The Shaman by Roland Perry

Author:Roland Perry [Roland Perry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2020-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

30

CONQUER’S CONQUEROR

Not long after Orangey’s rebuke of Haut’s oil operations, the Tasmanian Mines Registrar, Denis Guy, invited him to his Hobart office for a meeting. Haut was surprised to see 45-year-old Harry Jonas, the 200-centimetre beanpole former newspaper editor there as well. Jonas, an experienced reporter who had attacked Haut in articles over the years, was a big-drinking bespectacled character on a retainer doing public relations for a gambling company. He shook hands with Haut as if they were acquaintances. They had only ever spoken over the phone when Jonas had tried to interview him.

Guy—fifty-three years old, short and rotund—removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and looked at his watch.

‘Nearly five,’ he said, ‘yard-arm time. Beers?’

The others nodded. Guy took three bottles of beer from a small office fridge, kicked it shut and handed them around. He indicated seats, while he sat down at his desk, put his feet up and took a swig of his drink.

‘I brought you two together for a good reason,’ Guy said. ‘Al, Harry here has been at you for a decade, right?’

Haut nodded, trying to work out where this meeting was going.

‘Well, he’s set to go in harder, more often, if you don’t stop your claims about oil and gas finds.’ Guy sat up straight, and leant forward on his elbows, the beer in his left hand. He pointed at Haut with his right hand.

‘You know they’re solid,’ Haut said, staying calm. ‘We’ve got what we claim. There’s a lot in it for this state.’

‘I don’t think so. The minister doesn’t think so.’

‘You’ve upset a lot of people, Al,’ Jonas said, ‘a lot of big people.’

‘And little fellas too,’ Guy said, ‘with your comments about finds bigger than this-and-that raghead oil state. We worry about your future. We worry that some time, some day, someone may be tempted to take action.’

‘That sounds like a threat,’ Haut said with a slow smile.

‘On the contrary, mate,’ Guy said, his expression more serious. ‘You’ve defrauded so many people with share issues in a company who have been given no returns.’

‘No, I have not! If they still have their shares that will change when I go into production.’

‘We don’t think so, mate.’

Haut waited. He didn’t touch his drink. Guy and Jonas guzzled theirs.

‘I want to look into a crystal ball,’ Guy said. ‘You know, like you do with your visions.’ He glanced at Jonas, who covered his mouth with his hand and smirked. ‘Here’s what I see will happen. Harry will step up his coverage of you, and it won’t be pretty. Politicians in parliament who feel the same way as us will hop into you often.’ Guy leant back in his chair again and loosened his tie. ‘Third, the SEC and ASIC …’ He paused, opened his arms and added, ‘maybe even the taxation department, will take a very close look at you and your operations. That’s my vision.’

‘I’m not stopping,’ Haut said, his expression tightening.

‘We know,’ Jonas said cynically, ‘it’s in your vision.’

‘I guess it’s our vision against yours,’ Guy said.

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