by Steve Hawke
Georgie says, ‘That’d be right. Try and shift the blame.’ He looks at Andy. ‘Like father like son.’
Janey can’t restrain herself. ‘What about that transportable? What does Big Al think he’s doing?’
‘I’ll come to you in a minute girl,’ Georgie answers. But his eyes are on Andy. ‘Buddy’s clearly out of control. If he keeps going like this I’m going to have to report him to Welfare, for his own good.’
Andy steps forward with murder in his eyes, but Ally is quicker. She moves in front of the semicircle of Jirroos all glaring at Georgie. ‘Just cool it everybody,’ she commands. She turns to Georgie. ‘First off, is Michael going to be all right?’
‘No thanks to your daughter. Half an inch lower and he’d be blind in that eye.’
‘Okay, that’s one thing clear.’ She turns to her husband. ‘Eddie.’
Eddie hands her all five new shanghais. She shows them to Georgie, then waves them at the kids. ‘These are going in the fire.’ She clicks her fingers, and points at the ground in front of her. ‘Janey!’
Janey drags herself reluctantly forward to stand between her mother and the Jordans. She grits her teeth and looks at Michael. It costs her, but she gets the words out. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You’re grounded for a week, my girl.’
‘But —’
A look from her mother stops her in her tracks. ‘Glad you’re going to be okay Michael,’ Ally says. ‘Satisfied Georgie?’
Georgie doesn’t look happy, but Ally has taken the wind out of his sails. ‘Better late than never for a bit of discipline, I suppose,’ he says grudgingly.
‘Okay then, there’s something else to be said.’ Bella steps forward and leans in close to Georgie. The kids have never heard their mimi speak in this low, angry way before. ‘You might be Buddy’s uncle, Georgie Jordan. But he’s a Jirroo. One of us. And don’t you forget it. Don’t you ever go spoutin’ that wicked nonsense about Welfare again. You should know better. Your mother’s a friend of mine, and I know she’s brung you up better than that.’
Janey glowers at Michael and turns on her heel, but he has one last taunt. ‘The site office is only the start Roo Girl. Horse and Big Al are —’ But Georgie has whirled around and grabbed Michael’s arm, cutting him short as he drags him towards the car.
‘What?’ Janey shouts. ‘Big Al and Horse are what?’ Michael just grins, and gives her the finger.
Janey argues the case with Ally as they face each other across the kitchen table, but Ally is adamant. ‘This is about you, girl. Not Michael, not Big Al. You’ve got to learn to control that temper of yours.’
‘But something’s going on down there Mum. Michael was just starting to say what, but Georgie stopped him.’
‘You’re grounded Janey, and that’s all there is to it.’
‘So we let them get away with whatever they’re doing, do we?’ Janey glowers at her mother. ‘You don’t care about Jiir!’
This is too much for Ally. She gets to her feet and glares back. ‘That’s not true, and you know it.’ She pauses, to calm herself down. ‘It’s not that simple. We’ve got to go and set up for our Saturday gig, and we’re going to do it.’
‘Can’t let Big Al down, can we.’
Ally refuses to rise to this bait. ‘The Dreamers are your meal ticket to a real future Janey, even if you don’t appreciate it. We’ll go down to Eagle Beach in the morning to see what’s going on.’
‘Tomorrow might be too late.’ Janey storms to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
She pulls out her schoolwork, but gets little done. She can hear the other kids heading off to Eagle Beach and Eddie loading his gear for the Bay View. She doesn’t reply to Ally’s goodbye from the hallway. As soon as she hears the cars pull out, she quietly lets herself out the rarely used front door, wheels her bike onto the path and is away. She catches up with the other kids well before the turn-off.
‘Told you,’ Dancer grins at Jimmy.
The unsuccessful search of the shack only spurred Big Al on. Even if the diamond hoard was only a fraction of its rumoured size, he could still use it to clear his debts at the bank. Then he could take his time with the resort and add the touches that would make it world class.
But more than this, the thought of finding the diamonds was growing into an obsession. Once the site office had been set up, he’d taken Horse down to the shack to explain what he wanted. Horse was uneasy. ‘Shouldn’t we give ’em some warning? Let ’em clear out any stuff the kids have got in there?’ he’d asked.
