Dusk
Robbie Arnott
2024
Robbie Arnott’s fourth novel, after Flames, The Rain Heron and Limberlost, explores a primal 19th-century Tasmanian landscape, populated by exposed fossils and mythical big cats, in this case a puma named Dusk.
The premise of the story concerns the rumoured introduction of pumas to Tasmania, brought in to hunt the native deer who were competing with the introduced sheep for grazing land. Of course, a puma will not be told what to hunt and so goes after the easier prey of the sheep and some human beings, which causes problems for the graziers.
One of the pumas causes particular concern in this story: the large female called Dusk by the locals, who prowls the Tasmanian mountains, picking off prey. In the small town of Rossdale, after a child is taken, the locals offer a bounty for whoever can kill Dusk.
The twins Iris and Floyd Renshaw, both 37, enter the story to hunt the puma and collect the bounty. They have spent most of their lives on the fringes of society, scrabbling for any kind of sustenance, their history chequered by their abusive parents, who used their children in their scams, con jobs and theft. The twins need work and money and being social pariahs, decide to hunt Dusk despite the danger.
Nursing a chronic injury, Floyd is constantly in pain and is watched over by his sister with a mixture of nurturing concern and resentment. On their journey, they meet friends who offer them renewed hope and opportunity and foes who attempt to derail their plans and further endanger them.
Arnott’s creation of the Tasmanian landscape is beautiful and evocative. The story is highly engaging, offering an insight into a little-known aspect of Australian mythology. Highly enjoyable throughout.
