Barefoot Kids

by Steve Hawke

  ‘I’ll give you a hand Dancer,’ Graham offers. ‘I know a bit about legal type documents and language.’

  ‘What this business for me signin’ some paper talk?’ Teoh Tom pipes up. ‘I been tellin’ you lot last night, I can’t go up in courthouse ’gainst that man.’

  ‘It’s not court,’ Janey tells him. ‘It’s just signing your name to say what happened.’

  Tom eyes her suspiciously.

  ‘Tom, you’ve got to do this,’ Buddy pleads.

  Bella whispers in his ear. The old fellow growls and mutters to himself, then says to Dancer, ‘You put ’im down that word boy, then I’ll see. Come on.’

  But Dancer is not listening. He is transfixed by the astonishing sight of Andy and Georgie walking up the driveway together with Rosa.

  Andy crosses over to stand with his boys as Georgie comes to a halt on the other side of the loose circle of Jirroos and Pearsons. He takes a step forward, then stares at the ground for a few moments before raising his eyes to Buddy, who looks back at him, apprehensive, but defiant. Georgie’s eyes flicker up to Andy, who places a hand on Buddy’s shoulder.

  ‘I’m sorry Buddy,’ Georgie glances briefly round the circle. ‘I’m sorry everybody. Can I sit down please?’

  A chair is pushed towards him, and he sinks into it, hanging his head. ‘I rang up Horse after Buddy’s second call. Horse told me what happened that night. Said he hasn’t had a proper night’s sleep since. You wouldn’t believe how relieved he was to get it off his chest.’

  Now he looks at Buddy again. ‘I’m not saying I agree with you lot. I know about Jiir and all that, but I reckon this town’s got to change. But it looks like I’ve been backing the wrong horse with Big Al. I never realised how far he’d go till yesterday morning, Buddy.

  ‘I figured I better speak to your father, since so much of it goes back to my blue with him. We’ve just made our peace, but I don’t know what to do now.’

  Buddy pipes up, ‘Ever heard of material evidence uncle?’

  Georgie gives him a puzzled look.

  ‘You explain it to him Janey. I can’t.’

  But Georgie’s phone rings. He pulls it out and looks at the display. His eyes go wide. ‘It’s him,’ he whispers, as if afraid of being overheard.

  Janey jumps in. ‘Have you spoken to him in the last couple of hours?’

  Georgie shakes his head.

  ‘Just say yes.’

  He looks at her questioningly.

  ‘Go on, answer it. Just say you’ll come.’

  He puts the phone to his ear. ‘George Jordan speaking.’

  Everyone waits, until eventually he says, ‘I think I’ve got that. It’s a bad line Mr Steer, can you just wait a minute while I move.’ He covers the phone, looking panicked. ‘He wants me to be at Eagle Beach at five o’clock.’

  Janey and Buddy nod frantically at him. ‘You there? … that’s better. Yes. I’ll meet you there.’

  Flick leans over to Ally and whispers, ‘I think our chances just improved.’

  Bella and Rosa give each other a big, long hug.

  The next two hours are frantic, with Janey and Flick at the head of the table running the show. Georgie wraps his head around the idea of new material evidence, then makes a couple of calls. He promises to be down at the shack by five o’clock. But before he leaves, Buddy insists on shaking his hand.

  At half past four they all take off in convoy for Eagle Beach. There is a last minute panic when Andy asks whether Big Al will freak out if he sees all these cars. The drivers take off and park the cars out of sight, then race back on foot while everyone else gets ready.

  Buddy acts as look out. When Georgie arrives, Buddy gives him the thumbs up and signals back to the others.

  A minute later, Big Al’s car pulls up. Buddy scurries back to the shack.

  Big Al jumps out of his car, holding a large canvas carry bag.

  Georgie joins him. ‘The kids are waiting for you Mr Steer.’

  Big Al thumps him on the shoulder. ‘Okay, let’s get this done with. A block of land’s a small price to pay for what we’ve got coming to us.’ He marches up the footpath.

  The look of anticipation on Big Al’s face melts into one of puzzlement when he comes in sight of the shack. The old table has been dragged outside. Seated in a row at the table are Tich and Jimmy, Janey in the middle, then Dancer and Buddy. Arrayed behind them are their parents and Little Joe, Buster, Bella, Micky, Teoh Tom and the three Pearsons.

