Free Guns 'n' Rose by Robert G. Barrett Page B

do is get all the whites out of Australia and leave all the abos here with an AK-47 each, a thousand rounds of ammo and a few flagons of plonk. Then come back in about a month and there’d be none of the cunts left. Well, maybe a few. But fuck them—we’d just poison ’em like they did back in the good old days. Maybe gas ’em this time.’
    Jimmy’s eyes stuck out like two ping-pong balls as he recoiled from Norton’s despicable tirade. ‘I don’t fuckin’ believe this,’ he said. ‘Turn the car round and take me back to the nick. You’re completely fucked.’
    Norton gave Jimmy a double blink along with a look of shock and confusion. ‘Jimmy,’ he said. ‘You’re not—you’re not a fuckin’ abo, are you?’ His eyes still bulging, Jimmy nodded almost imperceptibly. ‘You’re a bloody koori. Well, I’ll be buggered. I honestly thought you were a white man.’
    â€˜Sorry to bloody disappoint you.’
    â€˜That’s all right. I should’ve known, though.’
    â€˜How do you mean?’
    â€˜By the chip on your shoulder. You’ve all got one, just some are bigger than others. Yours’d be about average, I’d say.’
    â€˜Well up yours, too. You fuckin’ boofheaded big redneck goose.’
    Norton grinned and made a gesture with one hand. ‘Hey, think nothing of it. I stole your country, didn’t I?’
    â€˜Ohh shit!’ Jimmy looked at the floor, looked at the stupid smirk on Norton’s face, then stared out the passenger window. He knew he wasn’t going to get far with Les and now that he knew where Norton was coming from he felt not only relieved but had to try hard not to laugh himself. He kept his feelings to himself for the time being, however, and they were past the Gosford turn-off before he spoke.
    â€˜So just what do you know about me, Les?’
    â€˜What do I know? Jimmy, all I know is you’re George’s nephew. You’re bunged up in the nick on a dud pot charge. There’s some Elliott going down in there and they’ve got you out till next Wednesday while they sort it out. I happened to be up here and they asked me to keep an eye on you till then.’
    â€˜Is that what they told you?’
    â€˜That’s it, mate. Do I need to know any more?’
    Jimmy shook his head. ‘No. That’ll do for the time being. I’ll fill you in on a few other things as we go along.’
    â€˜Fair enough. And did they say anything to you about me?’
    â€˜Enough.’
    â€˜Well, there you go, Jimmy. I guess enough is enough.’
    â€˜Yes, Les. I guess you’re right.’
    They crossed the old Punt Bridge and approached the Avoca turn-off.
    â€˜Hey, turn right here, will you, Les.’
    â€˜Okey doke,’ replied Norton. The lights were green, so Les hit the blinkers and turned right at a garage and a boatyard into Avoca Drive.
    The road curved its way through gently rolling hills thick with trees and past houses dotted along the side of the road mostly hidden from view by more trees. Norton got a glimpse of Brisbane Water on his right, then they went through Green Point shopping centre. A bit further on the traffic slowed up for some roadworks, so Les tried for a bit of light conversation with Jimmy. But George’s nephew seemed preoccupied with something else. All he would mention was his family came from around Empire Bay and he went to school at Terrigal. Didn’t Les see them all waiting for him outside the gaol along with all his mates? Les left Jimmy’s sarcastic remarks hanging in the air and, apart from the stereo playing softly through the speakers, they drove on in silence. The road continued on through more heavily timbered hills and valleys; the air was fresh, the sun was out and Norton was enjoying the drive. They went past the Davistown/Saratoga turn-off when Jimmy pointed