Ghost of a Chance (7 page)

Tuesday, 21 December, afternoon

E.D. raced on ahead to the jetty. By the time the others had arrived, he had chosen the biggest row boat he could find. He climbed in after Hannah and Gabby, and they put on their life jackets.

‘Just make sure you’re back before tea time,’ Ling called.

Hannah turned to wave, suddenly having second thoughts about going as she watched Angus and Ling walk slowly up the beach together.

‘C’mon, Hannah,’ Gabby shouted. ‘Let’s dig these paddles in.’

The three settled into a good rhythm and ten minutes later they had reached the island. E.D. climbed out of the boat and dragged it through the shallows.

‘Do we know where we’re going?’ E.D. tossed his life jacket into the boat and gazed out over the island.

‘This way,’ Gabby said, heading off along the beach in the opposite direction from the graves. The others followed. Gabby soon found a narrow path that wound its way slowly up a gentle rise. Long, spiky grasses tickled their legs as they went inland. The sound of the sea behind them grew fainter as they found themselves walking in a copse of trees. They walked in silence for almost five minutes, the air around them still and warm.

‘I had no idea this island was so big,’ E.D. said, pausing and looking about.

‘I guess we’ve only explored one part of it,’ Hannah said, enjoying the rest from walking.

‘Two parts actually—a big rectangular hole with a skeleton in it and a wet, sandy cave.’ E.D. shrugged.

Gabby raced ahead. ‘Look, guys,’ she called. Hannah sighed and followed E.D. to the top of the rise.

‘Wow,’ E.D. gasped, joining Gabby. In front of them was a huge gap in the land. It was as if some giant hand had removed an enormous wedge, like a slice of cake, from the earth.

‘A ravine,’ Hannah breathed, gaping at the sight in front of her. Below them sea water surged in, slapping against the rocks and up onto a beach covered with stones and pebbles. E.D. took a step closer to the edge.

‘Careful,’ Hannah said, not moving.

‘It’s pretty steep actually,’ E.D. said, stepping back. ‘Let’s try the other side.’ They headed inland through low scrub, stopping at the point where the gap closed up to look out over the gorge.

‘Imagine being out there in a storm.’ Hannah shuddered, gazing at the huge swell of ocean surging in through the gap.

‘I think it looks like a great place to swim,’ Gabby said. ‘Just one big swimming pool with a natural wave maker thrown in.’

They turned right and walked back towards the sea. The cliff on this side of the gorge wasn’t nearly as steep as the other side, and there were even what looked like small paths criss-crossing their way over and among the rocks.

‘If that girl hid treasure overlooking the gorge, it had to be on this side,’ Gabby said. ‘C’mon, Han. Let’s use our feminine intuition. Where would you hide some treasure if you had some?’

‘Well, since boys don’t have any intuition, I’ll just lie here and wait,’ E.D. said, finding a smooth rock and sitting down. Hannah kept walking.

‘What about over there?’ she said, pointing to what looked like a small cave. ‘That seems perfect.’

‘That looks a bit tricky to get to, Han,’ E.D. said, sitting up and squinting. Hannah looked around for a way to get down.

‘There’s a path here,’ she called, edging forward.

‘Hang on, Hannah, come up around this way.’ Gabby stepped over a shelf of rock and headed towards an open area away from the rocky edge. Hannah looked back at Gabby then down at the cave. It was only 10 metres away and if she could get to the path just a little further down then it was just a matter of walking along a narrow track to the cave itself.

‘You sure, Hannah?’ E.D. had stood up and was edging along the path behind her. Ignoring E.D., Hannah turned around to face the cliff before carefully making her way over a shelf of rocks and then gently easing herself down. With clammy hands gripping the sandstone, Hannah reached out with her left foot, desperately searching for a foothold.

‘C’mon,’ she said to herself through gritted teeth, trying to ignore her thumping heart and the ache in her arms as she hung on, fingers clasped around a sharp rock.

Suddenly Hannah slipped—and she felt her foot come to rest on a small flat rock. A moment of sharp panic turned into relief as her other foot nestled alongside and she regained her balance.

‘I’m there!’ she called, walking quickly along the path towards the cave.

‘Way to go, Han!’ E.D. yelled.

‘Hey, there’s something…’

Suddenly, from below them, someone shouted. At the same time a colony of squawking bats flew out of the cave. Hannah threw up her arms as she felt beating wings smother in close around her face. She screamed as one of the bats got caught in her hair, its wings flapping madly as it tried to escape.

