Running Man, The

"There had always been the Running Man - always that phantom form somewhere in the distance, always shuffling relentlessly closer ..." Tom Leyton, a reclusive Vietnam veteran, has been the subject of rumour and gossip for thirty years. When Joseph Davidson, his young neighbour and a talented artist, is asked to draw a portrait of him, an uneasy relationship begins to unfold, one that will force each of them to confront his darkest secrets. This is a story about how we perceive others, the judgments we make about them, how we cope with tragedy, and the nature of miracles. Michael Gerard Bauer is a part-time English teacher and writer who lives in Brisbane with his family. He was the winner of the 2003 Brisbane Writers Festival WriteSmall competition. This is his first novel.