Barefoot Kids

by Steve Hawke

  ‘Your daddy come to see me one night. War time. That Japanee war. He been wearin’ that uniform. He ’ad a bad news for me.’

  Tom talks in low haunted tones, never taking his eyes from the fire. The Jirroos and the Pearsons edge in closer, hanging on his words.

  He tells how his brother had gone up the coast with the lugger mob when they were ordered to evacuate Broome. ‘He been offsider for that Billy Steer now, on ’is lugger. He been say for me to come with ’im. More safer up in that wild country if that Japanee mob come in, he reckon. I told ’im that Steer man was no good. I told ’im to stop with me, we could live off crab an’ fish, anythin’. But he been go with Steer.’

  The next news Tom had of his brother was when Jirroo turned up in Broome, after his patrol was diverted to Garnet Bay following the plane crash. ‘They went there, lookin’ round everywhere. They been see the grave for that mother an’ baby. The Beagle Bay priest been put a cross for ’em. But Jirroo, he find ’nother grave. New one, he told that sergeant.

  ‘That sergeant made ’is soldiers dig up that grave. An’ Jirroo been know my brother, an’ he could tell that been ’im buried there. He didn’t like diggin’ ’im up like that, but that sergeant reckon they ’ad to.’

  Tom glances at Buster for a moment, before returning his gaze to the flames. ‘Jirroo been tell me biggest story that night Buster, whole lot. But all mixed up. He been worryin’ too much. Said he already seen Bella that day now, an he ’ad to go back to see you next day, but he ’ad all this job to do, an’ not enough time. I was cryin’ for my brother same time he was talkin’ too.’

  Buster slowly draws the story out of Tom. Two old lawmen had come to Jirroo at Garnet Bay. ‘They put the law word on ’im, that blackfeller law word, to help ’em.’

  The old men had been alarmed by the talk coming from the lugger camps about trouble at Garnet Bay, where the big ceremony ground was. ‘When they been get down there, right in that ceremony ground, they see tracks — two mans’ tracks. An’ right there in that main place, someone been dig up the ground next to a tree. An’ they find one tin buried there.’

  ‘Then they find that grave for my brother. They been worryin’ some bad business goin’ on. An’ they been worryin’ for stranger mob goin’ in that ceremony ground. Jirroo tell them two old law men who been in that grave. They said Steer been spreadin’ the word that my brother jump ship, headin’ back to Broome.

  ‘They reckoned it must be Billy Steer an’ my brother findin’ the diamonds. Must be they take some, an’ leave that other lot, main lot, buried there thinkin’ to go back an’ get ’em after everythin’ settle down.

  ‘Must be Steer been thinkin’ greedy way, he want to keep ’em all. So he kill my brother. That’s what Jirroo an’ them old fellers reckoned.

  ‘Those old men never want any trouble comin’. They never want everybody walkin’ through that ceremony ground, diggin’ it up, askin’ question, makin’ trouble.

  ‘Jirroo told ’em, tell ’is sergeant mate, he’ll sort everythin’ out. But them old fellers wouldn’t let ’im. They put that law word on ’im. They been say he got that law for that place now, he comin’ up to be a main man for that ceremony, he gotta keep it safe, till everythin’ settle down.

  ‘He ’ad to take that word from those old men. He ’ad to take that tin, hide ’im somewhere. Keep everythin’ buried. Keep everythin’ secret.

  ‘He never like tellin’ me all this word, but he reckon I gotta know the story for my own brother.’

  Tom sneaks a guilty glance at Bella, who is rocking backwards and forwards in her chair, hugging Tich, with tears streaming down her cheeks.

  ‘I don’t know ’ow Steer got on ’is track. But I been ’ear a noise, after Jirroo head off from my camp.’

  ‘What kind of noise?’ Bella asks.

  ‘He been cry out. But … sort of … cut off.

  ‘I follow down after ’im. But careful like. I been scared.

  ‘That’s when I seen it. He been lyin’ down on the ground. Steer bendin’ over ’im. He pull a shell from round Jirroo’s neck. Must be I made a noise. Steer been look my way. Only moonlight, you know, an’ I been hidin’ down behind a bush there. But ’is eye. That cold eye. I been go like jelly. When he run off, I just lay there, shiverin’ … too long, I been just lay there.’