  ‘Would you like to sit down?’ says Janey, pointing at the rickety chair opposite her on the other side of the table.

  ‘What in tarnation’s going on here?’ Big Al turns round to Georgie, who feigns puzzlement with a shrug of the shoulders.

  Janey speaks evenly, surprising even herself at how well she controls the tension. ‘The deal’s a bit more complicated than I said in the note. We want to negotiate.’ She fidgets with the pile of papers on the table in front of her.

  Big Al can smell a rat, but he doesn’t show any concern. ‘This should be good,’ he snorts. ‘Go on, what’s your deal?’

  ‘You don’t want to sit down?’

  ‘Get on with it.’

  ‘Have you got the title deed for the block?’ Buddy asks.

  Big Al reaches into the bag, and waves an envelope at them.

  ‘We’d like to see that please,’ Dancer says.

  Big Al gives him a hard look, but he slides the envelope across the table.

  Janey passes it back to Flick.

  ‘Yes, that’s it,’ Flick says after a brief examination.

  Janey pulls a piece of paper from her pile. ‘This is a deed of transfer. You’ll have to sign it.’

  ‘Let’s get all the cards on the table first,’ growls Big Al.

  ‘The bones?’ asks Jimmy.

  Behind the kids there is an uneasy ripple of movement.

  Big Al looks defiantly at Buster as he lifts the bag onto the table. He holds one edge up, so that they can see into it. Bella gasps, and buries her head in Micky’s shoulder.

  ‘That’s what you asked for, the bones and the block. Let’s get on with it.’

  Big Al can’t hide his surprise when Tich is the next to speak. ‘That necklace you’re wearing. That belongs to my nyami. He wants it back. We told you in the letter.’

  ‘Is that it? Where are the bloody diamonds?’

  Janey glances back at Flick, who reaches down to a bag at her feet. She leans forward and puts the biscuit tin in the middle of the table, and opens the lid.

  Big Al gasps at the sight of them, and steps forward for a closer look.

  ‘Wait,’ says Janey, quickly sliding the tin back towards her side of the table.

  Dancer looks at Buster, who gives him a nod, then turns to Big Al. ‘We don’t think you should take them.’

  Big Al shakes his head sharply, as if he can’t believe what he just heard. ‘What?’ He can’t help himself, he starts laughing.

  Buster cuts him short. ‘The boy means it.’

  ‘What? You mob planning on keeping them are you? What the hell is all this about then?’

  Dancer is grim. ‘We don’t want them. You don’t want them. They’re no good, they’re purri purri.’

  ‘They’re what?’

  ‘Purri purri,’ Dancer repeats. ‘Cursed.’

  Big Al scratches his head. He is genuinely flummoxed for a moment. He runs his eyes around the mob ranged opposite him. ‘I’ve had just about enough of this nonsense. What the hell are we here to talk about, according to you lot?’

  Janey separates the papers in front of her into two piles. She holds up one set in her right hand. ‘We want you to sign these.’ She waves the others in her left hand. ‘And we’ll give you these.’

  Big Al’s eyes narrow.

  ‘This first one is a Deed of Transfer, whereby you transfer the vacant block of land at Lot 583 Christian Street to Andrew Jirroo at a price of one dollar.’ She holds up the next document.

 
‘This one is a Deed of Undertaking, drafted by our lawyer, Mrs Pearson. That’s her behind me. It binds you personally, and as the chairman, chief executive and owner of Garnet Investments, to cease all works on the proposed Eagle Beach Resort and golf course, the Diamond Tavern and the Garnet Pearl Farm. And also to withdraw the development application currently with the Planning Department for the above, and to forfeit your lease over the relevant lands.’

  She glances at the document for a moment to check. ‘Furthermore, on signing it you would undertake, now and forever, to not attempt in any way whatsoever to renew or revive these proposed developments or any similar developments on these lands.’

  ‘You are joking.’

