"Mandragora" written by David McRobbie.

Essay by Shannon028 November 2003

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M A N D R A G O R A

David McRobbie's Mandragora (Mammoth Australia) is another contemporary novel with links to a historic shipwreck, the sinking of the Dunarling. Adam and Catriona have found a cache of four small dolls made from mandrake roots. The dolls were left in the cave by two other teenagers, Jamie and Margaret, who had survived the wreck of the Dunarling. Transcribing a diary from that same voyage, Adam and Catriona learn the power of the cursed mandrake roots, power that destroyed the Dunarling in 1886 and that is resurfacing in the town of Dunarling today.

Chapter One. Here we are told of the trecherous journey of the 'Dunarling', it's crew and passangers.

Not much information is actually given here on the 'Dunarling' as such, more of the two survivors.

James Ramsay, a sailor aboard the ship, and Margaret Colquhoun, an immigrant bound for Adelaide escaped the wreck of the 'Dunarling' and rested in a small cave until morning when they brought the first news of the fate of the 'Dunarling', it's crew and passengers.

When returning to the beach at which the cave was situated, they were unable to find the cave. Over many years, the cave still remained buired, and many beleived it was just 'a delusion on their part', and people used it to describe a strech of the imagination.

When the four discover the tiny coffins, some have doubts about the coffins;

*Catriona and Adam suggest to leave the coffins as they are.

*Catriona, whilst supporting Adams arguments, Adam is "suprised to see how pale she was".

*After discovering the contents of the coffins, "Relief was evident in his (Richards) voice".

*"Adam found himself looking not at Richard but...