Also in recent years there had been a large influx of American and English tourists (both black and white) to Australia, however, she did not look either English or American.

His next guess was that she might be West Indian.   Thanks to the near-epic rivalry between the Australian and West Indian cricket teams, vying for the position of the world’s top test cricket team over the last decade or so, there had been a large migration of West Indians to Australia since the late 1970s.   Originally as tourists following their home side, then later settling in Australia.   However, although her high-cheeked, slim-boned face was similar to that of a West Indian, the black wolf finally decided that was not it either.

They stood face-to-face staring at each other from only centimetres away through the glass for a while longer, then finally, reluctantly, the black wolf was forced to turn tail and thunder down the back lane, then lope flat-out through the night forest in a desperate bid to return to the Singleton sheep station before dawn.

He arrived at the farm, panting furiously, his heart racing as dawn broke.   Finding the window to his bedroom still open, he stretched up on his hind legs, pulled himself up with his front paws and transformed back into human form, emerging into the bedroom as Ernie Singleton.

Stark naked he tiptoed across to the double bed and eased in beside his pregnant wife.   Snuggling his body up to her, he pulled her into his arms and settled down to sleep….

Only to be awakened twenty minutes later by Rowena shaking him and saying, “Wakey-wakey, you can’t sleep all day you know.”

“Oh God!” said Ernie nearly falling out of bed almost too tired to stand, and, as always after one of his late-night runs, overwhelmed by ravenous hunger.

*      *      *

By a little after 8:00 a.m., Bear Ross, Mel Forbes, Terry and Morrie Blewett, Andrew Braidwood, Jim Kane, Paul Bell, Des Hutchinson, and Sam Hart had all gathered at the Blewett station after Morrie had phoned Mel an hour earlier.

Although the recent series of attacks had happened mainly in Mel Forbes’ area (around Merridale and East Merridale), Bear Ross had now formally taken charge of the investigations.   Although only a sergeant like Jim Kane and Mel Forbes, Bear had authority over the other two because by Victorian law when two or more country towns in the same region are policed by officers of the same rank, the officer in charge of the largest town has authority over the others.   So since Harpertown, Merridale, and East Merridale are all small country towns, while Glen Hartwell is a large country town, Bear had authority over Jim and Mel.