Matthew Flinders' Cat

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Matthew Flinders Cat, a 2002 novel by Bryce Courtenay records the relationship between "Billy", a homeless man who sleeps under the statue of Flinders outside the Sydney Library on a bench, and Ryan, the son of a heroin whore.

[edit] Plot summary

Billy tormented by his mishandling of his son Charlie has cut all ties with family and friends and forsakes his work as a high flung defence lawyer and instead relies on "Johnny Walker Scotch Whisky." The boy arrives one morning and the two bond over the story of Flinders Cat Trim. The book takes a darker turn when Billy forsakes Ryan fearing retribution from the boys mother - after his barmaid Marion and mate Con suggest Paedophilia. Billy flees to Surfers Paradise but after a letter from the boys principal he enters a Salvation Army rehabilitation program and returns to find the boy. Billy gets to Ryan too late - the boy has been raped by a German sex tourist named Karl through a "kiddy sex ring" run by "The Queenie." The boy tells this to Billy who uses his past legal connections to organise an all female crime squad who arrest the perpetrators, namely the barmaid Marion who is actually "The Queenie."