‘Maybe,’ Sparrow finally said. ‘But to stone her to death? Who even does that? Doesn’t that say something to you?’

‘It does.’

‘Yair, so?’

‘I just didn’t think it could possibly be that cut and dry.’

‘Mate, I hate to admit it, but those religious nutters at the tourist park have a point here. They’re only sayin’ what most of the town is thinkin’ – even us blackfellas, and we don’t wanna agree with anything the whitefella says, ever. Kate’s wrong if she calls this an outside job. But I don’t reckon it’s an inside one either. It’s a bit o’ both, if you get me.’

The line for the drive-thru bottle shop came into view, twice as long as the day before. Trev would be raking it in. Sparrow waved at him as he puttered past with thumb extended, teeth exposed.

‘I’ll say one thing,’ Sparrow added. ‘People round here are always lookin’ for ways to make an extra buck. Look at Trev and his clever little operation. They know it’s the only sure-fire way outta this craphole. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Molly was chargin’. Blokes round ’ere would pay top dollar for a nice, clean white woman.’

Manolis considered this information as they arrived at the top pub. Sparrow had to use both hands to wrench on the handbrake. Reaching for the doorhandle, Manolis asked, ‘And you’d say, in your opinion, that you thought Molly was attractive?’

Sparrow stopped. ‘As in, good-looking?’

‘Yes.’

He laughed. ‘Well I wouldn’t go there. But that’s only cos I’m not into that sort of thing.’

His words hung in the air. Manolis couldn’t read the young man’s flawless, emotionless face. His eyes looked sheepish, appearing larger than usual, or perhaps that was just a trick of the light. Sparrow’s cheeks burned; he sighed and turned his gaze down to his hands.

The realisation dawned on Manolis. ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Well good. Good for you, mate.’

Sparrow studied Manolis’s face warily, searching for a hint of expression. When he finally spoke, it was barely a mumble.

‘Best that come from me. I’m used to it. It’s another reason why most people in town give me a wide berth.’ He paused, then narrowed his eyes. ‘But fuck them. And fuck you.’

And with that, Sparrow slid off the seat, took a giant step and slammed the car door. Manolis’s ears rang for several seconds and he was again made to chase his host, this time grabbing his arm as it grasped the pub door and spinning him around. Sparrow brushed Manolis’s hand away with a swipe.