‘Hannah!’ Gabby yelled in horror as she watched Hannah overbalance, her arms flailing and her hands beating at her face as she tried to untangle the bat.

Startled, Hannah spun round, her foot slipping as she temporarily lost her balance. She thrust out her right hand, but she was further
from the cliff shelf than she thought, and her fingers grasped at nothing but air.

Oh my God, Hannah thought, the blood draining from her face. A trickle of dust and loose stones fell off the edge and a split second later, Hannah felt herself sliding out of control.

‘Hannah?’ Gabby screeched, rushing back towards E.D.

Hannah felt a sharp pain tearing her thigh as she tumbled down a steep section of gravelly track before crashing into a bush, banging her head against a large rock.

As if in slow motion, E.D. and Gabby watched Hannah reach out an outstretched arm in one last desperate effort to grab onto something. Her fingers closed around the trunk of a withered bush; it was dry and prickly. Hannah felt the whole shrub move, and for a moment it looked as if she and the bush would plunge over the edge of the cliff. But the bush held firm and Hannah managed to haul herself slowly back up the dusty incline.

‘Hannah!’ Gabby yelled, rushing to the edge. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I think so,’ Hannah called, her hands and arm stinging. Her head was throbbing but the pain in her leg had almost gone.

Slowly Hannah made her way back up to the track. E.D. and Gabby steered her gently along a wider path that took them away from the cave.

‘But I reckon there’s something in the cave,’ Hannah said.

‘Han, another time, okay?’ Gabby said.

‘Why don’t I just go back and have a quick look?’ E.D. suggested.

‘E.D., this place gives me the creeps. Let’s just go, okay?’ E.D. looked at Gabby and sighed.

With Gabby leading, they made their way back along the path that would take them to the other side of the ravine. Gabby paused, looking down into the swirling ocean below.

‘Hey, losers!’ a voice called from high in the cliffs. ‘You forgot something?’

All three turned to see Jamie standing in front of the cave opening holding up a black box.

‘Damn, I should have gone after all,’ E.D. muttered, crossing his arms and glaring up at Jamie.

‘No way, E.D. They might have been watching the cave all along.’

‘Nah, I’ll bet they were watching us all along. I’ll bet we guided
them
to the cave. And the treasure.’

Together they walked slowly back to their boat.

‘Maybe there are more bats in there,’ Gabby said, forcing a smile.

‘Yeah, or a black bear.’ E.D. grimaced.

No one laughed.

Tuesday, 21 December, evening

‘I should have gone instead of you.’ Angus shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Hannah.’

Gingerly, Hannah felt the lump on her head and frowned at Angus. ‘It wasn’t your fault I fell halfway down the cliff. I was the one who slipped. Anyway, I’m alright. But we didn’t get the treasure.’

‘Those kids are one step ahead of us all the time.’ Gabby rubbed Hannah’s arm. She’d stuck close to her friend ever since they’d come back to the mainland. ‘I reckon they’re spying on us.’

‘How did you go with the fax?’ Hannah turned to Angus.

‘Well, there are seven different Thomas Crofts listed,’ Angus said. ‘Sean has done well. Read this.’ He passed the typed sheet of paper to
Hannah, who read aloud the paragraph he was pointing at.

‘Rotary News. Western Beach branch. Last month’s guest speaker was 46-year-old Thomas Croft who spoke for the first time about his traumatic childhood experiences living at Point Intrepid where he survived a boating accident that claimed the life of his sister, Elizabeth, as well as another child.’

‘That’s got to be him,’ Gabby said.

‘So we get in touch with this Rotary Group at Western Beach,’ E.D. said.

‘Will they give out his address or phone number?’ Gabby took the sheet from Hannah and read it again.

‘I rang them,’ Ling said. ‘They’ll pass our message on. Then it will be up to Thomas, I guess.’

‘Talking about fish and chips,’ started E.D.

‘Even though we weren’t,’ said Angus.

‘Let’s go and get some. Rescuing people gives you an appetite.’

‘Anything gives you an appetite,’ Hannah said. ‘Come on, then.’ She stood up shakily but Gabby gently pushed her down again. Hannah shrugged. ‘I might stay here. You lot go to the fish and chip shop.’

‘Well, you aren’t staying alone.’ Gabby looked at Angus. ‘I’ll stay here.’

‘We won’t be long.’ Angus walked to the door and opened it.

