together on the ground a hand reached out to them
.
It was the Swagman who had five camels with him . He helped each man to
get up on a camel and then led the way through the dust storm to a
small bark hut that sat there on the verge of the never never and
nowhere .
It was dark now and above the hut a star brightly shone .
The camels where tied up behind the hut and everyone went inside . The
Swagman offered food and drink , then he spoke .
" I'm so glad to have your company this fine Christmas Eve ."
His voice was soft and hypnotic everyone began to feel sleepy .
" Ho! Ho! Ho! Its great I won't be alone this Christmas ."
As the Swaggie laughed all the men fell fast asleep .
It wasn't long before the morning arrived and the four lost
bushmen saw Christmas morn in the Outback .
They rubbed their eyes a couple of times in amazement as they found
themselves lying on the outskirts of Miners Station .
Every building had been demolished .
The entire town had been blown away by the storm . Miners Station was
unrecognisable apart from the overturned Police helicopter and a badly
smashed up aircraft , that the Flying Doctor owned .
Somewhere within the silence of their shock , they acknowledged that a
disaster had occurred .
In the spot where the Mission Hut once was , a small bird landed . The
bird had brought a note which was attached to its leg . The Priest took
the message and read it aloud .
Sometimes in life , a path will take us to a place we would never
dreamt we could be .
Then you'll find if you loose yourself , you may find yourself back on
the right track again .
Jesus came into the world so that you may have life and the Greatest
Gift this Christmas is the life you have found .
Happy Christmas to you from a traveller and a friend .
THE END
By Paul Mc Cann
