The Marsh Birds (27 page)

Mawirrigun is a fictional detention centre; so is Kanugo Kagil. AID is a fictional government ministry, as are other departments, tribunals or organisations mentioned in this book. All are the creative product of research. The Hope Caravan and Freedom Bus are real.

Hassan Ajmi is a real café on al Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad but the description of it is entirely fictional.

Uncle Mahmoud in hospital is loosely based on the description of embargo conditions in Nuha al Radi's
Baghdad Diaries
(Saqi 1998).

The three rude little girls and the conflict over washing vessels episodes are loosely based on events described in Sandy Thorne's
Beyond the Razorwire … is Australia, where everything's Free.

Aziz's story is loosely based on that of Nasir Khadi Hazim al Husseini, a twelve-year-old survivor of a mass execution. ‘The Mass Graves of al Mahawil: The Truth Uncovered: VIII A Survivor' Human Rights Watch Report 2003.

Dhurgham's drawings are inspired by those of Meki al Saegh, an artist who was detained in Woomera in 2000, now living in Iran.

Abu Nizar's CV is loosely based on that of Mohamed Moustafa Nassar, used with his permission.

Thank you to the SA Writers' Centre for my Wednesday office in 2003.

Quotes from the Koran are from The Thunder (Surat al Ra'd), The Cessation (Surat al Takwir), and The Merciful (Surat al Rahman).

Finally, I owe a huge thank you to the Australia Council Literature Fund. Two grants made this book possible, one awarded in 2000 (principally given for
Mahjar
) and another in 2003.

ALSO FROM ALLEN & UNWIN

Fire Fire
Eva Sallis

‘Musicians, artists and poets,' Acantia says. ‘That's what you'll be. Just like Pa and me.' She sighs happily. ‘No contaminants here! You'll be as pure as the Aborigines.'

The Houdinis have escaped the great world to Whispers, a dilapidated and isolated farm in the heart of the Australian bush. Acantia Houdini the painter has grand plans. Her seven children and famous violist husband are to become self-sufficient, and creativity will rule.

All is not, however, home-grown spinach and classical music. The family is under threat from the outside and from within.

Ursula watches her brothers and sisters adapt, thrive and then wither as they experience a bewildering mix of love, neglect and cruelty. Ursula grows slowly to a full awareness of her skewed world and is driven ultimately to escape. But it will cost her more than she can guess. Family is everything. She has everything to lose.

Fire Fire
is shocking, absurd, tender and grotesque. In language spun with masterly control and much humour, Sallis captures the resilience and confusion of growing up.

‘Slashed with its multiple flashes of refining fire and humour both subtle and ribald,
Fire Fire
is a dark and powerful fable.' Katherine England,
Adelaide Advertiser

ISBN 1 74114 352 7