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Day Three
IX. NARRAN LAKE CONVERSATIONS
1. Coming Home From The Wheat Lake
"The lake
or what's left of it
is located west of Walgett
dead flat.
Bordered by silent machinery,
a few gates ter shut,
looked after by a few property owners,
full of crops,
no water, no birds,
floods about every two years.
That's all ya need ter know about it.
'e wouldn't 'ave shown us the lake
if you weren't there.
'e bumped 'is shoulder gettin' outa the car
trying ter make 'is chest look bigger.
That was too impress you.
'e hated me bein' there.
As we were leavin' 'e said,
'Don't run over any cattle on the way out.'
'e said it with a mean look in 'is eye.
On the sly, so you didn't hear 'im.
I've never run over a fucken cow in my life!
Then 'e waved to you, all nice again.
You'll be welcome back out there anytime.
As long as you're nice to 'is mum.
Next time, come out on your own
when the lake's full
& there's some birdlife around.
Look at all that bloody box.
Runs for miles.
How'd ya like ter break down out 'ere?
Bloody box, mitchell grass & saltbush.
I'm not drivin' all the way out 'ere again
just ter watch the wheat growin'.
Or you could listen to it growin'.
Stay out 'ere too long
you'll probably hear it talkin'.
Just don't talk back.
You'll be right.
40 kms off the fucken bitumen
ter talk to a cockey's son.
Ter look at the wheat.
I need a drink.
Whhooo! Look at this big car comin'.
Nice 4WD with a snorkel on 'er.
'e's a property owner that one.
'e wasn't gonna wave if you didn't.
Guy reckons there's thousands a ducks out there.
He wanted ter bring the guns.
There's no fucken ducks out there.
It hasn't rained for five years.
The lake was full of forage sorghum.
They were growin' wheat in it.
Turnin' it into a crop.
Making some use of it.
It's meant to be a nature reserve.
They've been caught before, they know it's wrong." |