  After a long pause, he resumes the story.

  ‘In the moonlight there, I dig ’is grave near that white gum now. I sing a song for ’im. Old Filipino song. I didn’t know any blackfeller song for buryin’ someone. So I just sing a song from my village where I been grow up.

  ‘I find one shell in ’is pocket, like that one Steer been pull off ’is neck. Same one Buddy been find. I chuck it in the grave with ’im. An’ I think I bury that story, bury that secret, same time I bury Jirroo.’

  Tom hunches down into his chair, and looks across at Buster. But it is Dancer who speaks. ‘Why didn’t you tell his family? Nyami and Mimi. All their lives, they didn’t know what happened to their father.’

  ‘War been goin’ on. Everythin’ been mad. Buster and Bella, they went back up Beagle Bay.

  ‘But I got to speak true way now, don’t I,’ Tom murmurs. ‘Every night, I seen ’im in my dreams. Those cold eyes. He kill my brother. He kill their father. I been scared he kill me too, if he reckon I say anythin’. I been too scared.

  ‘Then war finish. Everybody been come back. But too late then. More better everybody think old Tom just a crazy man, leave ’im alone. Leave ’im alone with ’is bad dreams an’ secrets.’

  He turns to Buddy. ‘Only this boy now want to talk to me. He don’t worry I’m crazy. He crazy back, dancin’ with crabs, chasin’ me down. If he don’t push me, I never tell this story.’ He turns to Bella and Buster in turn.

  ‘Sorry Bella. Sorry Buster.

  ‘An’ now I’ve put Steer’s boy onto ’im. Sorry Buddy. They got purri purri those diamond. More better they should’ve stayed longa sea.’

  A long silence follows.

  A terrible realisation is dawning on Flick.

  She looks down at the tin that has been sitting in her lap. Unable to stop herself, she prises off the lid.

  The diamonds glint in the firelight.

  32

  BIG AL SWINGS into action before any of the Jirroos are up and about. As soon as it is light enough to see, he cleans out the back of his car, thoroughly. He has already removed every trace of Tom’s presence from the cruiser. If the old hermit goes to the cops, he’ll simply deny everything.

  He has toyed with the idea of trying to get his hands on Buddy, but this was a step too far, even for Big Al. Grabbing Tom had been a spur of the moment action, not a premeditated kidnap. Besides, he could not see how he could do it and get away with it. There was no point in getting hold of the diamonds if he finished up in jail and lost everything.

  After considering all the possibilities, he concluded that he had to change tack again. He hated the thought of having to rely on someone else — and having to share the spoils — but he could see no alternative. He called Georgie Jordan.

  ‘Don’t ask me any questions. The less you know the better,’ Georgie snaps at his wife. ‘Just tell him that his Mimi Rosa needs to see him straight away, on family business.’ He waits anxiously as she makes the call.

  He paces the floor nervously until she hangs up and tells him, ‘Buddy’s on his way.’

  Georgie can sense the ice getting thinner under his feet. He does not like the shape things have been taking this morning, not at all. But he does not see what alternative he has. Which was Big Al’s exact point.

  He had been excited when the call came before breakfast. Maybe payday had arrived, he dared to think at first. Or perhaps it was to talk about plans for the next stage, now this one was in the bag. Maybe there would even be a job in it for him.

  In fact, those had been Big Al’s opening words when he got to the Bay View. ‘I’ve got a job for you.’ But Georgie’s smile had quickly fade
d as Big Al told the weirdest story about his father and the Garnet Bay diamonds, with the Jirroo kids somehow involved, and Buddy the one who knew the secret of the diamonds.

  ‘But what’s this got to do with me?’ he’d asked.

  ‘Isn’t it obvious? I want you to find out what the kid knows.’

  ‘How am I supposed to do that?’

  ‘You’re his uncle aren’t you? Why else would I be letting you in on all this? I can’t get close to the kid without it getting ugly — for all concerned.’ Big Al had let the implications of this hang in the air a little.

  Georgie was starting to sense for the first time that he was dealing with a truly dangerous man.

