FIFTEEN
âNevil ... Nevil, what the fuck is on your face?' Gwen asks, her eyeballs poppin outta her skull as she walks toward him.
âYeah, well, hello to you too. It's make-up. You know, lipstick and eyeshadow,' Nevil says, smilin up at her.
âIt's an experiment,' Trevor interrupts, castin me small glances as I prop meself gainst the wall.
Phew, saved by Trevor!
Gwen shakes her head. âHuh, funny, very funny. You n your jokes, Nevil Dooley.' Then she turns to Big Boy. âAnyway, what're you doin here, Boy?'
âCome to get the Nev for trainin,' he replies, shruggin his shoulders. âWhat, a grown man can't go nowhere less he ask his mother?'
âMissus Warby, whatcha doin here?' I ask, me mouth dry.
âI brought some shortbread over for Nev, I know how much he likes it,' she answers, tappin the side a the tin teacup.
âWell, since you're here I might as well ask you some questions bout this drugs business. That is if you know anythin, which a woman thinks ya might.' I show me teeth,
pull out a chair n plonk down beside her. The woman got the grace to look shamejob face.
Now fer some grillin.
âWhat drug business, Missus D?' Big Boy butts in, reachin down to haul a beer from the half-opened carton on the floor.
âWell, Boy, somebody's been phonin Max n em other cops at Bullya there n tellin em we drug pigeons, me n Nevie. Seems somebody's got a hate gainst us. Hhmm, now I wonder who'd do that?' I turn round quick n raise my eyebrows at Missus Warby.
âOh no, you don't, Mavis. I had nothing to do with it all. If you want to accuse anyone you can blame Dorothy Reedman for that. I justâ' Missus Warby pauses, gatherin her defences like, then her eyes flash. âYes, she's the one that told me. What could I do? Mavis, I thought you were in trouble here! But now I know the real story.' She stops, then wipes at her eyes.
I scan the woman's dial.
Is she really that cracked? Yep, I reckon she is.
âLook Missus Warby, what ya done was stupid. Yeah, bloody stupid! Now, I know ya lookin out for me n Nev but this shit has gotta stop!' I watch the way her hands fiddle whit the tablecloth. I push on. âRight. Now did Dotty mention the name Jean Rhys or Isaac Edge? Jus think. Cos it's real portant.'
âHey, I know those names!' Big Boy bursts out.
âYeah, from where?' Gwen sits beside him, her eyes takin in his face.
âI er ... Iâum. Don't worry bout it. Let's jus say I seen Edge the other day down at the old bridge n he said somethin bout this Jean.' He coughs n puts a hand over his mouth, as if he can't say any more.
âWhat he look like? Paint us a picture, Boy.' I scope in on him.
Come on, Boy. Drop ya guts, son. Let it all out.
âWeeelll, see, the problem is, the fella was standin
right under the bridge.
Had a hat on so I couldn't really get a good go at him. Said somethin bout Jean bringin in some good shit from Bullya.' He laughs n takes a swig a beer.
âYes, that's right! Dotty mentioned those names!' Missus Warby all but screams out in her excitement. âSeems Max told her to keep a good eye on Jerry, her son, because some people were targeting all the young folk in Mandamooka! Drugs, that's it, drugs!'
âGwen, this drug dealer Isaac Edge has got to be Darryl Kane; Jean Rhys don't come into it. I reckon somebody got they wires crossed on that one, though I don't know how.' I puzzle it out.
Someone got the wrong message it seems. We're accidents, I reckon. Yep, me n Trev n Nev jus bystanders. Don't reckon Jean got a lot to do whit thisâor do she?
âBut Dotty knew about it, didn't she!' Missus Warby pipes up.
âThat's right. How did she find out?' I suss in on her.
âWell, I've got a small confession to make.' Missus Warby stops and clears her throat. She begins slow, head down, âDotty came over to my place one day and she got on my spot by the fence there and looked over. Apparentlyâthis is what she told meâTrevor there was talking into one of them fancy phones, you know, the ones you can walk around with.'
âA mobile,' Gwen interrupts.
