Songs of the Other Man

Jem is an itinerant farm worker in the hill country of New Zealand's Wairarapa. He does not know his parents and believing that he has seen his own `beginning,' he anticipates the time he will be transformed into a Toroa or albatross. Following the untimely death of his protector, Tom Brook, who was determined that this gentle and musical boy will not be conscripted, Jem encounters Mack Reedy who persuades him to become a gatherer of agar seaweed to support `the War Effort.' Mack introduces the contrivance of `the other man,' as a fictitious competitor to spur Jem's efforts to gather as much agar as possible; and he also introduces his father Wiremu, who recognising Jem's extraordinary musical ability, gives the boy his cherished Maori flute, the putorino. Jem builds a hut on the coast and commences to gather agar for Mack and gradually develops a fictitious rivalry with the Other Man. Mack also becomes his window to the events of a War he has great difficulty imagining; but which directly involves Mack's beloved younger brother, Tamati. Soon, Jem encounters Lily Flack who lives with her aunt Miriam on the Brewster farm. Through their mutual love of music, Jem and Lily are instantly drawn to one another. Miriam perceives the boy to be an unsuitable friend for her niece, but when her shepherd is injured and because her husband is serving overseas, she reluctantly employs the `half-caste' boy. Eventually, valuing his work and his evident strength of character, she teaches him to read and write. In 1942, Jack Brewster and Peter Brough return on furlough. Jack takes an instant dislike to the `shirker' and sacks him, while Peter Brough sets about courting Lily, with whom he has a child. Meanwhile, Tamati is killed in Italy and Mack simply disappears. Distressed by the loss of Lily and then Mack, and with no job, Jem enlists - resolved, without really understanding what this means, to avenge Tamati, and becomes immersed in the bitter, hour-by-hour struggle for survival, first at Orsogna, and then in the even worse conflict of Cassino, where his growing hatred for the enemy and his aptitude as a sniper flourish; but where he is ultimately severely wounded and hospitalised. During his lengthy convalescence at Caserta, fellow patient, Harry McIntyre - a peace time music teacher, teaches him musical notation. When Jem is returned to his battalion, his remarkable weapons accuracy and his frightening ruthlessness have caused him to be trained as a Bren gunner. With his friend `Bluey' as his `number two' they fight at Faenza, Senio and the Po River, before finally coming to Trieste and the German surrender. The fighting has stopped, but a tragic encounter in the streets of Trieste results in Bluey's death, which is summarily avenged by Jem. He is sent home in disgrace. In Wellington, he is unable, due to unrecognised post-traumatic stress, to hold a labouring job and he is reduced to busking in the streets. Overheard by the conductor of the new national orchestra he is invited to audition; but before he can do so a VJ Day fly-by of warplanes frightens Jem into his other world. Imagining that the metamorphosis he has always wanted and expected is near, he flees to the Wairarapa coast intent on flying at last across the Great Southern Ocean. Lily is alerted to Jem's presence in the valley by a repentant Jack Brewster, who has learned of Jem's impressive war record, and she intercepts him as he is about to `fly' from a ledge high above the coast. Some months later, at a performance of the new national orchestra in Wellington, the concert finale is a solo recital by second flautist Jem Reedy, in which he plays his composition for putorino and flute - `Songs of the Other Man.'

About the Author :
Novels by Greg Billington, published by Reed NZ Ltd, were Spindrift and Oystercatcher. He has since published on Kindle, four novels, including 'Songs of the Other Man.'

Review :
"I wanted to tell you a week ago Greg that I finished 'Songs of the Other Man,' the final chapter in a blur of tears. It's a beautiful story! Have you ever felt bereft when coming to the last page of a story you are completely immersed in? I am ordering copies to give for Christmas gifts to my sisters and Chelsea and Briar." Margaret Henderson.