The Wonders (34 page)

He had thrown away his old self-help books. The one he was writing with the ghostly ghostwriter had been abandoned long before. He walked instead, and listened and sniffed and watched the world that went on, that had gone on all the time the Wonders were parading around the planet as if they were important.

These days it was the small things that made him ache with happiness. The thump of the kangaroos that leaped to safer ground when they heard his steps. The soil so rich it stuck to his fingers when he grasped a handful to smell the moisture. Minh's tired smile after a day at the clinic in town. The earthy taste of beetroot soup made with the crop they had grown in their garden. Standing at the window and watching the weak winter sun slant across bright green fields in the late afternoon.

On the wall above the fireplace hung an enlarged framed photograph Yuri had taken one afternoon of Kathryn dancing across the common room at Overington in her scarlet high heels. Splendiferous. Written underneath:

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, woolly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice!

Little lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

M
Y DEEP GRATITUDE
goes to Alison Ravenscroft for her unswerving encouragement during the writing of this work. Fran Cusworth and Kelly Gardiner read an early draft and I am grateful for both their feedback and their company. Peter Dillane corrected some of my medical slips (no doubt I inserted a few more afterward) and Jan O'Reilly picked up my proofing fails (again, except for the ones I probably added later). Many other people have also been stalwart friends and supporters—I feel lucky to be a part of Australia's generous literary community. In addition, the support of Arts Victoria and the Australia Council were vital to the creation and development of this work. Finally, I wish to thank my wonderful editor, Sarah Branham.

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P
ADDY O'REILLY
is an international award-winning writer of novels, short stories, and screenplays. Her most recent novel,
The Fine Color of Rust,
was short-listed for the ALS Gold Medal. Her debut novel,
The Factory,
was “Highly Commended” in the FAW Christina Stead Award for Fiction.

Her short story collection,
The End of the World,
won a number of national and international story awards, including The Age, the Glen Eira My Brother Jack, Zoetrope All-Story and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation.
The End of the World
was chosen as one the year's best books in various publications, from
Australian Book Review
to
The Financial Review
. It was short-listed for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.

Paddy has been an Asialink writer-in-residence in Japan; a fellow at Varuna, the Writers House retreat in Australia; a writer-in-residence at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre in Perth, Australia; at the Kelly Steps Cottage in Tasmania; The Lock-up in Newcastle, Australia, and a full fellow at the Vermont Studio Center.

She spent several years living in Japan, working as a copywriter and translator, and now lives and works in Victoria, Australia.

www.simonandschuster.com

authors.simonandschuster.com/Paddy-OReilly/402519635

Also by Paddy O'Reilly

The Fine Color of Rust

The Factory

The End of the World

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2015 by P.A. O'Reilly

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

O'Reilly, P. A. (Paddy A.)

The wonders : a novel / Paddy O'Reilly.—First Washington Square Press paperback edition.

 pages ; cm

“Washington Square Press fiction original trade.”

1. Fame—Fiction. 2. Reality television programs—

Fiction. 3. Satire. I. Title.

PR9619.4O74W66 2015

823'.92—dc23

  2014018895

ISBN 978-1-4767-6636-2

ISBN 978-1-4767-6637-9 (ebook)