BLACK SWANS

The impact of the Highly Improbable seemed about right.

"You are under my protection," the old man said, author of Abduction to the Ninth Planet.

And that was when he relaxed; and did the work he had to do.

But it was after that, after he had finished, that nothing made sense and he was more lost than ever.

There should have been a direction, an easy path, but instead he just regretted the loss of a base, the confusion he felt at so many things, the torment that would not let go. But most of all the loss of a base; a home.

"They were the military, we're here to clean up their mess," said one. 

But they always reported back, and he didn't trust anyone, and so he just went into hiding; being something he was not, someone who was not, and walked the beach.

In Vietnam he broke into a heat prickling rash. 

In Australia they had gone quiet, there was no more pursuit, or minimal pursuit. A problem shared is a problem halved, a problem recognised is a problem resolved. He didn't know about that. But he knew there were swirling days of discontent.

And everything would come out reaching. And the quiet walks churned inside him. And the black swans, protective spirits of old, were barely present. And the ache had set in all over again. And there was no solution. It was impossible to clean up the past, and he could not reorient to the future. 

And so he just kept going. Follow the path, persevere, they said, but he couldn't see the path and his heart sank further with every passing day. It was a ridiculous torment. As if bright cheer was not just around the corner; as if a myriad of solutions did not present themselves at every turn.

He would pick up the phone. And do what had to be done.

THE BIGGER STORY:


http://www.afr.com/news/politics/fairfax-ipsos-poll-malcolm-turnbull-puts-coalition-ahead-20151017-gkbt8y

The Coalition has surged to a commanding lead over Labor under the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull whose own personal ratings have soared to heights not seen since Kevin Rudd was at his zenith. 

In a crushing poll for the Labor opposition, Mr Turnbull also beats Bill Shorten in every one of 10 positive character attributes, trouncing him in terms of trust, competency, strength and vision, and even taking away the Labor leader's long-held lead on social issues.

The Prime Minister is the first leader to best his rival lead in all 10 attributes since they were first tested 20 years ago.

The latest Fairfax/Ipsos poll, the first taken since Mr Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott a month ago, shows the Coalition leading Labor on a two-party-preferred basis by 53 per cent to 47 per cent. This is the largest lead the Coalition has held in the poll since it won the September 2013 election by the same margin.