The Boys from Binjiwunyawunya Read Free

rattle, ‘I do.’
    There was silence once again in the plush office, and if anything it seemed to deepen at Norton’s last remark. All eyes followed him back to his seat. Even Price’s anger, especially after Les’s erratic behaviour and the verbal he’d just given all of them, particularly Eddie, gave way to profound curiosity. Price stared intently at the big, red-headed Queenslander sitting, sipping smugly on his fresh drink.
    â€˜What do you mean, Les?’ said Eddie, after a few seconds. ‘You do?’
    â€˜Just what I said Eddie. I reckon I know a sneak way of getting rid of this Kilby rooster.’
    â€˜Are you fair dinkum, Les?’ said Price, now sitting up in his seat with his arms folded across his chest. ‘You’re not just talking through your arse are you? You dead-set reckon you know a way of getting this Kilby prick off my back?’
    â€˜Yes, Price,’ nodded Norton slowly. ‘I’m pretty certain I do.’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜There’s an old saying,’ started Les.
    â€˜Ohh here we go,’ chuckled Brennan. ‘He’s off with the Queensland bush philosophies again.’
    â€˜Like I was saying,’ continued Norton, doing his best to ignore the overweight casino manager, ‘there’s an old saying. There’s more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cheese. And there’s another one. It takes a thief to catch a thief. Is that right?’
    â€˜Yeah all right,’ said Price. ‘That’s okay if you’re WilliamShakespeare or something. But what’s it got to do with this fuckin’ boong over in Redfern?’
    â€˜How long have you got before this Coles deal has to be signed and all that?’ asked Les.
    â€˜Three weeks from today. I might be able to squeeze another couple of days out of them — but no more.’
    â€˜Righto. That should be enough. I’m gonna have to ring my brother back in Dirranbandi.’
    â€˜Not Murray?’ said Price, a smile forming on his face for the first time that evening. ‘Jesus you’re not bringing him down again, are you? He’s even madder than you.’
    â€˜No. Murray won’t be coming down. But he’ll be organising it from up there. Or at least what needs to be organised up there.’
    â€˜What do you mean — organising it from up there?’ asked Eddie.
    Norton smiled across at the wiry little hit man and took another swallow from his stubbie. ‘Remember when we necked that bloke from Melbourne, Rossiter, and you said you might show me a little trick or two you learnt in Vietnam?’
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜Well this time, I might show you a little trick or two. And you can only learn these ones in outback Australia.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜Yep. And this one’s a ripper, Eddie.’ Norton smiled cheekily around the room. ‘As you city slickers like to say, it’ll really blow your mind.’
    â€˜Well come on,’ said Price. ‘Give us the drum. What’s going on? What are you going to do?’
    â€˜I can’t explain it to you right now. But I’ll ring Murray first thing Monday morning. He should have things sorted out up there by Tuesday, and I’ll let you know if it’s on on Wednesday. Okay? But I’d better warn you, Price. It’s going to cost you.’
    â€˜Oh hello. I knew it.’ Price smiled derisively. ‘There’s an ask attached. And how much is the bloody ask?’
    Norton closed one eye and looked up at the ceiling for a moment or two. ‘Somewhere between fifty and a hundred grand. Closer to fifty. And I’m gonna need two or three weeks off from work to set it all up.’
    â€˜
What
?’ roared Price. ‘Give you a hundred grand
and
three weeks off from work.’ Price turned to the others, then back to Les. ‘Can you believe this cunt? How are you off for socks and undies. Would you