  Big Al moved in with his killer punch. ‘I’m not asking you son. I’m telling you, you’re going to do this, if you still want your cut. It’s double or nothing on my original offer.’

  ‘But a deal’s a deal Mr Steer,’ Georgie sputtered.

  ‘Deal’s changed,’ Big Al had snapped. ‘Those diamonds are mine by right, and there’s more riding on this than you know.’ He had lowered his voice then, to a menacing growl. ‘You’re in too deep to back out now sonny. I own you.’

  Georgie realised to his horror that Big Al could ruin him as easily as reward him. The worst thing was seeing that small smile playing at the corner of Big Al’s mouth on the other side of the desk. Big Al knew he had him.

  Georgie had tried to explain that he was not really the man for the job, that Buddy hated him, would not listen to him. But Big Al just dismissed this as his problem. He repeated his instructions, and told Georgie he had until the next morning to deliver the goods.

  Janey had already headed off to the Planning Department with Flick Pearson when the call came from Georgie’s wife. The rest of the kids were up the back, messing round with guitars, with Jimmy going all moon eyed over Sal. But Buddy was not in the mood. Sitting on his own on the back verandah of Col and Mary’s, he was lost in his thoughts. What was it Tom had said? ‘It’s all bubbling up.’

  He remembered watching the big pot of Tom’s with its brew of voodoo soup seething, chunks of crab and fish and flecks of chillies surging to the surface in the bubbling broth, and disappearing again back into the roiling mix. That’s what it seemed like to him now, and he felt like he was the one that had lit the fire under the cauldron.

  Last night, before he was ushered off to bed under Bella’s care, Teoh Tom had vehemently ruled out the idea of going to the police. No way was he going to get mixed up with anything that might make him have to cross swords with Big Al again. He had given his story to Buster and Bella like he promised, and that was that.

  What do we do now, they had all wondered, after Bella and Tom departed. It was decided that the kids should stay away from Eagle Beach for the time being, to minimise the chance of Buddy or any of them running into Big Al.

  It was agreed that Flick and Janey would go through the files at the Planning Department in the morning, to see if there was any new information they might be able to use. Graham said he would make a few calls to see if he could find out any more about Big Al and Garnet Investments. They would all meet up again in the afternoon to swap notes.

  Buddy took the call, and now here he is, riding up the driveway to Mimi Rosa’s, wondering what on earth she wants. He is almost pleased to have the diversion, something else to think about. He rides round the back, like he always does when he visits Mimi Rosa, and pushes through the back door calling out her name.

  The door clicks shut behind him, and there is Georgie. ‘Sorry about tricking you Buddy, but it’s me that needs to see you. Mum’s not here.’

  Buddy’s first instinct is to flee. But Mimi Rosa always keeps the front door locked, and Georgie is blocking the back door. Poised like a caged animal, his second thought is to fight. He eyes Georgie, can sense the weakness, the fear in his uncle.

  Georgie holds out a hand as he backs up against the door; more like he is trying to stave Buddy off than calm him down. ‘The diamonds?’

  Georgie feels a weird sense of relief when he sees Buddy’s astonished reaction. At least he knows now that Big Al is not stark raving mad. Something really is going on here. He starts to regain his composure. ‘I’m here to help you Buddy.’

  That line was a mistake, he realises, as Buddy flares.

  In fits and starts, Georgie gets to the point; he is here on behalf of Big Al, who wants his diamonds back.

  ‘His diamonds!’ Buddy is outraged, and Georgie has to recover ground quickly to keep him talking.

  From Georgie’s perspective the conversation becomes increasingly bizarre. When he tries to tell Buddy that Big Al has hard evidence against him on the fire, Buddy is defiant. Too angry to think any more about what is supposed to be secret, he boasts that he has his own lawyer now who will stand up to Big Al, and fires back at Georgie with a stream of his own allegations.

  When Buddy is finished, Georgie’s head is whirling. ‘Buddy, I’d like to believe you,’ he stutters, ‘about the fire, as well as everything else. But this is too fantastic. Murders. Grave robbing. You’ve been watching too many videos.’

  Buddy says nothing, but he holds Georgie’s eye.