  ‘I’m absolutely serious Mr Steer. These other documents are a series of statutory declarations. I’ll go through them in chronological order. The first one is signed by me, and by Jimmy Jirroo, Buster Jirroo, Bella Richards and Micky Richards. It describes the circumstances of the recovery of a pendant belonging to Mrs Richards, including an acknowledgement of my role in that, but also including the fact that her property was found in your possession, and that you made false allegations against me, in order to cover up your crime.’

  ‘I’ve had enough of this girlie.’ Big Al is simmering just below boiling point, but his eyes keep going to the tin of diamonds.

  ‘Hear me out please. The second one is signed by Tom Ramoto, Dancer Jirroo and Buddy Jirroo. It confirms their knowledge of a skeleton in the ground not far from here, and relates to the circumstances leading up to the removal of that skeleton, which you have confirmed just now that you have in your possession.

  ‘The third is also signed by Tom Ramoto. It outlines, very briefly, the facts of his abduction and illegal detention by you, and the threats you made against him.

  ‘All three of the statutory declarations have been witnessed by Mrs Pearson, who is a solicitor and a Commissioner for Declarations.

  ‘The final letter is a statement by Mrs Pearson. You can see there is a disk attached to it. Her statement confirms that these are the only hard copies of the affidavits, and that the disk contains the files from which they were printed, and that the files have been deleted from the hard drive of her laptop computer on which they were originally prepared.

  ‘If you sign the two copies of the Deed of Undertaking, one of which we will keep, we will hand over to you the other documents and the disk, to do what you want with. If you don’t, we will retain, and use, the declarations.’

  Janey taps the papers into a neat stack, and places them on the table in front of her. Jimmy steals a glance at her, in awe of her performance. He feels like bursting into applause. But everyone else has their attention fixed on Big Al.

  He is twitching now, barely able to restrain his fury. He is not done with yet, though there is a shaky edge to his voice. ‘If you think that rubbish scares me, think again. It won’t stand up for a minute. And as for the development, it’s all signed sealed and delivered. You’re too late. The approvals are through. Tell ’em will you Georgie.’

  Buddy can’t stop himself turning round to grin at his dad. Big Al catches this, and it is the first hint he has. He narrows his eyes again as Georgie steps up beside him.

  ‘Well, er, there’s a slight problem. Two actually. The Minister certainly has the recommendation, but I’m not a hundred per cent sure that he has actually signed off as yet. I understand he’s been away for a couple of days.’

  ‘Georgie.’ It is a low, warning growl from Big Al.

  Georgie flinches, but soldiers on. ‘I’ve read those declarations Mr Steer, particularly the one from Buddy and Dancer and old Tom. It raises …’ he struggles for a moment to remember the phrase, ‘new material evidence about the processes that have been followed, which I think the Department and the Minister should consider.’

  Big Al does not flinch, but if looks could kill, Georgie would be dead on the spot. ‘Two kids and an old lunatic. What are you playing at Jordan?’

  Dancer coughs. ‘There were two others there as well.’

  ‘I’ve spoken to Horse today,’ Georgie says. ‘He’s confirmed their story Mr Steer, and he’s prepared to testify accordingly if necessary. The last time we spoke he was on his way to see Mack.’

  Big Al is silenced at last. The rage seems to have gone as he sinks blank-faced into the chair he was offered at the outset.

  Flick speaks into the silence. ‘I’d do what she’s asking if I were you Mr Steer. If the Minister is crazy enough to sign your approvals after he gets Georgie’s report, which I very much doubt, we’ll have an injunction on it before the day is out. We’ll drag you through the courts for months.’

  ‘Don’t think your bankers would be too keen on that, from what I can gather,’ Graham chips in.

  Flick is not finished though. ‘There’s evidence of criminal behaviour from kidnapping right down to grave robbing in those documents Mr Steer.’

  But Big Al is not really listening to them. A wild, yet calculating assessment is going through his head as he stares with a strange, fixated look at the biscuit tin. It is an effort to tear his eyes away, but he leans back in the chair and stares up at the sky, then lets out a bellow that is half crazed laugh and half a cry of anguish.

  ‘Gimme the diamonds. You can have the rest.’

  He tips forward, reaching for the tin. But it is just out of his grasp.

  ‘You don’t want them.’

  ‘Don’t you tell me what I want!’ he screams back at Dancer.

