A Dutiful Daughter — Thomas Keneally

'MY PARENTS ARE OF A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON...ABOUT WHOM YOU CULD SAY THAT...THEY'RE SAFER IN JAIL.' SHOCKED AT THE ONSET OF PUBERTY AND THE CATASTROPHE SHE BELIEVES IT BROUGHT ON HER PARENTS, BARBARA HAS SINCE BEEN A MOST DUTIFUL DAUGHTER. BOUND IN DOMINANCE OVER THEM, SHE TENDS HER AFFLICTED PARENTS, MANAGING THE BEASTS AND THE LAND SINGLE-HANDED ON THE ISOLATED MARSHLANDS OF CAMPBELL'S REACH. IT IS HER BROTHER DAMIAN WHO REVEALS THE SECRETS THAT THE FAMILY HAS SHARED FOR THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS. AS THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCES WITHIN EACH OF THEM MOVE TOWARDS A CLIMAX, BARBARA IS IMPELLED TOMAKE THE FINAL SACRIFICE.