An Extract  from the 

SECOND NOVEL  OF THE SERIES -  "VALLEY OF THE EAGLE"

The first scene in Chapter 5.     The English aristocrat Benjamin has been summoned to the cattle station after his immoral father deserted the family.  Ben is very angry and the alien wildlife does nothing to sooth his tortured nerves.  

  Ben opened his eyes slowly. What was that ridiculous commotion? It was vaguely familiar in his mind’s eye. He saw a strange plump bird with its broad bill thrust in the air as it emitted a cackling serenade like no other bird on the planet. It was the opening scene of an Australian newsreel in a Singapore theatre. Now the absurd warbling laughter filled his eardrums until he wanted to grab the stupid bird and choke the mocking, hilarious nonsense right out of its gurgling throat.     

He turned his head to the narrow double doors that opened onto the wide verandah. A kookaburra sat in the lower branches of the privet tree planted for protection and shade. Another of its flock soon answered the laughing rendition, then another joined in and another. Ben jumped out of bed and took the few steps onto the verandah. He waved his arms wildly.

‘Get out, you insidious laughing idiots,’ he shouted. He slumped into the squatter’s chair and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. ‘Even the birds are crazy in this goddamn country,’ he mumbled, trying not to allow the memories of the last tension-filled days to flood his mind.

He watched a goanna claw its way cautiously to an outer branch of a privet tree at the far end of the long verandah - suddenly all hell broke loose. A high-pitched squawk sounded the alarm and birds, commonly known as happy family, appeared in droves, babbling and squawking and nose-diving at the goanna who stood his ground for a few minutes until he thought better of it and made a hasty retreat. Apparently, it had been after a nest of freshly laid eggs belonging to the extensive family group who protected their own at anycost. 

FIRST NOVEL  -      COLOURED SANDS

SECOND NOVEL – VALLEY OF THE EAGLE

THIRD NOVEL –     THE TAN PEOPLE – a journey into truth

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