Revenge
Copyright© 2021 by Peter H. Salus
Chapter 37
Elly did remain. He managed to learn the names of several of the Tiwi women, as well as a number of other females. In fact, he was quite a Romeo. Actually, a Don Juan would be more apt. And as he did seem to lure them on, he had what might be an occasional harem of those he enjoyed and who enjoyed him.
Elly also laid out a nursing facility, chose a site for it, and insisted on pouring 20 concrete pillars each coming 25 cm above the ground and making certain they were building a truly level floor upon them.
“We want to be above the dust and dirt. We want to make sure white ants [termites] can’t get at the wood. If some is injured or sick, I’m not lookin’ to be responsible for them to be in unsanitary conditions,” he’d said.
And everyone concurred. Oh, some of the men grumbled about digging holes, but everyone understood and the grannies and the women with children and the ones without children made sure that the grumblers worked, anyway. Digging, mixing, pouring. Laying beams and plywood flooring with a layer of felt below and vinyl linoleum above. Elly had spoken with Sam about it. The flooring would run over $2000. Sam had approved it as well as equipment and furnishings. Elly painted the entire interior with white latex urethane: “Easy to keep clean” was his slogan. When it was complete and she saw it, Farsana immediately requested “permission” to use the facility for gynecological exams. Elly was soon considered an important part of the community.
Osprey sent a couple who proved far less popular: she was a filcher -- of small things – a pair of scissors, a ‘cup’ of nuts, a head-cloth; he was a complainer and shirker. After several complaints, Jos asked Sam what to do.
“The traditional communities used public shaming, exile from the community, restitution, community work, and public apologies. I don’t know these two. They’ve only been here a short time. What do you think?”
“Shaming and exile – or at least isolation – might be effective. I don’t know. Might we just return them to Wyndham?”
“Perhaps both. We could call a meeting, confront them and then put them and their belongings in a ute and drive them west.”
“I’ll ask Deb to look through their stuff to make certain something’s not fallen in by mistake.”
“That’s prejudging!”
“And you’re acting like a whitefella, being ‘fair’. You don’t know these folks. If they were in a larger place, she’d be shoplifting or hooking and he’d be drunk or sniffing.”
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