Garry Stannus

The madness is upon us again. After a break of less than three months. While the sun was still up, you could see burn haze behind Devonport. It was a glorious afternoon. Warm, the clouds peeled away. We are talking Saturday 11th October 2008. You are at the ferry, East Devonport. In the hills behind the town … the smoke. In the air above the mountains … the smoke. The drive to Launceston. It gets dark. A beautiful twilight as night deepens. Meanwhile that long line of smoke is drifting down over the island. It might be a long, hot summer…