The Binna Binna Man...an excerpt
We're in Binna Binna country. Mountians full of bush, clouds hanging low, rolling down to the sea. The road winds round and then takes off up the last big hill. Once we're over this one we're there.
Trees come crowding in, tall and dark. Babe's headlights tunnel us through. I draw in a deep breath of that damp mountain air. We're climbing up slowly. No way I want to break down now. We all lean forward, trying to help Babe up. I reckon even Popeye dont want to be walking around in the dark out here.
There was a whitefulla once. He didnt believe in the Binna Binna man. He was always laughing at us Murris, saying we were crazy. Anyway he was driving his ute up this hill. Must've been the same one. It was a real dark night. He came round that corner up there and he seen the Binna Binna man standing in the middle of the road. Huge and hairy, big long ears, pointy like Martians'. That ugly you gotta look away. The whitefulla swerved and skidded.
The ute ended up hanging over the cliff there. He couldnt get out 'cause the car would have tipped and gone crashing over the edge. He's clinging onto the steering wheel, waiting to die.
That Binna Binna man came over and lifted his ute up, back onto the road. He give him a push start. That bloke took off like a mad thing. Never come out to Yarrie again. Not at night. Never even goes outside his own house after dark no more.
I can hear Popeye singing to himself. I listen real close. He's not singing that country-and-western no more, but. It's one of those language songs from way back. There's nothing liike that sound. It's part of you even though you dont know the words. One day he might teach me.
Shelley babe's doing her best. Popeye's got his foot right down on the accelerator, pushing her hard. She dont like being pushed. Suddenly Babe chokes. 'Don't stop,' I'm shouting inside. She coughs and splutters. 'Just take it easy Babe. Please dont stop.' My lips aren't moving, honest. I'm not even whispering, just praying. Shandell's smirking at me, but.
Shelley babe stops. Dead.
'Holy-sufferin'-tom-cats!' Popeye tries to turn her over with the key, pumping her up. She dont want to know about it. I slide down low, behind the seat, pulling Chicky with me. 'Now, dont scream, no use screaming. Remember I'm here with you. No eungee, no spirit's gonna get us.' That's not me talking. That's my girragundji, my voice inside, giving me the strength. Chicky holds tight.
Popeye gets out. I can see his eyes in the dark. They're wide as the moon when the clouds clear off.
Popeye gets us all out of the car, all except Chicky. She's lucky she's little. I dont want to be big and brave all the time. I saty real close to Mum and Nanna. Shandell can sniff that fear in me and she's giggling. She dont know that much about the hairyman, but.
We're pushing Babe up the last bit of hill. I'm glad we got Uncle Garth. I'm not looking at the long shadows, like fingers reaching out, trying to grab hold of me. I'm not seeing the big hairy shapes out there. I'm not smelling nothing. I can hear that singing of Popeye's. I'm humming, trying to hum along real hard. I'm not thinking of that story. The one about the woman from down south, another mob. Nungas, thats what they call Murris down there. She seen him, the Binna Binna man, and she lost her voice. For good. I'm just pushing hard on Babe, thinking of my Gundji, putting in like a man.
We've done it. We get her to the top. Now she starts rolling down the other side. Fast. Popeye jumps in. The engine splutters and roars. Little Chicky's face is stuck with fright. Peering out the back window. Disappearing down the hill.
Those shadows get darker, dancing round. We start running. I can feel long hairy hands, clawing down my back, trying to get a grip. Brakes screech. This Murri's running that hard I'd give Cathy Freeman a good go.
Mum's up with me. Even Nanna's sprinting. Babe's tail-lights wink, laughing at us mob of munyards. I dont laugh back, but. Not till I've caught up, jumped in, slammed the door shut, and locked him up tight.
Popeye shoves her into first and lets the hill take us down slowly. Down to our place, tucked in beside the sea. The we break out laughing, the lot of us, like we got let off dying. Shandell's ribbing me. 'Your mooyu jarred up real tight, eh cus?'
Then we're back thinking about Sister Girl.
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