Only Killers and Thieves(18)

“What’s he want?” Billy asked.

“I don’t know. Suppose I’m about to find out.”

He walked toward them along the railing. Tommy and Billy peeled away.

“Not sure which looks worse, Ned,” Sullivan called as Father neared. “You or these mangy cows.”

“Been a tough year, John. Or have you not noticed the drought up your way?”

“Oh, we’ve had it, we’ve had it—hold up there, boys. Come and say hello.”

Tommy and Billy hesitated. Father pursed his lips, gave a tiny flick of the head. They walked over. Sullivan was smiling broadly, the smile fixed and full of teeth. He was dressed in a town suit, green fabric, white shirt underneath. His thin hair was neatly combed, and owing to the smile his chin had sunk into his neck. He hooked one elbow on the wooden railing like he was the selector and Father the guest. They hadn’t shaken hands. Father stood in front of him, taller by half a foot, and the boys drifted close to his side. Behind Sullivan, Locke stared at Father with hard, unblinking eyes. His sword hung against his thigh. He was hatless, and totally bald, his head lined with scars and discolored skin patches, like the shell of a no-good egg.

“Well,” Sullivan said, “you’ve been busy. Just the four of you out there, Ned?”

“We lost one. Joseph. Had to let him go.”

“Native, was he? I don’t blame you. The good ones are bloody hard to find.” Finally he stopped smiling. He looked at each of the boys. “Now, I’m hoping these two lads of yours are men of their word. They tell you we met the other week?”

Tommy’s innards squirmed. He stared at the ground.

“Aye, they told me. Shouldn’t have been up there. It won’t happen again.”

Sullivan was nodding. “They promised as much themselves. Did they mention Noone was with us? What went on? That I spared them from him?”

Father swallowed thickly. He set his jaw. “Noone has no business with them and neither do you. There’s a problem, you can talk to me.”

Sullivan held up his hands. “Only you never come and visit anymore. I have to ride all the way down here just to check how things are.”

“We’re fine.”

“Well, that remains to be seen.” Sullivan glanced doubtfully at the cattle. “What’ll you get for them, d’you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“Will it be enough?”

“It’ll be what it’ll be.”

Sullivan laughed dryly. “What are you now, a bloody philosopher?” He turned to Locke, still laughing. “It’ll be what it’ll be!”

“There something you came for, John?” Father asked him. “Only we’re tired and hungry and stinking, and I’d like to be getting on.”

“Right . . . you know, I’d have given you men for the muster, you only had to ask. Or perhaps we can drove them for you? You selling in Rockhampton?”

“Lawton.”

Sullivan’s eyes opened. “Christ Almighty—Lawton?”

“Rocky’s too far.”

“So let us take them. You can ride along. I won’t be there myself but . . .”

“Thank you, no.”

“Why not?” Billy whispered, and Father shot him a glare. Tommy elbowed his brother’s side. Billy looked pleadingly about.

“Now, there’s a lad with some sense between his ears,” Sullivan said, pointing. “Well, suit yourself, Ned, but there won’t be any allowances made.”

“I’m not asking for any.”

“And we’ll see you promptly after?”

“Aye, you will.”

“Good. So tell me, how was it out there? Any trouble with the blacks?”

“Never had much ourselves.”

“Well, lucky you. And why would that be, d’you reckon?”

Father shrugged tightly. “I leave them be, they do the same.”

“Horseshit. If it wasn’t for me this place would be overrun. Bloody Kurrong are back again, spearing the cattle, the sheep, then just last month we found a boundary rider with his face stoved, only way we knew him was his boots.” He paused and glanced at Tommy and Billy, then looked at Father again. “But Noone—you met him yet, Ned? I tell you, effective as a fucking plague. We’ve not found a single myall out here since he came around.”

“One,” Locke corrected.

“Alright, one. The point I’m making, though, is the whole bloody reason you can take your boys into the scrubs, muster this miserable mob, and come home to your lovely wife, is because I look after the district, take care of my own. It wouldn’t hurt you to acknowledge that. A bit of gratitude wouldn’t go amiss.”

“I don’t want a war, John. There’ll be reprisals. There always is.”

“So what would you rather do? Put up a fucking sign? NO DARKIES ALLOWED—you reckon that would work? Listen, the only thing they understand is the gun. You kill enough, they’ll get the message. You know all this anyway. You know how it’s done.”

Father turned his head slowly, peeling his eyes away, looking at his sons. “Go on now. Back to the house.”

“Good to see you, boys!” Sullivan shouted, raising a pudgy hand. Locke didn’t acknowledge them. Billy briefly waved. He and Tommy walked away, across the clearing, toward where Mother and Mary were waiting in front of the house. Mother held herself tightly. Mary was playing with the dogs. As they walked, Tommy looked back at Father and Sullivan still talking, Sullivan wagging his finger in front of Father’s face. Father stood there rigidly, arms braced at his sides.