To Kill a Bunyip

by A R Dent

  ~~~~~

  Meanwhile at the hotel. . . .

  The local midday meal at the hotel was accompanied with a beer and a chat about river monsters. Neville was a fisherman who was born at Null but never ventured far away from his home village. Money was always a problem for Neville after his Professional Fishing license was revoked, because of illegal fishing practices. Every one called Neville, ‘Nifty Nev’, behind his back. Nifty Nev was not a name to say to Neville when speaking to him face-to-face. Neville had a way with his fists sometimes: when the person he was talking to him accused him of being within a sub-class of people called ‘selfish idiots who ignore other people.’ Neville was a person who saw a quick dollar in every situation and went to the hotel to find out the latest on the disappearance of the fishermen. (Nifty Nev is known in the family as “Another product of Null” – sorry Nev but someone has to tell you).

  ‘Hi Neville. Whatcha want today? Beers or cheers?’

  ‘Just one beer thanks Thelma. What’s the latest on the crocodile thing? Some people say they saw the croc take the man when he was landing a fish. Have you heard who it was? Rumours are rumours but when a bloke sees a croc he should report it. Someone else said a river monster. Another said it was a beast of some sort. Others are of the opinion it is coincidence that two fishos died from a heart attack from the exertion needed to land the cod everyone knows is there. Blimey, how many theories do we need. I bet the police have a different idea every day too.’

  ‘Neville. Between you and me. It was a river monster. Between Kgari and Inskip Point, a bloke got onto the biggest fish. When I heard about it, I thought he got onto a large shark. Nah, he fought that fish for four hours and when he and his mates caught sight of it they realised it was a fish. Nearly as big as his boat. That was about eighty years ago. I reckon it was a fish like that one. There was a show on TV not long ago. It was about a man going around the world catching river monsters. That’s what we have here. Not a croc. The man who claimed he saw a croc was known to take a bottle of rum with him when fishing. If you get my drift. A river monster, that’s what took them. My Jim is not going back to the cod hole again.’

  ‘Oh, river monster eh? I will have to get stronger fishing lines then. I might see if my mate in Brisbane wants to film me going after it. Could be a few dollars in it then, if I catch it.’ Neville said.