(Samuel Beckett's never ending bus tour of Darwin and environs)
Another day, another bus , another character. He was conducting a stern conversation with an unfortunate fellow traveller - his reflection in the window.
Boarding a bus , my attention was soon drawn to a young couple , obviously depraved tourists , who engaged in a bout of steamy tongue kissing before alighting at the museum stop. Several stops along , a wild –eyed Aboriginal joined the trip and injected a scarry touch of Jaws into the journey. “Don’t go into the water !” he warned commuters . “There is something in the water that will kill you . Don’t go into the water . I’m fair dinkum. There is something in there that will kill you . I tell all tourists don’t go in the water, there are f****** crocodiles.” In a shrill female voice , which sounded like a churchgoer responding to a jiving preacher in a Baptist tabernacle , a passenger responded, “ I believe you, brother .” At this stage, I expected the faithful to rise as one , clapping , stomping and gesticulating towards Heaven , loudly beseeching , “ Lordy! Lordy! Save us from dem savage NT News page one crocodiles !”
Encouraged, the man intent on keeping Darwin beaches clear of bathers , continued. “ Right! There is something in the water. Don’t go in the water - or you will end up in a body bag .” Sales of sun block and attendance at the Mindil Beach sunset market undoubtedly plummeted that month.
Boarding a bus , my attention was soon drawn to a young couple , obviously depraved tourists , who engaged in a bout of steamy tongue kissing before alighting at the museum stop. Several stops along , a wild –eyed Aboriginal joined the trip and injected a scarry touch of Jaws into the journey. “Don’t go into the water !” he warned commuters . “There is something in the water that will kill you . Don’t go into the water . I’m fair dinkum. There is something in there that will kill you . I tell all tourists don’t go in the water, there are f****** crocodiles.” In a shrill female voice , which sounded like a churchgoer responding to a jiving preacher in a Baptist tabernacle , a passenger responded, “ I believe you, brother .” At this stage, I expected the faithful to rise as one , clapping , stomping and gesticulating towards Heaven , loudly beseeching , “ Lordy! Lordy! Save us from dem savage NT News page one crocodiles !”
Encouraged, the man intent on keeping Darwin beaches clear of bathers , continued. “ Right! There is something in the water. Don’t go in the water - or you will end up in a body bag .” Sales of sun block and attendance at the Mindil Beach sunset market undoubtedly plummeted that month.
