An Outside Man

AN OUTSIDE MANThe story follows the life of Fane Roskill from his childhood in 1920’s peasant Somerset to emerging Australia to untamed New Guinea up to the onset of the Pacific war.Fane and his mother set out on the long journey to New Guinea where his father awaits. Tragedy follows when their ship is attacked by natives.As a young man Fane is brought up in Australia by Stephenson a respected hunter. Though married Fane frequents the brothels of Sydney harbour and is implicated in the murder of a prostitute. Divorce follows and shame forces him to accept a post in British administered Papua as a Field Officer. (Lieutenant-Governor Murray has them as ‘outside men’).Fane’s exploits become legendary the first man to trek for months through the unexplored and dangerous heartland of the territory. A local man arrested by Fane is found guilty of murder and hung. His tribe vow to avenge him sending his father and brother to find and kill Fane.Disillusioned by officialdom and thwarted in his attempt to woo the daughter of a dignitary Fane resigns to partner Albert Sui an old Chinese friend in an aeroplane transport business. On a trip back to England Fane marries his childhood friend who returns with him to Papua.They combat the hard and menacing life of the time. A war with Germany Japanese forces on their doorstep and natives violently resisting the new order. They are joined by John Cooper a pilot who has close connections to both their families.After discovering a terrible truth Fane’s wife is near to emotional breakdown and joins a friend in the Highlands to help at a missionary. Japan invades the island. Fane and Cooper attempt a hazardous rescue overland and by air.