The Godson

 

 

 

Robert G. Barrett was raised in Bondi where he has worked mainly as a butcher. After thirty years he moved to Terrigal on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Robert has appeared in a number of films and TV commercials but prefers to concentrate on a career as a writer.

 

 

Also by Robert G. Barrett in Pan

YOU WOULDN'T BE DEAD FOR QUIDS THE REAL THING THE BOYS FROM BINJIWUNYAWUNYA BETWEEN THE DEVLIN AND THE DEEP BLUE SEAS DAVO'S LITTLE SOMETHING WHITE SHOES, WHITE LINES AND BLACKIE AND DE FUN DON'T DONE MELE KALIKIMAKA MR WALKER THE DAY OF THE GECKO RIDER ON THE STORM AND OTHER BITS AND BARRETT GUNS 'N' ROSÉ

The author is again donating a percentage of his royalties to Greenpeace, an organisation he deeply respects.

This is a work of fiction and all characters in this book are a creation of the author's imagination.

First published 1986 by Pan Books (Australia) Pty Limited This edition published by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd 1 Market Street, Sydney

Reprinted 1988,1989 (twice), 1991,1992 (twice), 1993,1994,1995,1996 (twice), 1998,1999, 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2006, 2007, 2009

Copyright © Robert G. Barrett 1986

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

National Library of Australia cataloguing-in-publication data:

Barrett, Robert G.

The godson.

ISBN 978 0 330 27162 2

I. Title

A823.3

Typeset by Post Pre-press Group Printed in Australia by McPherson's Printing Group

Papers used by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

 

 

This book is dedicated to John Sinclair for saving Fraser Island and to Dr Bob Brown for saving the Franklin River
.

The author would like to thank the following people for their help in the writing of this book:

 

Anthony and William, two brothers who wish to remain anonymous, who have been friends of the author for over twenty years. Thanks to them for their hospitality and for sharing the freedom of their magnificent Tweed Valley property.

Ms Virginia Greig, headmistress of Spencer State School. The management and staff of the Pelican International Resort, Coffs Harbour.

The management and staff of the Sebel Town House, Sydney. Mr Barry Pearce, curator of The Art Gallery of New South Wales.

 

 

 

‘
H
EY, Price. Wake up, mate. We're almost there.' Eddie Salita was smiling softly as he reached across the front seat of the Rolls Royce and tapped his boss gently on the shoulder.

‘Huhh?' Price blinked his eyes open just as a large blue sign saying Australian Capital Territory whizzed past the window of the car. ‘Shit!' he blinked again. ‘I must have dozed off.'

‘Yeah,' chuckled Eddie. ‘You started to nod off the other side of Goulburn.'

‘Did I?' Price yawned and stretched. ‘What time is it?'

‘Just on five. It's almost dark too.' Eddie nodded to the radio playing softly in the dashboard. ‘I've been listening to one of the local radio stations — 2CA or something. They said it's two degrees with southwesterly winds and they're expecting light rain, possibly snow.'

Price peered out of the window as another sign set in stone blocks saying Canberra flashed past in the bleak twilight. ‘Bloody Canberra,' he mused, rubbing his hands briskly together. ‘I could think of a lot better places to be in August.'

‘Yeah,' nodded Eddie. ‘So could I.'

The previous day Price had got a phone call at home from an old friend, Laurence O'Malley. ‘Laurie' and Price went back over thirty years to when they were young louts doing their best, running around Glebe and Balmain. Price got into a bit of minor crime and gambling, and ended up owning an illegal casino. Laurie got into law and politics, and ended up Attorney General of Australia. As a politician, O'Malley was one of the more popular figures in Australia: friendly, warm and a bit of a reformist with a lot of good ideas. He wasn't particularly corrupt, but if he could he didn't mind doing a favour or two for his old mates, and he'd done Price quite a few over the years. Now the Attorney General needed one himself. He didn't elaborate over the phone and he couldn't get to Sydney as the budget session was in progress. It was a little urgent, so could Price very discreetly come down to Canberra? Price being the sort of man he was, the bags were packed and in the boot of the Rolls and he and his number
one hit man were on their way to Canberra not long after getting the phone call.

Eddie put his foot down gently on the accelerator to pass an old panel van, then eased up a little further on in the light traffic as The Federal Highway curved slightly to turn into a long, wide, tree-lined boulevard flanked by motels and government office blocks.

‘You know where this joint we're staying at is?' asked Price. ‘The Country Club Motel?'

‘Yeah,' nodded Eddie. ‘It's on this Northbourne Avenue. I don't think it's much further.' A couple of Motels went past — The Rex, Park Royal — when Eddie spotted what he was looking for. A large white neon sign in front of a dark blue, vine-covered building. ‘Here it is. Country Club Motel.'

He hit the blinker and turned left into a pebbled driveway facing a very opulent-looking establishment. The spacious white driveway, gables and long columns out the front almost gave it the appearance of an old Southern mansion in Georgia. Eddie cut the engine and they both sat there staring at each other for a few moments. Each knew what the other was thinking. Climbing out of the air-conditioned warmth of the Rolls Royce into two degrees of sleet with a sou'westerly behind it was going to be a bit of a shock to the system to say the least.

‘Well,' Eddie finally said. ‘We gonna make a move or what?'

‘Yeah,' Price nodded grimly. ‘Let's go.'

They pulled their tweed caps down tighter, zipped up their sheepskin jackets and burst out into the frigid Canberra evening.

‘Christ almighty!' roared Price, almost disappearing in the clouds of steam coming from his breath. ‘It's colder than a well-digger's arse.'

Eddie didn't reply. He grabbed the two bags from the boot as quickly as he could, slammed down the lid and they both sprinted for the motel foyer.

‘And how are you, Mr Kelly?' smiled the blonde girl behind the desk after Price had introduced himself. ‘Did you have a pleasant trip down?'

‘Yeah. It was all right, thanks,' replied Price, still shivering slightly in the warmth of the foyer.

‘Two nights, Mr Kelly. Is that right?' she said, checking the reservation. ‘Tonight and Friday night?' Price smiled and nodded. ‘Would you just sign here please.' As Price signed the book the girl moved a hand towards a bell on the desk. Eddie reached across and gently pushed her hand away.