Jack Westerbaan is a Dutch immigrant to Australia. His father’s execution by the Germans during World War II put a severe strain on Jack’s faith. While in Australia, working as a cowhand, he abandons his faith. He decides to retrace his roots, but first he wants to cross the continent once more and visit places he’s never seen before. On his journey he kills a wallaby, not knowing he has thereby violated an aboriginal taboo. The tribe’s witch doctor pronounces a curse on Jack and the hunt is on. The story is fast-moving and exciting. Jack’s flight lands him in one predicament after another. Yet this is not action pure and simple; the story is laced with vivid, graphic descriptions of the fascinating Australian landscape.