This is a ‘Film-Tie-In’ novelette written directly from the script. “Two Leopards” is a raw account of the lives of child soldiers in Africa and elsewhere. Two boys, sons of missionaries, raise money to build a school in Africa. They attend the opening ceremony. Next day, as they are about to leave, the school is attacked by rebel soldiers who burn the school down, kill the boys’ parents, and take them hostage to raise ransom for their cause.
The boys are trained to become child soldiers and brainwashed, treated cruelly until they renounce Christianity and gradually accept their roles as members of Leopard Company. After taking part in attacking a N.G.O. aid convoy they are appointed non commissioned officers. When their warlord is killed, the boys lead the leopards to join the rebellion against the corrupt Kamarian president.
Their Aunt Elizabeth travels to Africa to rescue them, but they are taken prisoner by the President’s security forces, who try to get information from them about the forthcoming invasion of the capital by the rebel army.
About the Author
Geoff was born in Jersey, then under German occupation, during World War II. Soon after the war, his family moved to Brisbane, Australia. He was educated at All Souls’ School, Charters Towers – a rather traditional boarding school after the English style. What knowledge one didn’t learn through the ears was well and truly belted in through the rear end, complete with blood blisters. His first contact with the cane was for not running around a sports oval fast enough. He now prides himself on a complete disinterest on sports and knows nothing about cricket. This led to his creative and artistic sides developing. He had a way with words, and was a skilled debater.
After secondary school, he took to teaching, graduated, and then obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Aboriginal Education. For the next thirty years, he lived with remote aborigines in the Great Western Desert, firstly as a primary school teacher, and later as a School Principal and Administrator. During this time, he took up writing, mostly short stories and film scripts. It was a good way to while away lonely hours in the desert evenings.
The development of miniature computers took his interest, and He wrote to the Department suggesting they take a serious look at the use of Computers in Education. Because of the proximity of a U.S. Sigint facility at Alice Springs, many of the students, especially the American kids, were interested in computing. At first they used Tandy Level Ones and Apples. While very primitive compared to today’s machines, Many of the I.T. Community cut their teeth on computing under Geoff’s tutelage. They even built a ‘Dream 8080’ and got it working.
Child welfare was another interest. Juveniles who committed offences were kept in adult prisons. Some of the kids were as young as nine years of age. Geoff fought hard to get decent juvenile facilities built for them, and also did lot of research into mental illnesses in Children. While taking a rest from the Desert, Geoff worked with the Education Department as a District Guidance Officer. He was responsible for getting educational services to handicapped children across the outback. While on Long Service leave in Cairns, his family home, he met up with his old geography teacher, Kevin Burry, who was bringing Trinity Anglican School to fruition. Kevin became ill with brain tumors, and the Bishop of North Queensland appointed Geoff as the voluntary acting principal to bring the school on line, so Geoff spent his vacation from teaching as principal of one of Queenslands largest schools.
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