It would be a lie to say the object streaked across the sky, in fact it travelled quite slowly.   It lingered long enough as it passed overhead to bring people out of their houses to stare gape-eyed up at the fiery orange ball of light which lit up the sky almost as bright as day as it flew over Harpertown — in the south-eastern Victorian countryside.

“Did you see that?” asked Melinda Stebbins.   She leant across the small hedge separating their properties, to call out to where their neighbours, the Carrolls, stood on their own front lawn, gazing up at the orangey glow.

“They could hardly miss it, now could they?” pointed out her husband Merv, failing to get a reaction from his wife, who had long ago learnt to live with, if not appreciate her husband’s bursts of sarcasm.

“But what was it?” demanded Cherylyn Carroll.   She and her two teenagers, Jayne and Stevie, started out toward the footpath.

“It’s only a comet,” insisted her husband, Pete.   Instinctively he followed suite as the others stepped out into the street and slowly started down Rushcutters’ Road, seemingly unaware they had even started after the fiery object.

“Seems pretty low down for a comet,” said Merv.   He received a sharp glance from Pete, who as the local school teacher was used to having his word accepted without question.

“Well let’s find out,” said Cherylyn.

So they set off down the street until reaching Hautman’s Paddock, a large open field at the end of town, which led directly into the neighbouring forest.   After a moment’s hesitation at the back of the paddock, they stepped out into the thickly wooded forest of wattles, pines, and grotesquely shaped ghost gums.

They had only followed the object for a few minutes before it became obvious that Merv was right.   It was no comet:

“It’s going to crash!” said young Jayne excitedly.   She pointed overhead to where the shiny orange light had undoubtedly started to come down.

“It’s just like in The War of the Worlds!” said Stevie Carroll.   He grinned with delight as his mother shuddered at the suggestion of alien invaders.

“Don’t be stupid!” chided Cherylyn.   Although her wide-eyed look showed that she half believed him.