For those that don't know I live in the bush, hilly, on a reasonable selection of 109 acres, We just had a severe fire rip though the area and me and 'true love' did our best to keep the flames away from the house. As I type, all is good now. Last time this happened over 80 houses were lost in 2019.
The fire lasted a couple of days and came at us from two fronts. 'truey' took some days off. but after everything had settled, coupled with some rain, she went off to work early at 0430 yesterday. I made her lunch and saw her off. I was home alone (?) . No comms. Telecommunication tower was knocked out but I said I would be fine like last time (2019).
So, after she left safely, I lay down on the lounge in the 3rd lower level of the home. Had my 3 dogs and 2 cats with me. One dog (Rusty the toy poodle) and 1 cat on the lounge with me. The cat slept on the lounge head above my shoulders. Girlie (dog) on the other lounge and Charlie (dog) lay on the floor. I pulled a blanket over me and not long after I fell asleep. It was dark.
During this sojourn I was constantly woken by my right foot being pulled. I thought it was the dog and checked but the dog wasn't near my feet. Being very tired I dismissed it each time and nodded off but it happened again.
I don't remember how many times it happened but I woke at one stage after feeling it. Twilight (dawning) was showing through the window above my head so I said to myself "Fuck it". I got up and went and made a coffee. After that I then turned on the water pump and had a shower. Cleaned up and dressed for another fire day I made another coffee. Gave the dogs their respective breakfast cookies where they lay.
Sat down with the coffee, rolled a smoke and was sitting peacefully in the early morning quietness on the lounge with the animals. This is what spooked me. Mind you, all communications here had been knocked out by the fire. So it was silent.
The cat jumped off the head of the lounge, I plainly heard laughter from the upper level but it sounded like two people laughing at each other. Distinct laughter sounds like people laughing in your face. Dogs jumped as I did. Dogs low growling looking up the stairs. 'Girlie let out a few muffled barks but I could see the hackles along her spine raised. She eased off her lounge slowly and hopped on her 3 legs to the base of the stairs looking upwards. The 2 smaller dogs followed suit.
Because we had fire brigade trucks (several) dropping though at all hours each previous day I figured it was firemen. I got up and walked outside followed by the diligent doggy wogs who stood by my side and behind. (Which is unusual in these circumstances). Normally they would be running out at full tilt before me. I just said, "C'mon on." and we did a circuit of the house. The area around the house is cleared for a considerable distance and you can hear approaching vehicles. Nothing. Not a sound. No choppers or planes, no cars or brigade trucks. The dogs were different in that they stayed by my side instead of their normal running out in front. They were growling but it was low. I was getting really spooked.
Did another circuit of the house, checked the sheds. (This is daylight now mind you). Nothing, no one about. I went back inside.
Thinking that it was my imagination (but he dogs heard it too). Shook my head and went to the stairs. Now 'girlie' has only 3 legs and can't mount the polished timber steps. The 2 smaller ones can easily. But they would not follow. All the dogs stood at the base while I walked upstairs, looking back at time thinking what is going on. Checked the 2 upstairs room. All was fine. came back down met by wagging tails. Checked the other rooms around down further. Nup!
House was clear.
Yeah,,Long winded story I know but the laughter was audible to all and lengthy, I kept checking everywhere in the house during the rest of the day. It might be my imagination but the laughing was also mocking, in your face. I needed to put this down now while it was fresh in my memory. I started to relate it soon after it occurred but lost power and connection due to circumstances. So here it is now.
