Friend Beyond Death

Abandoned in the Australian bush, a boy is rescued by the desert-dwelling Gadgeri. The boy is trained with Jiriga, the young warrior who found him, in preparation for Long Walkabout—a demanding rite of passage to manhood. Their adventures result in the pair being united as friends-beyond-death. Nevertheless, the Gadgeri cast out the youth whose lack of traditional scars and lighter skin clearly indicates he is not one of their kind.

The youth is befriended by Major Carnivon, an explorer living alone on a vast and remote property. To the major, the young man becomes Jason, the son he never had, as the two develop a touching and indellible bond. The major's determination to ensure Jason inherits the cattle station ignites open conflict with the Gadgeri.

Jason longs to establish his true identity, from tiny memories of his early childhood, to convince the pastoralist father of his beloved Meg that he can be a worthy son-in-law. When the Gadgeri launch an attack on Meg's home and family, Jason's obligations as friend-beyond-death face the extreme test.