âYes, thanks, one of them. She said Trevor was telling someone at the other end about this woman staying here. He mentioned her nameâJean Rhys. And that this Jean woman was fooling everyone and that when all the town knew the real truth, the shi ... the truth would knock them all out. He said she was a genius, this woman Jean.' Missus
Warby, stops and sighs wearily. Like it's all too much for her to take in.
âTrust Dotty to get it all ballsed up. Only Dotty could take somethin like that n blow it all up.' I nod me head tiredly.
âWho is Jean Rhys?' Gwen, Big Boy and Missus Warby chorus.
âDon't ask me. Ask Trevor n Nev there.' I point at both of them, an angry glare on me dial.
Trevor coughs loudly, clears his throat, then looks to Nevil. âWill I?'
âGo right ahead,' Nevil shrugs with a sigh, then goes quiet, his eyes tight shut.
âJean was someone we just sort of made up for this experiment. Now, I can't tell you everything but I can tell you it's all got out of control. I came here to try and help a good friend of mine. Now it seems that this whole town has taken something I said and misinterpreted it. There's no Jean Rhys that's a drug pigeon, a courier. Someone must have said her name to someone else, and Mandamooka being the town it isâjust ran with the entire thing.'
âAdded,' I jump in. âBuilt more on more. Sorta links in a chain, whit me n Nev bein the weak link on the arse enda it. Weighin it down till it weaken. Talk, right outta control. People takin lies for fact!'
âExactly. Jean Rhys was a famous writer. She is not someone who's actually
alive.
To make it a little bit easier for all of you, I should tell you about myself...' Trevor stops midway and looks over to the doorway.
âTrev, how the fuck are ya!' Booty strides in from work, covered from head to toe in blood.
The man a walkin abbatoir.
âYeah, it's Darryl! It's got to be Darryl.' Gwen yells, the truth written cross her face. Mavis, remember the night you
decked him down at the pub there! Remember, n he swore he was gonna getcha for makin him look a right jerk in fronta everyone!'
âThat's it! He
said
he was gonna get me, eh. The friggin bastard!'
âMum, what are you on about?'
âI dropped him cos he was tryin to kick Gwen in the guts. The whole bar was gawkin n laughin at him. Nah, he didn't like that. Shamed him up good n proper a woman did.'
âWhy, Mum? What's goin down?' Big Boy throws a look a suspicion at Gwen.
âHe was having an affair whit your Mumma! The bastard was goin round town tellin em all bout how good she is! Ya know what I mean!' I slap one hand on the table.
âHe was talkin bout you, Mum?' Big Boy stares at Gwenny's face, his large, hairy hands balled into fists.
Gwen just sits there, head dropped, fulla shame, n stares at the lino.
âThat's right, Boy. Said a lot a dirty things bout her. Ain't no man gonna do that in front a ol Mavis Dooley n get away whit it.' I push on, angry.
âWhy didn't you tell me, Mum?' says Big Boy, lips quiverin, eyes deadly slitted.
âWhat the fuck is going on here?' Booty wheels round from the fridge n stares straight at Nevil.
âHey, Uncie, don't look at me. I don't really know.'
âBout this drug business,' I say weakly.
Drugs. Drugs. That's all a woman's been hearin.
I turn round to ask Missus Warby some more questions but before I open my mouth she's almost out the front door.
Move mighty fast for a ol woman.
I let her go.
âWhat was she doin here?' I look at the boys.
âCome across to say sorry to us. Trevor picked her up from
the fence line today. Yep, gawkin so much she fell over the fence!' Nevil laughs.
I turn to Booty. âIt were Darryl Kane set us up. Yep, all that drug business was because I done slammed Darryl down at the Two Dogs.'
âThat right, eh? Well fuck, he a real man ain't he? Settin up a woman n a kid for drugs!' Booty smiles dangerous like. He pats his big gut then looks at Big Boy, like he sizin him up for somethin. âBoy, you wanna settle a score?' He grabs a stubbie from the box and sits down beside him.
âReckon I do,' Big Boy answers, his eyes glued to Booty's face.
âNo! No, forget it!' Gwen scowls at Booty. âMy Boy ain't gettin inta any trouble, Booty Dooley! I know what ya up to n don't ya dare bring Boy inta it!'
I scowl at Gwen. âLet em be. This bout me n me boy there too! Kane tried to do us over! Ya can't be stickin up for the bastard n look at what he done to you, woman!'
