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if we waited until all the evidence has come in, Mr Middleton? Or is this going to be some sort of kangaroo court? Parents of Yankalillee Primary School versus Maloney?'
    Vera Forbes from the Gazette, who's already sniffed out the story and has come running, has a second go at Nancy. 'Well,' she says all hoity-toity, 'those vicious brutes will have to be put down before they attack and kill someone!'
    'Are you referring to the boys who attacked my son, or the dogs?'
    Nancy says, quick as a flash.
    'That's enough from all of you!' Sergeant Donovan says, trying to conceal his smile at Nancy's crack back at Big Mouth Saggy Tits. 'Why don't we start at the beginning and try to get to the bottom of this mess, hey? Maybe the headmaster here can get someone to make you all a cup Page 23

    of tea and I'll go next door and see if the doctor's completed the tetanus injections and then I'll question the boys involved in the fracas.'
    Big Jack Donovan is a country cop from his boots to the point of his cap, well over six feet with a barrel chest and stomach to match, an untidy-looking sort of chap who will dominate any room he steps into.
    In his heyday he was a famous ruckman for South Melbourne and played at the MCG in the Grand Final against Richmond. He's known to be even-handed and doesn't take any crap from anyone. Because he wasn't allowed to join up, being classified as Essential Services, he's been in Yankalillee more than twenty years. Him, not Oliver Twist, is the real voice of the law in this town. Not everyone loves him, though, he's got his fair share of enemies in high places. Nancy says he's in the know on just about everyone in town and the word, even among the bigwigs, has long been out that it doesn't pay to mess around with Big Jack Donovan. But all the lags know he'll give a battler a break if there's family and hardship involved and if some misdemeanour they've perpetrated can be patched up without too much fuss. Now he nods his head and smiles again, backing away towards the door. 'Righto then, excuse me, ladies.., gentlemen, be back soon enough.'
    'Shouldn't we be with you, Sergeant?' Hamish Middleton calls out.
    He's plainly miffed at the way things are turning out, with him not playing an important role in the proceedings and what with Nancy getting the better of him and Vera Saggy Tits Forbes. 'After all, they're our children!' he protests. Two of the parents nod their heads, agreeing.
    'No, I don't think so, Mr Middleton.' Big Jack is firm. 'You know how it is with young fellas? I'd best see them on my own.' Then he turns and goes out and comes into the classroom next door where the doctor is just finishing up sticking a needle in the bums of those who got bit, and the young nurse's aide he's brought with him from the local bush-nursing hospital is busy patching us up with Mercurochrome and long strips of sticking plaster she's tearing off a big roll with her teeth because she forgot to bring the scissors.
    Sergeant Donovan stoops as he enters the classroom and takes off his cap and puts it on the teacher's desk. 'Afternoon, Doctor, Nurse.
    Afternoon, boys!' he says cheerfully.
    We all chorus 'afternoon' back at him, though ours doesn't sound that cheerful. There's twelve of us in the classroom, ten from Brent Middleton's mob and Bozo and me.
    'Right then, I'll just make myself comfortable while the doctor and the nurse finish up dressing your wounds. How's it goin', Doc?'
    Big Jack Donovan asks as he pulls the teacher's chair way back and sits down and puts his big policeman's boots up on the desk and starts to look at each of us in turn. When he reaches me, I try to look back Page 24

    but it's impossible and, like everyone else, I look down at the desk.
    Suddenly I'm guilty as sin and I don't even know why.
    'Won't be much longer, Sergeant,' Dr Wallis says, then he points to Bozo, whose nose and lip have stopped bleeding but who is holding a wad f cotton wool to his left ear. 'Lad here needs a couple of