This somewhat vintage novel has been gathering dust on my bookcase for 20 years! I was about to donate it to The Salvos when I suddenly heard my daughter's voice in my head: 'You'd love that book, mum! It's really good!!' ( If memory serves, she said that over ten years ago. Better late than never.)
I've just finished it and my girl was right. I did love it. I've actually never read anything like it.
The story is a collection of historical documents, including the translation of a journal written by a castaway who washed ashore on the west coast of Australia in the 17th century. He and his young male companion were sent there as an alternative to death by hanging due to their involvement in the 'Batavia' mutiny of sorts. Combine this with a school excursion where our protagonist Steven Messenger discovers a mummified girl's hand in a cave, and you are in for an intriguing read.
ITEM 9 - Photocopied from 'Famous Australian Murders'... Possibly the most telling insight into Pelgrom's character is provided by the murder of a deck boy, named Aldersz, aged about 16. Having forced Aldersz to kneel outside his tent, Cornelious informed the ever-present, ever-eager Pelgrom that he could have the pleasure of testing if a sword blade was keen enough to behead Aldersz with a single blow. Honoured and delighted, Pelgrom was about to carry out this act when another villain stepped forward, declaring that Pelgrom was too weak for the task, and did the deed.
The record of this incident at Pelgrom's trial states that he threw himself on the ground crying with rage, claiming he had been cheated of his kill.
Of course, Pelgrom made up for this in his future raping and stabbing of women and his drowning of children. There is something truly frightful about the character of Jan Pelgrom...
(p. 41)