She grins fool like then shuts up and stares across at Big Boy with threat on her face.
âLeave the boy alone. He got his pride, woman! He's not gonna let every bastard run his mamma down!' I hiss, glarin at her.
Don't mess whit me, Gwenny. I ain't the one to be friggin whit, today of all days.
âThat's right, Gwenny.' Booty chimes in. âThe boy gotta live in this town. They'll fuck him over if he don't set this straight. Right?'
Booty shoves a stubbie at her. âDon't worry, ya boyfriend ain't gonna get murdered.' He laughs, then burps n farts. He swings his big body round to face Trevor n shoots him a dangerous look.
Straight out like, Trevor bites back, âIt's got nothing to do with me at all.' He closes his gob into a thin line.
âIt ain't? Now, son, why ya say that?' Booty gives him a once over.
âNo way! This is right out of my league,' Trevor replies.
Yep, the boy learnin all bout Booty. Probably shittin hisself in case he gotta fight somebody. A woman don't blame him for that. The boy been to hell n back since he done turned up here in this town.
I look at Booty watchin Nevil, weighin him up like a chook in a raffle.
N the raffle bout to be drawnâwho the winner? Oh yeah, Mister Darryl Kane. Take home ya prize, Mr Kane. Throw that ol bawldy piece a meat in ya ovenâroast him good now. Then serve him up whit spuds n punkin; slap some gravy on that ol leg. Eat it, then shit it out. Good tucker, eh.
âWhatcha gonna do, Boy?' Booty stirs.
âShut up. Don't start,' I'm firin.
âWhatcha gonna do,
Kid Goanna?'
Booty smirks at Nevil.
âNuthin, he doin nuthin! I'll get Kane, leave Nev outta it!' I stand up.
âNo, I'll get Kane!' Big Boy thumps the table.
âShut up, Boy,' I frown at him.
âNo, you shut up, Mavis! I'll get Kane!' Gwen yells, suddenly coming alive.
âAre ya a man, Sonny Jim?' Booty laughs in Nevil's face.
âI'll kill that fucker!' Big Boy throws his fists in the air.
âNo, no! I'll do it. I'll do it!' Gwen jumps up.
âShut up n sit down, Mum, you talkin shit!' Big Boy growls.
âI'll do the bastard over. I did before!' I scream at all a them.
âShut ya cake hole, Sister! You too, Gwenny. Let the boys here deal whit him!' Booty roars.
âI'm dealing with him!' The voice coming from the
doorway echoes with violence. I swing about wildly. Standin there, shotgun in hand, killer look on her face is Missus Warby. Seventy years if she a day. Hair colour a frosty mornin. She feeble. The woman can like hardly get bout. But her eyes queer.
The woman looks like a maniac. Dressed from head to toe in black. Pair a man's boots on her feet. Man's big buckle belt slung offa hips. She lookin to kill. She looks small in her dead husband's clothes.
Everyone is speechless. Then Booty pulls himself up to his feet n says, âMissus Warby, what the frig are you doin?'
She adjusts her hip belt and walks into the room. âNever, never has anyone put anything past me in my life. I know now the real grief Kane has caused this fine woman before me. God has spoken to me, Mister Dooley, he has told me that the seeds of contempt, the seeds of hell are sown right here in Mandamooka! Right here in Mister Darryl Kane! He's killing folk with his business! That's right, murder! The man tries to set this woman and her little boy up for his own evil doings!
I won't stand for it!
It's always the old people, women and children to go first, isn't it? Yes, sireee, always the weak ones to go down first.' She slides a shell into the shotgun chamber.
âMissus Warby, stop right now!' I jump to my feet.
The woman crazycracked. Yep, after all these years she done finally lost her poor ol scone. Ivy Warby a flat out lunatic. N she gonna do some damage.
âGrieve no more, my good friend. I shall free you from the Devil's arms. Mister Kane has just crossed a river and he's got no chance of coming back. You could say he's stuck up a river of poop without a paddle.' She raises the gun in the air, eyes blazin as she runs her mole n flecked hand over the barrel.
I reel backwards.
The woman nutty as a fruit cake. Her red eyes done tell me that. She gone, long gone. The woman's mad. She finally cracked.
