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Susan Ubersen was a tall, heavy woman in her forties. She wore suits and styled her hair like a man but there was no disputing her femininity. She had orange hair and apple-green eyes. Jarra was startled when she walked into his office unannounced. He knew who she was immediately, he had met her briefly. She was a beautiful, powerful woman - intelligent. He liked that she was intelligent most of all, more precisely he liked how she channelled her intellect.
'Mr Mariba?'
'Yes... it's Mrs Ubersen, isn't it?'
Yes, that's right. I'm sorry just to just barge in... your secretary doesn't seem to be around at the moment.'
'That's okay... that's okay. Please come in, sit down.'
Jarra was nervous, caught off guard. He shuffled papers, straightened his files, opened and closed his desk drawers several times before he sat back. He scanned her for clues: she looked unruffled, pristine, untravelled.
'How long have you been in Darwin, Mrs Ubersen?'
'I arrived last night. I'm here to meet with a few groups over the next two days.'
'Oh, what groups are they?'
He could tell she was reluctant to say.
'I don't know their tribal names but I'm meeting with three men, David Gullaraary, Harry Unapunnu and Russell Wallandjilla.'
'Must be talking about land.'
'Very good Mr Mariba. But the main reason I'm in Darwin is to talk with you.'
Jarra wouldn't allow himself to be taken in by superficial smooth talk. I'm flattered Mrs Ubersen, but you didn't even phone ahead to see if I would be in town.'
'I knew you were here,' she said curtly, her Danish accent scrawled over the words.
'Oh, am I under surveillance?'
'No, no, no... nothing like that. My office spoke with your secretary yesterday, she advised that you would be in all day.'
'I see... but you didn't think it necessary to make an appointment.' He gave her a short blast. 'What can I do for you Mrs Ubersen?' he asked opening his arms in a friendly gesture. 'Looking for a nice rural block with sub-division potential? I know just the place and I can even handle the conveyancing for you.'
'Very funny.' She conceded him his joke. She decided that they had sparred enough. 'I'm here to talk about steel.'
Jarra grew even more suspicious, he knew mineral resources was not one of Mrs Ubersen's ministerial responsibilities.
'I'm here to make you an unofficial offer.'
'Mrs Ubersen stop... before you go any further I must warn you that I'm bound by legal ethics to relate our discussion to my land-holding clients if what you say impacts on them in any way.'
'That's up to you and it's a risk I am prepared to take. I will make this offer once then deny everything.'
'If you're prepared to take that gamble... what are we talking about?'
'One hundred thousand dollars has been deposited in a Swiss bank account in your name and one hundred thousand will be added to that every year for the next nine years.'
'A million dollars!'
'One... million... dollars,' she repeated the magical figure slowly for effect.
'Jesus! Who do I have to kill for that?' Jarra laughed nervously.
'You have to deliver the Namarrkon mining site to TransGlobal Mining.'
Jarra could have predicted TransGlobal would have been involved, but the messenger delivering the offer did take him by surprise.
'You people... aren't you the least bit interested in the tribes who live there?'
'Yes of course we're interested. The people living at Namarrkon, or within twenty-five kilometres of the mine, will be treated well. TransGlobal is a generous company.'
'If I could be sure... '
'I guarantee you, the money is in your account in Zurich right now.'
'No, I mean about the people from the Namarrkon region.'
'I've seen the package: it provides every family there with a house; roads, schools and hospitals will be built; and every adult is guaranteed a job or they'll receive a stipend equal to the average wage for the life of the mine.'
'How long do they reckon that'll be?'
'At the moment they estimate it to be open for the next thirty years, at least.'
'I need some time to think about it.'
'I have to take my answer back to Canberra in two days. Is that enough time?'
'Two days, yeah sure.' Jarra's mind was racing, he had to agree. If he were to unravel the schemes that undoubtedly were already in train, he would have to stay in the race. He would be in a privileged position, privy to information from both sides. That he would be in the best position to resolve everything.
'I'll see myself out,' Mrs Ubersen said pushing her hand forward, putting a close to their meeting.
Jarra got to his feet and took her soft hand in his. 'It was nice to meet with you Mrs Ubersen...'
'My name is Susan,' she advised him with a smile.
'Susan, nice to meet you.' Jarra smiled back and watched her walk from his office.
Jarra sat cautiously for a minute before he reached into the partially opened desk drawer and pressed the off button of his tape recorder. He rewound the tape almost to the beginning and pressed play:
' - That's up to you and a it's risk I am prepared to take. I will make this offer once then deny everything.
- If you're prepared to take that gamble... what are we talking about?
- One hundred thousand dollars has been deposited in a Swiss bank account in your name and one hundred thousand will be added to that every year for the next nine years.
- A million dollars!
- One... million... dollars.'
Jarra stopped the tape, sat back and beamed.