‘I don’t pay you to ask questions,’ Big Al snapped. ‘There’s bugger all in there. Besides, they’re bloody squatters. No rights to be here in the first place.’
Horse can’t work it out. For a start, this is not where the earthworks for the resort are going to begin. And if they do need to knock down the shack, it would be easier to bring in a grader and just push the thing over.
He doesn’t know that his boss has worked this out very carefully. Big Al doesn’t want a pile of jumbled up rubble; he wants the shack to come down section by section, so he can watch it like a hawk and then pick over the remains. Following his orders, Horse puts a chain around a corner post of the shack’s verandah then shackles it to the tow-bar of the big ute.
The kids jump off their bikes at the site office, unsure what to do. ‘I bet they’ve gone down to the headland, to Jiir’s place,’ says Janey.
‘Could be,’ says Dancer, ‘but we can’t go there.’
‘We’ve got just as much right as Big Al and Horse,’ Janey retorts.
‘Oi!’ The call startles them all. Teoh Tom steps out of the bush, pointing to the track that leads down to the beach and the shack. ‘Jirroo’s camp,’ he says. ‘Quick now,’ then disappears back into the bush.
Buddy races off with the others hot on his heels. They see the mess Horse’s ute has made, churning up the ground on either side of the footpath to the shack, then hear the sound of the engine starting up. They rush into the clearing to see the ute inching forward. The chain that connects it to the post is lifting off the ground as it tightens.
‘Noooo!’ Tich’s scream cuts the air. Big Al and Horse whip their heads around. The high revving of the ute drops to an idle as Horse takes his foot from the accelerator with a guilty, slightly panicked look.
Janey comes to a halt in front of Big Al, panting, ‘You can’t do this!’
He ignores her and barks at Horse, ‘Get on with it.’
‘You’ve got no right,’ Janey shouts, tears in her eyes.
Jimmy and Buddy have run to stand in front of the Toyota. Dancer is at the corner post, trying to undo the shackle holding the chain.
‘I’ve got a lease on this land girlie. That there is an illegal structure. Now clear off. Come on Horse.’
Horse looks aghast, but the glare from Big Al carries a message that can’t be ignored. He eases the ute forward. The chain tightens a little more.
‘I’m not moving! You’ll have to pull it down on top of me!’ Tich has climbed inside the loop of chain and is hugging the corner post.
Horse comes to a halt again, shaking his head. He gets out to watch as Big Al advances on Tich, who is now flanked by Dancer, Janey and Jimmy. While everybody’s eyes are on Tich, Buddy notices a big rolled up plan leaning against the passenger door of the ute. On impulse, he grabs it, and ducks out of the clearing into the bush.
Big Al looks as if he is about to explode. He fixes Janey with his coldest look. ‘You’re heading for a fall if you keep getting in my way like this. I’ll be back, in my own good time.’ Janey is trembling. It takes all her nerve to hold his eye until he turns on his heel.
Dancer undoes the shackle securing the chain around the post, expecting that Horse will get the other end. But Horse is so relieved the confrontation is over that when Big Al orders, ‘Let’s get out of here,’ he jumps in the ute and takes off. They do not even notice the chain flick back around the post.
Tich cries out.
Jimmy, Janey and Dancer fuss around her, inspecting the graze on her arm, and the bruise already rising. She pushes them away, insisting she is okay. In fact she is beaming with pleasure and pride, and they all tell her she is a hero.
At this point Buddy appears with a big grin, waving the plan he has pinched.
15
BY THE TIME the kids get home, evening is approaching. Bella leaps up to start ticking Janey off but Janey is waving the plan and, speaking over everyone else, tells them they have to see it.
But before she can get started, Bella spots Tich’s bloody arm. ‘What on earth’s been goin’ on?’ she demands. She insists on seeing to the injury before she looks at anything, sending Micky off for the first aid kit, and Dancer for some gum from the bloodwood tree in the back corner.
While she bandages Tich up, the kids tell the story of their encounter with Big Al. The old folk are outraged. But then Janey rolls out the map that Buddy took. ‘The resort’s only the first part of it,’ she tells them. ‘There’s a whole second stage that wasn’t in the planning application I saw in the files.’