Suddenly, from the corner a me eye, I see a small, fast movement, then like a bright flash somebody flies past me. I feel a breeze on me face. It happens so fast that I wonder if all this is real.
I wonder if me own head's bein so fucked whit I don't know shit from shampoo anymore. Maybe it's
me
is goin round the bend? Maybe none a this is true. Could a woman be maginatin all a this?
I fall back gainst the table. The shotgun comes to life. The blast echoes loudly through the room. Me eardrums explode. Blood rushes to me head.
It's rainin? A woman feel rain peltin down her body.
I look up. The ceiling starts crumblin.
Show's over. That's all she wrote.
Someone's dead.
SIXTEEN
Trevor lies curled up on the floor, arms coverin his head. The boy whimpers like a gut-kicked dog. He in total fear.
Booty, grey-faced, stands by the fridge holdin onto Big Boy's shoulders. Big Boy looks ready to have a turn, his body all hunched over. He holds his hand up to his mouth like he gonna spew up.
Gwen crouches near the stove holdin a lump of wood in one hand, her dress tucked up into her bloomers as she stares fish-eyed round the kitchen.
On the other side of the room near the doorway lies Nevil, his arms wrapped round the laid-out figure of Missus Warby, the gun beside them.
Everything silent. Not one word, no one even breathin. The air stinks like gunpowder. In the distance I hear sirensâpolice, the ambulance.
I lift meself up from the table and walk over on shaky legs to the figures curled up on the floor.
They dead; me Nev, Missus Warby. There ain't no God in this world. Why would the woman take up arms? To kill people jus like that.
A picture show flashes cross me eyes. I see me Nevie runnin
cross the lawn, a football in his tiny, grubby hands. I see him sayin his first word: âMum'. Most of all I see Booty holdin him up on he shoulders like a trophy, tellin him he be a gooder footballer than any a em mugs on the field. His uncle loved him so much. Yep, he were like Booty's son. Now me boy gone. I hunch me shoulders forward as a scream rises in me throat.
Suddenly, Nevil's head rises up from Missus Warby's chest. âClose shave, old girl,' he shakes her gently.
Missus Warby sits up, glancin round the room. âWhat's wrong here?' She eyeballs each of us in turn. She look really stunned like. Her face white as a bleach-washed shirt.
Then like a red n white streak somebody bursts through the front door n tears round the room. The sirens grow louder.
âNevil! My Nevil!' Gracie screams hysterically, her hands crossed on her chest, her mouth goin ten to the dozen.
âGracie! Gracie, he's all right!' I grab her by the shoulders and shake her hard.
âWha...?' She turns and looks round at the mess. In the corner she spots Nevil and rushes at him. âGunfire? Who?' She asks.
âAccident,' Gwen says, pullin herself up from the woodheap.
Suddenly the sirens stop. I rush to the window. Lined from one end of the yard to the other are police cars. By the front gate the Mandamooka ambulance sits, doors open for business.
Hunched down, holdin a loudspeaker in one hand and a pistol in the other, is Max Brown. By his side are bout three or four other cops all armed to the teeth, pointin their weapons straight at me front door.
âMavis Dooley,' the loudspeaker kicks into life. âIt's your
friend Max Brown here. Can you hear me, Mave? Missus Dooley, let the hostages go. Let the hostages go.'
âFucken hell! Fuck, fuck!' Gwen squeezes up beside me n takes a peek.
âMavis, come out. Mavis, it's your old mate, Max Brown. Come on, Mave, make it easy on yourself.'
âWhat the bloody hell!' Missus Warby shoves her face at the window.
âNevil! Nevil Dooley, are you in there son? Nevil, is anyone injured?' The loudspeaker blares.
âOh shit! Oh shit! Missus Warby, I hate to talk to any woman like this but that was a fucken stupid thing to do!' Booty scolds.
The loudspeaker crackles. âWhat do you want, Mavis? What are your demands?'
âNow listen here, Mister Dooley, there's no place for you to be swearing at me like that! He'll hear you, He will. God will strike you down, son!'
âMissus Warby, shut the fuck up!' Gwen turns on her.
âIs Nevil okay? Is anyone alive?' Max gets to his feet and moves toward the front door.
