2011 - Theses - Flinders University

White Lives in a Black Community: The lives of Jim Page and Rebecca Forbes in the Adnyamathanha communityTracy SpencerVolume One Creative Writing Component: Excerpted Chapters from Volume Three Appendix Onetakes his cues from his foe, the foe I call friend, he thinks. The friend he needs to have tonightin this speck of a town on the edge of the range.Coles shuffles his chair back, and stands with some trouble beside it. Jim stands up too,and holds out his hand. The other takes it, and leans on it a moment before he shakes it,looking blearily at its owner.‘You’re alright, mate. A bloody missionary. Still, you head out there like you say, stopwith them on my place for a few months, and you’ll see what it’s all about. Get yourbearings. 141 But I don’t want no bloody mission bringing in all and sundry and giving me abigger headache than I’ve got already. That’s it, really.’ He looks bewildered at himself andJim takes the opportunity to rest his hand on the big man’s shoulder a moment, then lets itdrop.‘It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Mr Coles. A blessing, you might say.’ And he allowshimself a small smile. ‘Thank you for your hospitality, and I’ll see it’s not abused.Goodnight.’When Jim lies down on his thin mattress, he can’t sleep. Hundreds. Thousands. And oneMrs Jack Forbes among them.There is no point delaying. With the sun up and folk stirring, Jim secures a push bike after astring of conversations around the dining room lead him to a deal with the mailman, whoturns out to be the same lanky young man who took his bags from the train. Merton Lewis –Mert – wheels the old rattler towards him, gesturing over his shoulder to the east and saying,82