  The kids turn to Buster who shrugs, as if to say, ‘On his own head be it.’

  A strange calm descends over the gathering as Janey puts a pen on the table and slides the two copies of the Transfer Deed across, pointing to indicate where he should sign. He scribbles his signature. Janey passes the deed back to Andy, who then reaches over and places a dollar coin on the other copy.

  Big Al does not even glance at the contents of the Deed of Undertaking as he signs it. Janey’s hand shakes as she takes her copy, but still she stays calm, as she slides the affidavits and Flick’s letter and disk over to his side of the table.

  Tich points at Big Al’s chest. He takes a moment to work out what she wants, then tears the pendant from his neck, breaking the chain, and tosses it on the table in front of her. He picks up the bag at his feet and places it on the table, opposite the tin of diamonds.

  No-one seems quite sure how to complete the transaction, until Teoh Tom steps forward. ‘You’re welcome to ’em,’ he says, and slides the tin across.

  Big Al says not a word. He takes the tin and clutches it tight to his chest, rocking it for a few moments like a baby. He gets to his feet in a daze and stumbles away from the table, without a glance for the dollar coin and the pile of documents.

  There is an awed silence as they all watch him go, until, at the moment he disappears, Janey bursts into uncontrollable tears. Buster squats down beside her, and hugs her until the breath is almost squeezed from her lungs and she has to stop.

  36

  ‘I’VE NEVER SEEN anything like it Janey,’ Flick said with a shake of her head. ‘I hope I never cross swords with you in a courtroom.’

  Everyone was so stunned, there really did not seem to be much to say.

  Tich quietly collected the pendants from Bella and Buster. Sitting at the table, she slid the pair of them together. Then she took the one Big Al had thrown on the table, and eased it into place. The three pendants locked together, holding each other in place. There was the whole design, etched into the shell all those years ago by Old Jirroo.

  The circle was closed.

  Jirroo’s bones were interred two days later in a plot next to his daughter Maisie, the little sister of Bella and Buster, and mother of the four Jirroo brothers. At Buster’s request, Jimmy brought his guitar to the funeral and sang his Jiir song.

  The clan spends most of the next week at the shack and the beach. It seems more precious, more beautiful than ever. Sal is with them virtually all the time. Graha
m and Flick come and go, excusing themselves from time to time on the grounds that they want to do a little bit of relaxing by the pool on this so-called holiday.

  Little Joe and his brothers keep on ducking off too. Jimmy seems to know something about what they are up to, but he won’t tell.

  The timber platform over the well is restored, and becomes a music stage for the kids again. There are feasts of bluebone and salmon, cooked on the fire at the beach. Micky even catches a bani that goes into the coals.

  Janey sings her Eagle Beach song while it cooks.

  Sun’s a-setting, full moon rising

  Time to feast now at Eagle Beach

  Fish curry bubbles in Mimi’s big pot

  Bani ’n’ salmon cook in the coals

  The smells on the breeze bring the kids running

  The sight of it makes stomachs growl

  Crickets singing, guitars strumming

  Nights are sweet down at Eagle Beach

  Only this time she doesn’t bother with the final verses.

  The same evening Buster leads Andy and Dancer towards the headland. They walk in silence for a minute or two, until Buster says to Dancer, ‘We’ll be dancin’ for you next summer lad. You’re more than ready to go through the law.’

  Dancer glances up at Andy with a quiet, proud smile. A sea eagle circles once above Jiir rock, then, with powerfully beating wings, flies in a straight line north.

  Buster puts a hand on Dancer’s shoulder and murmurs, ‘I reckon that might be old Jiir’s messenger bird, takin’ the word back to Manburr up in Garnet Bay.’

  Back at Jirroo Corner the For Sale sign disappears from the vacant block and Andy’s truck is restored to its old parking spot. Andy and the boys prowl around making plans.

  One evening Buddy goes over to Bella’s house and drags Teoh Tom over to join them. Andy shows Tom where they are planning to build their place, near the front of the block, with a big shed down the side for the truck. ‘We were wondering Tom. What would you reckon if we put up a cabin here at the back? It’s nice and quiet, and Bella’s place is just over the fence there.’

  Tom looks puzzled, and scratches his head. ‘What for?’