Bit by bit the kids go over the map. The whole expanse of bush behind the beach is to be replaced by a golf course. The fifteenth green will be where the shack currently stands. On the other side of the course from the resort buildings will be the clubhouse and a flash pub called the Diamond Tavern. The mangroves along the creek behind Teoh Tom’s — ‘Right in that gunbun place,’ Tich points out — will be cleared for the Garnet Pearl Farm and Tourist Centre and a small marina.
When Janey finishes, Buster leans over to examine the plan more closely, his attention focused on the Garnet Investments logo in the bottom corner. He plants his long middle finger on the logo and asks, ‘What’s this?’
‘That’s his sign, Nyami,’ Janey answers. ‘For his company. Logo they call it.’
‘His sign? That’s like Jiir, how we draw him.’ Buster sounds offended, and mystified.
High with the drama and the news, the kids can’t wait for their parents to get home. They ride off through the darkening streets to the Bay View and barge through the front doors. Heads turn as they run through the bar heading for the garden bar where the Dreamers are playing. Ally is on the door as usual, and sees them coming. Janey can see that she is furious, so she jumps in first, hardly making sense as she spills out a rapid account, trying to make her mother understand before she gets cut off.
‘Look what Big Al did to my arm,’ says Tich by way of assistance, waving her bandaged limb at Ally.
The bar patrons are all watching now. Anxious to avoid a scene, Ally ushers the kids to her table in the garden bar where they tell her their story in urgent whispers.
Up on stage Mary is singing with the Dreamers. They have all noticed the disturbance and they finish the gig without an encore. The second it is over the kids race up and start telling their story yet again. Janey is in full flight when she suddenly breaks off and shouts, ‘We know what you’re up to!’
The rest of the Jirroos look round to see Big Al sauntering towards them, hands in pockets, as if he hasn’t a care in the world.
Mary can’t restrain herself. ‘What d’you think you’re playing at? Look at my girl!’
Big Al comes to a halt in front of her. He speaks softly, but his voice is cold as ice. ‘I didn’t ask her to get in the way.’
No way Janey is going to restrain herself; she almost shouts it. ‘You’re going to wreck everything aren’t you! Your golf course and pearl farm.’
They all see the startled look on Big Al’s face when he hears this. But he recovers quickly and growls at Eddie, ‘Get your gear packed and get out of here. Right now. I’ll see you in the morning.’ He turns on his heel and pushes through the puzzled crowd that has gathered behind them.
‘What about old Teoh Tom?’ Buddy calls. But Big Al just keeps walking.
Buddy woke early the next morning. Andy and Dancer had already disappeared somewhere in the truck, but it seemed like everyone else was still in bed. It had been a long, late night, with the talk about the incident at the shack and Big Al’s plans going round and round, but not really leading anywhere. Buddy scoffed some breakfast, looked at the plan rolled up in the corner, and decided.
He is relieved to see Teoh Tom sitting in the morning sun outside his hut. It would have been a long ride for nothing if the old man had been out. Tom is methodically sharpening his huge machete with a grinding stone. He continues with his task, squinting up every few seconds as Buddy leans his bike against a tree and approaches.
Buddy comes to a halt a few metres away, with the rolled up plan in one hand. Still working the machete with the stone, Tom suddenly asks, ‘That little girl all right?’
‘You saw what happened?’ Buddy can’t hide his surprise.
‘I see lot o’ things young feller. Very good, you lot kids.’ He tests the blade of the machete against his callused thumb. ‘I see, but I can’t help you lot. Old Tom, he gotta steer clear from all them Steer mob.’ Then he fixes a beady eye on Buddy, and points his machete at the plan. ‘I see you take that one from his motor car too.’ Buddy’s jaw drops. ‘He’s bad man that Steer. You be careful with him.’
‘Old man, I’ve got to show you something.’
‘What about that little girl?’
‘Tich? She’s okay.’
It is hard going for Buddy, trying to explain the contents of the plan. He points out where Tom’s hut is on it, tries turning round to orient it to where they’re standing. But Teoh Tom just cannot relate to the lines on paper, and shakes his head disbelievingly at Buddy’s talk of taverns and pearl farms and golf courses.
Buddy mimes a golf swing. ‘You know, golf. Hitting a little ball around.’
