Читать книгу The Tom Wills Picture Show - Martin Flanagan - Страница 10

Three years later. A ball game. Aboriginal kids plus Tom. The game is endless – it’s about getting the ball, evading capture and disposing of the ball skilfully and cleverly when required to do so. There are no goals. Goals are a European idea. This game is about endless, joyful motion. Horatio appears from the side. He has no fear for Tom’s safety. That is not his concern. His concern is Tom’s education.

Tom, he says, Tom. Come home for your lessons. The white boy leaves but in leaving he speaks to his Tjapwurrung playmates. He speaks to them in Tjapwurrung. They reply. They have an exchange, then Tom turns and leaves, walking beside his father.

What did he say to you? asks Horatio

He asked me to come back and play. I said to him, I will, I like your games. Horatio keeps walking.

Your lessons with me are going to be daily, Tom. A man has no chance in this world without an education.

Tom, being pulled along by his father, looks back at the camp of the blacks. Horatio, somewhat surprised to learn that he is not the centre of his son’s attention, looks at what he is looking at – the camp of the blacks.