It was a dark night in the national park. The sounds of moaning and flesh meeting seemed to reverberate off the tall gum trees. The noise scared away the fruit bats living in the tall stringy bark over hanging the lonely tent. Small nocturnal creatures excited by the intrusion gathered around. They weren't used to the invasion of civilianisation no matter how temporary and watched the shadow play with interest.
The camp was small but thoughtful. No fire had been started. A black garbage bag zip locked at the top stood next to the canvas wall of the tent. It was shaking in rhythm with the movement within. The tent was dancing to the tune of two people groaning out their pleasure. More animals gathered around as the noise rose. It built until it reached a crescendo of high pitched screaming. A hand could be seen dragging down the canvas wall and then all was silent in the world again.
Evan rolled over and let out a loud satisfied sigh. He could feel the warmth of his wife's flesh against his side. The thin sheet of sweat covering their bodies joined where they touched to flow to the mattress. His breath seemed to add to the heat in their small tent.
"Ready for round two lover," his wife cooed. She rolled over and nuzzled her mouth into his neck. She could taste his salty sweat. Her hand slid down his body. At first she toyed with the greying hair of his chest before grasping his slick but softening appendage.
"Mmmmm," he groaned in response to his wife's skilled attention. "I can never get enough of you. But I might need a few minutes. The old body ain't what it used to be."
"You will always be a young man to me," she smiled.
"Thanks," he hugged her back.
"Ah," Evan sighed as he moved one hand behind his head and the other to hold his wife. "I love camping here."
"I know you do honey. We do come here every year."
"I just have so many great memories of the bush. Do you know I met my first love here?"
"I think you have mentioned it," she replied.
"Yeah I was young then. Young, naïve, everything was so pure and simple."
"Why don't you tell me about it, this story of young love while I see what I can do about this?" She whispered sexily as her practiced hand began to massage the slippery head of his cock.
"Well, it all happened right here." Evan began after kissing her forehead. "Of course that was twenty years ago now. It wasn't even a national park then."
It had been a desert.
The sun was dawning as young Evan drove up but even that was not enough to add beauty to the scene before him. The mining operation now abandoned had completely stripped the land of its vegetation. As he pulled his beat up car into the car park all he saw was dirt. What had once been forty hectares of thriving bushland was now simply barren and lifeless. That was the nature of mining but now that the veins so rich with coal had finally been used up there was a chance for regeneration. Looking around he was glad that the brightly coloured marquises and yellow tractors took the sting out of the overwhelming greyness left behind.
Evan was surprised by the large amount of cars already there as he found an empty space. Even more surprising was the variety. From new to old cars, sedan and dirty four wheel drives there didn't seem to be a trend. 'You can't generalise about who cares for the environment' he thought to himself.
The air was warming with the promise of a hot day but dust seemed to dry out the humidity. Slamming the car door behind him Evan crossed to the crowd gathered under the largest marquis. There was a good turn out. He recognised most of the people from town and waved to a few people he knew.
One of the officials noticed Evan walking up and handed him a volunteer information sheet. The marquis where they were was the eating area where the volunteers could grab food and drink. There was an amenities block set up behind with toilets and showers.
Different groups had been allocated up for the day. The local firemen had joined to begin turning the quarry into a dam. Admin staff were organising the facilities, others preparing food. Evan himself was a young man still at university and so made his way over to the distribution area to start planting the new trees they had brought.
Following the other volunteers it was a short walk over to where the trucks were being unloaded. Evan chatted causally with the man next to him. He was a shop owner from town who had brought his whole family out for the day. He explained how his wife was a great cook and would be making them some lovely meals but Evan tuned out as they saw the team leaders begin to take charge. Evan pulled his cap over his eyes for shade as he listened.
"We have a few trees here," a large man said sarcastically and smiled at the laughter that followed.
"But that's nothing. Once we get these trucks unloaded they will be making another three trips today. It's gonna be a big job to call this place a national park, but that's why we're here." He continued before pausing to watch the nodding heads.
"We have bobcats out there softening the soil so you poor buggers with spades will have an easier time digging. If you don't feel up to digging holes please just grab a plant, take it out of its pot and plant them in the holes dug," he explained. "Sponsors have donated a generous range of native saplings so please try to space them out. As each plant goes in we also need water taken out so if you need a break come and grab the hose."
"It's not going to be easy work, so keep the final product in mind. The mine has gifted this land to the public as a national park. It will be a monument to our effort today that will last and could be the most fulfilling thing any of us do this year."
Evan was left nodding. The man was never going to be elected mayor but his speech was inspirational all the same. Grabbing a spade and gloves he moved out into the open land.
The earth had already been tilled so initially the going was easy. His spade was strong and under his steel capped boot its blade bit into the ground. He upended rocks, clay and dirt with little trouble. Stopping to wait by each hole for a sapling to be brought over and deposited. Hole after hole he dug, cataloguing the different natives being planted in his mind.
Well, it began as an easy work out but as the morning passed the combination of physical effort and scorching sun had begun taking its affect. What had once been a happily buzzing conga line of industry was now settled in to work. People who had passed all morning, smiling and waving in a friendly manner now saved that energy.
Standing beside yet another shallow hole Evan stopped to wipe the sweat from his brow. He was leaning on his spade handle when he saw a small set of legs moving towards him carrying the largest plant he had seen yet.
"Whoa let me help. That thing is huge," Evan said as grasped the other side of the plant.
He thought he heard a small voice say thanks but couldn't be sure. They balanced it between them as it was lowered to the ground.
Standing up he noticed a dirt covered face quickly avert her eyes. He wondered if she was shy and stuck out his own grimy hand.
"Hi, I'm Evan." He said
"Abbey," she responded, taking his hand and lifting her eyes again as she smiled.
She looked cuter when she smiled. The cap she wore shaded her face but he could see icy blue eyes looking back at him. Dark hair was pulled back into a pony tail and her button nose crinkled with her lips. Smudges on her face enhanced the cuteness that belied the fact she looked his age.