âShut up! None a this would a happened if it hadn't been for Gwen n her lover boy!' I turn on Gwen, pokin a finger into her chest. âThat's right, Gwen, you n that piece a shit, Kane! Now look what ya both got a woman into, eh! I ain't a well woman, Gwen, whit me blood pressure n stuff. You'll all be the death of me!'
âMum, shut up, don't you start,' Nevil yells, spit flyin from his gob.
âListen here, Sonny Jim, don't you talk to ya mother like that!' Booty explodes.
âI'll kill that Edge, I promise ya that!' Big Boy lets it rip.
âMavis Dooley, can you speak? I'll ring through on the
phone. Pick the phone up when it rings! Mavis, can you hear me?'
I swing on Big Boy. âYeah, if it hadn't been for your mother none a this shit woulda happened. I don't blame you, son. Gwenny shoulda stayed away from Kane when I told her!'
âJean Rhys! That's right, Nevil, you wantin to be a fucken woman is what set all the wheels runnin here.' Booty yells, the vein on his forehead throbbin. âAll this started from then! A man tried his heart out to set ya straight but, oh no, Nevil wanna be actin like a sheila!'
âLeave him alone, Mister Dooley, the boy's misled is all. Suffer the little children. I've known this boy here since he was this high.'
âHey, anyone want a toke?' Gracie wanders round the room, joint in mouth, stubbie in hand.
âMavis, pick the phone up! Nevil, son, pick up the phone! For God's sake pick up the phone!' Max Brown crackles into thin air. âI'm here if you want to talk.'
âNever thought I'd see the day where me own mate would turn her back on me!' Gwen squeals.
âAnyone for a stubbie?'
âMissus Dooley, the police are out there.'
âVengeance will be mine, yes sir. Some people in this town respect me and you know why? That's right, Mister Dooley,
because I care!
Never was the one to turn my back on others! I've been your sister's neighbour for years and it's my Christian duty to keep an eye on her and Nevil. When my husband passed on, who was there for me? Yes, that's right, Mavis and Nevil.'
âMissus Dooley, Missus Dooley.' Trevor shakes my elbow.
âOhhh right, now don't you friggin start! Comin here fillin Nevil's head full a shit! Ya wrecked his life! Ya wrecked my life!' I push him backwards.
âThe phone. Missus Dooley, the
phone!'
âJealous! Yeah, Mavis, ya jealous a me an Darryl!
I turn on Gwen. âOh yeah, Gwen. Jealous my arse! I be lookin out for you n this is the thanks a woman gets! I done told ya Kane was nuthin but trouble. Ya wouldn't listen to me, would ya? Fine friend ya are sayin I is jealous. Ya talkin shit n ya know it.'
âMissus D, don't talk to my mother like that!' Big Boy comes at me, a scowl on his face.
âAny demands? Mavis Dooley, pick up the phone! Missus Mavis Dooley, pick up the phone, woman!' Max Brown shouts in the front yard.
âMissus Dooley, the phone's ringing. Shall I get it?'
âThat's right, Trevor. This is why this all startedâbecause of your fucken phone!'
âMum, don't speak to my friend like that! There's no reason for it. Trevor's not brainwashing me, I'm my own person! Mum, I'm not a baby any more.'
âMum, Mum Dooley, Max wants to talk to you on the phone,' Gracie says, pullin at my sleeve.
âYou talk to him, Gracie!' I shout, then glare at Trevor.
The hide a it! Yeah, it all went downhill the day he turned up. My life was fine til all this shit started goin on. Now a woman got all this happenin round her. Trevor ain't made nuthin any easier for me, that's fer sure.
âNow, dear, settle down. Want me to make you a nice cup a tea? Okay, come on, Nevil, come and help me round up some morning tea.' Missus Warby goes to the stove and puts the kettle on.
âA joint! You want me to provide you with drugs and beer? Mavis, what's going on there? Look, I'll send one of the boys down to get Doris from Legal Aid. I know what you've been
through, you can talk to me, Mavis. Come on out Mavis, please!' Max's voice sounds desperate.
âMissus Dooley,
the police are speaking to you.
They're outside with guns! Look, look there! They have a sniper on Missus Warby's roof!' Trevor pushes me to the window.
I look out.
Bad business. Bad egg business. Guns pointin right at me window.