Teoh Tom shakes his head. He seems to think Buddy has gone silly. Buddy scratches his head, thinking. Taking a lone gum tree near the mangroves as his bearing, he strides off, counting his paces as he goes.
He turns to call Tom over, but the old man is already scuttling towards him, waving his arms wildly, shouting, ‘Gunbun. Gunbun country. Get away.’
But Buddy is determined to get his message through. He stamps a foot and points down at his feet. ‘Right here. Diamond Tavern, it says. Tavern, you know, like a pub.’
This puts a halt to Tom’s antics. He looks at Buddy suspiciously. ‘Pub? Here? Can’t be.’ He prods at the plan with his machete. ‘That’s gammon that paper.’
‘That new road’s not gammon. Or that site office he’s put in.’
‘He can’t put pub close up my camp like that.’
Buddy puts a hand on Teoh Tom’s arm. ‘Old man. Your camp isn’t on this plan. It’s gone. It’s got a car park there instead.’
Tom’s arm goes limp in his grasp. He stares at Buddy for a moment, but seems to be staring right through him. When he speaks, his voice has none of its usual cranky spirit. ‘That enough boy. You get ’ome now.’
As the truck turns into the driveway of the vacant block, Big Al pulls up on the verge. Andy looks at Dancer. ‘Looks like he meant it when he said he’d see us in the morning. This should be fun.’
Big Al has taken a sign from his car, and a mallet, and begins pounding the sign into the ground at the front of the block. They break into a run and see the words: ‘Block For Sale.’
Big Al gives the stake one last thump, then steps back, tosses the mallet into the car, folds his arms, and watches them. Dancer touches the sign disbelievingly. Andy turns to Big Al, struggling to find words. ‘We … but … we had a deal!’
‘What deal? I’ve got nothing on paper. Have you?’
Andy is struck dumb. He stands there, the blood draining from his face. Dancer almost screams the words, ‘He gave you the deposit! You took his money!’
Big Al looks from Andy to Dancer and back at Andy, ‘Got a receipt?’ He smiles evilly. ‘Been speaking to me lawyer Andy. Now what did he call it again … a non-refundable expression of interest fee. Something like that.’ He jerks a thumb at the truck. ‘I’
d be obliged if you’d remove your truck from my land.’
Dancer watches his father, scared of what might happen next. Andy’s fists clench tight. He takes a huge gulp of air. But instead of launching himself at Big Al as Dancer is half expecting, he shudders and hangs his head. Dancer turns and runs for the house, screaming, ‘Uncle Col! Uncle Col!’
Janey races out. ‘What is it? What’s wrong Dancer?’
Dancer is stuttering, almost crying, as he tries to explain. ‘Big Al. Out there. He’s not going to sell the block to Dad any more.’
Janey is speechless for a moment. Col has emerged from the house. ‘Where are they?’ he asks urgently. Dancer points down the drive and Col races off with Janey on his heels.
By now all the Jirroos have been attracted by the commotion and are heading out to the front of the block. Janey has found her voice again and stands there, hands on hips, facing Big Al. ‘You’re a thief as well as a scumbag. You can’t back out once you’ve taken his money. That’s breach of contract. You’re not going to get away with this. We’re going to see a lawyer. We’re going to stop you. We’re …’
She runs out of steam. Big Al seems almost amused. ‘I reckon my lawyer’ll be a match for any you mob can find.’ His voice takes on a sharper tone as he points at Janey. ‘And you watch that mouth of yours girlie. It could get you into serious trouble one of these days.’
He looks around at them all. ‘I’ve had enough of you Jirroos — young and old. The Dreamers have played their last gig at the Bay View.’
Mary spits her reply, ‘As if we’d want to.’
‘None of the other pubs’ll have you either, or any of the other venues, once I’ve spoken to them. The Dreamers are finished in this town.’
‘We’ll see about that.’ Little Joe’s retort sounds lame.
Mary chips in. ‘You’ll be hearing from us about what happened to Tich.’
Buddy rides up in time to see the withering look Big Al gives Mary. ‘Are you trying to threaten me? We were going about our legal business.’
Big Al spots Buddy and the rolled up plan he is carrying. He snaps his fingers and holds out a hand. Buddy hands over the plan automatically, without even looking at Big Al, for his attention is on Dancer and his shattered father; he is trying to work out what is going on.