  ‘This is the bottom line. Mr Steer is sure you know something about the diamonds, and he wants them back. Badly. If you tell me what you know, and it helps him recover them, he’ll withdraw the complaint against you.’

  ‘So what? He won’t get me anyway.’

  ‘Don’t bet on it. And that’s not all. He’ll give the block to … to your father.’ He is unable to make himself say Andy’s name.

  ‘Give it?’

  ‘Yeah, give. Not sell. And there could be a reward too, on top of that.’

  Buddy just glares at him now. But Georgie senses he has finally got Buddy listening. ‘Think about it Buddy. But not for long. You’ve got till midday tomorrow. At the very latest.’

  Janey remembers the long wait she had in this office when she came to look at the files. No such treatment for Felicity Pearson of Withnail, Jones and Pearson. Janey is both thrilled and appalled at the way Flick blusters and bullies the receptionist and then the files clerk to get the material they want.

  As they settle down in the reading room Flick asks the clerk if the file is complete.

  ‘What do you mean ma’am?’

  ‘Is it up to date? Is there any new material that’s come in that hasn’t been added yet?’

  ‘I’m sorry ma’am, I wouldn’t know.’

  ‘Well check, would you please. And if you turn up anything, bring it through to me.’

  ‘Can you tell him to do that?’ asks Janey when the clerk has departed.

  ‘Probably not,’ Flick grins. ‘The trick is to act like you’re in charge. It works as often as not.’

  Janey is amazed at the speed with which Flick works through the file, making the occasional note, or firing the odd question at her. Flick has almost completed her reading when the clerk returns and slides a single sheet across the desk, waiting for Flick to look up from the file. Janey runs her eyes down the page. The sheet is headed ‘Incoming Correspondence, Current.’ She shakes Flick’s arm. ‘Look at this!’

  She is pointing at ‘Approvals Committee: Final Briefing and Ministerial Recommendation’, and the date on it is only two days old.

  ‘Can we see this please.’ Flick’s voice is sharp, with an edge of excitement.

  The clerk cannot keep the smirk from his face as he answers, ‘Terribly sorry ma’am, active documents are not available to members of the general public until so authorised by the section head and duly processed.’

  ‘I am not a member of the general public,’ Flick says icily. ‘I am the legal representative of the complainants in this matter.’

  But try as she might, Flick cannot prevail. All that happens is that the clerk gets a roasting from his superior for showing them the sheet in the first place.

  ‘That’s the big one isn’t it? The final briefing and recommendation for the Minister?’
Janey asks.

  ‘I’m afraid so. And if they’re like every other government committee I’ve ever dealt with, they’ll have found out what the Minister wants before they made their recommendation.’

  Flick frowns at the file. ‘I’ve got to tell you Janey, I can’t see any smoking gun in here. All the paperwork seems to be in order. If the Minister goes against you, it’s going to be tough to find a way around it.’

  Janey can’t hide her disappointment.

  Flick speaks gently. ‘I’ll talk to a couple of people who know this area better, but I don’t want to give you any false hopes. We can go through the paperwork once the decision is made, but they’re usually pretty thorough in controversial cases like this. They know how to cover themselves. After that, you’re only left with straws to clutch at.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. Abuse of process. But you need to provide material new evidence for that.’

  ‘Maybe the committee will go against him. They didn’t give him everything he wanted last time.’

  ‘Maybe.’ But Flick sounds doubtful.

  The foreboding Janey and Flick feel is made worse when they pick up Graham.

  He has done more than make phone calls. He has run into a couple of banking acquaintances, also staying at the Cable Beach Club, who are in town to see Big Al. In fact they have just headed off for a second round of meetings with him.

  ‘I had to play it carefully,’ he tells Flick and Janey. ‘Once they twigged I was fishing for information, they started to clam up. But I get the feeling they’re not too happy with him, though young Craig let slip something about him having a big breakthrough.’

  They can’t be sure, but putting two and two together, it is starting to sound like Big Al has probably got his plans through.

  Janey breaks the silence that follows this grim thought. ‘Mrs Pearson, you know how I asked you what would happen if we could prove that there was a burial site down there?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And you said it might embarrass Big Al, but it probably wouldn’t stop him.’