I feel me heart hammerin. The piss in me bowels is buildin up to pressure point. It don't look too good. Cops surroundin the joint like ants on a sugarbowl.
A woman's gonna be done over here any minute. Have to tell Max bout all this here, set him straight. He'll understand.
Out the corner a me eye I catch a glimpse of Gracie as like in slow motion, she bends down and picks up the shotgun.
The girl's eyes are outta it. She's high as a kite.
All hell is gonna cut loose. Gracie, cops n guns not a real good mix. The cops are lookin in. They'll see everythinâthey'll see how it look like Gracie linin up to shoot.
Before I can scream âdrop it', she brings the rifle up to her shoulder and points it straight at Missus Warby. âBang. Gotcha,' she laughs shrilly.
Me guts churn water. A psycho power tell me what gonna happen next.
Yep, everybody know the Queensland coppers gun happy. Cut ya down for any reason at all. Kill ya arse, specially if ya black. Right now they gonna see what they wanna. We don't stand a chance. We redlined.
Before a woman can shout a warnin, the window explodes, shatterin glass through the whole room. Everythin a roar, sorta like water peltin down a waterfall.
Here we go again.
âDown, get ya arses down!' I shout to the room.
I feel somethin pass me head n a whhhiizzzz sound. I feel me hair part as it whistle by, the cold breeze of a bullet.
Instinct drop me to the floor. Me head spinnin like a
merry-go-round. Me eyes shootin colours like a fireworks.
This time someone gotta be hurt. This time somebody gotta be dead.
Yep, ain't no cop fire off guns n miss their targets. The room's suddenly full a people. I hear boots chargin n stompin round the room. People yellin n screamin in all directions. I stare at the black-and-white lino on me floor.
It look dirty. A woman gotta get offa her big arse n clean it. Fat stains n scratches mark the little squares. Eh, there ya go, ya think ya kitchen's clean n spotless til ya really have a good eyeball at it. Hope no one ever noticed. Shamejob havin filthy lino. Course a woman could buy new stuff. Yep, the bingo money'd cover it.
I let me thoughts go when I feel somethin hard jammed into the small a me back. A gun. A gun jammed into me spine.
Hope those bastards ain't got mud on their big useless boots. Cartin dirt onto a woman's already fucked-up lino.
I search the room whit me eyes.
Who'd they get? Gracie? Is Gracie dead? Oh God, no, no! Please, God, don't let Gracie be dead.
âFucken pricks! Get off me fucken head! Get up!' Booty's voice screams loud and clear but full a fear.
âHelp! Oh God! I'm innocent! It's all a terrible mistake! For God's sake, I'm Trevor Wren Davidson! Let me go! Oh Jesus ... get that gun out of my face!' Trevor shouts real high, his voice bouncin off the walls.
âThere ain't no Jean Rhys! I made her up! Yes, made it all up! I'm not fucken Edge! It's not what you think!' Nevil shouts.
âGet your filthy paws off me, son. Don't you dare manhandle me! I'll notify Reverend Clinton of this, you hear me, Max Brown! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! And leave her alone! She's not one of your crooks! Get off Missus Dooley's back, you, youâyou sinner!' Missus Warby shrieks.
âDarryl Kane is Isaac Edge. I'll tell you everything. Jean Rhys, yes, even about her,' Gwen yells at the top of her lungs.
âI had nuthin to do with it. I don't own a gun! It's hers, Missus Warby's, that old lunatic! Said she'd blow Darryl Kane away! The gun went off by accident! No one was gonna shoot at youse,' Big Boy sobs.
âFucken freaky, man! Hey, Max, whatcha call that sorta weapon?' Gracie asks, gigglin.
I heave a deep sigh.
The girl alive.
Somehow I'm hauled to me feet n marched out the front door whit the gun jammed in me kidneys. I silently curse Missus Warby to hell n back. A woman jus sick to death a the police station. I throw a glance over me shoulder n watch as everyone is dragged, pulled, n shoved into the big mob a gungie cars linin the street.
Be frigged if a woman can go through any more a this shit. I wearin down fast. Can't hold up for too long now. I look out the rear window as the gungi car tears off down the street, the siren going full bore. Yep, I'm fucked here now. They got me as some sorta hostage taker. Ah well, Mavis Dooley, ya time has finally come.