‘Back in a flash.’ E.D. gave a thumbs up sign to Gabby and followed Angus. Ling smiled briefly and shut the door behind her.

It only took a few minutes to get to the shop. The lights blazed cheerfully through the late afternoon shadows, silhouetting a group of people standing outside.

‘Oh, great,’ said Angus. ‘Our friends are here.’

‘Fantastic,’ said E.D. grimly. ‘My favourite people.’

Kristy separated herself from the others as Angus, E.D. and Ling walked up to them. ‘What have we got here? The gang of losers.’

‘We’re
winners
next to you. At least we care about each other.’ E.D. folded his arms across his body.

In the flashing red and blue lights of the shop, it was hard to see whether Kristy was blushing but she looked away from E.D. back to Daniel. ‘We’re tough. We don’t need to help each other along like little kids.’

‘Yeah, right,’ said E.D., stepping closer. ‘You just run away at a few creepy bones.’

Kristy took a step towards E.D. Behind her, the two boys fanned out on either side, flanking E.D. ‘We ended up with what you were looking for, anyhow.’

‘A little girl’s treasure? How tough are you. You didn’t find any gold.’

‘There is no gold. It’s a load of rubbish.’ Kristy reached into the bag hanging off her shoulder and pulled out a small tin. ‘This is the only treasure we found.’ She flicked the lid off the tin and let it clang to the ground, then shook out its contents. Seashells crashed to the concrete, smashing into bits, and pieces of paper and cards fluttered down. Something metallic hit the ground. Kristy threw the base of the tin after it. ‘More rubbish.’ She raised her foot preparing to grind the tin and its contents into the concrete.

E.D. grabbed her arm. ‘Don’t do that.’

‘Why not?’ Kristy twisted away from him. ‘What’s it to you?’

‘It might not be treasure to you but you don’t have to smash it. Some little kid put those things in there.’

Kristy smiled nastily and lifted her foot off the ground again. E.D. shoved her, making her step backwards away from the tin.

‘Look out!’ Angus yelled, but it was too late. Jamie had taken a swing at E.D., connecting with his shoulder. E.D. spun around, lashing out with his fist. It got the boy in the stomach and he doubled over.

It was on. Ling stepped back in horror as Jamie jumped on E.D. Daniel was calling out for him to stop, but Kristy was laughing. Angus pushed his way into the fight, getting knocked over straight away. E.D. slammed Jamie into the shop door, which caused it to open suddenly, its bell clanging loudly. Then Jamie pushed him back and grabbed his T-shirt so that E.D. had no choice but to stumble away. They hit the verandah post hard, rattling the tin sign on it.

‘Hey, you boys!’ Angelo stepped out of the shop.
‘Arrestolo!
Stop it!’

Jamie gave E.D. one last punch and ran. E.D.’s head hit the post and he swore angrily, putting his hand up to his bleeding scalp.

‘E.D.!’ Angus was on his feet, rubbing a bruised arm.

‘I’m okay,’ muttered E.D., swaying on his feet.

‘No, you aren’t,’ said Ling, coming out of the shadows and putting an arm around E.D.

‘You silly boy.’ Angelo was suddenly next to him as well, pulling E.D.’s hand away from his
face. ‘You come inside. Those other kids, you should know not to get mixed up with them. They’re up to something all the time. No good.’

Angelo led E.D. into the shop, steering him around the counter and into the little kitchen. Angus followed, not knowing what else to do, but Ling let E.D. go and scooped up the tin and its contents.

‘Mira!’ called Angelo. ‘Bring the first aid kit.’

Mira appeared at the kitchen door. She stared at E.D., glanced at the others, and disappeared. A moment later she came back carrying a plastic box and a small towel. She passed the box to Ling and pressed the towel against E.D.’s bleeding head. E.D. flinched.

‘What have you been doing?’ asked Mira, leaning forward to push the hair away from E.D.’s eyes.

‘Got into a bit of a fight.’ E.D. tried to sound as if it was nothing, but his face was screwed up in pain. ‘Happens all the time. To me.’

‘Hmph,’ Mira grunted, checking under the towel to see if the bleeding had stopped. ‘And what could you be fighting about in front of my shop?’

Ling stepped forward and carefully placed the tin and its broken contents on the table. ‘They
had this and E.D. was trying to stop them from destroying it.’

Mira glanced at the table and went rigid with shock. ‘No!’

Angelo touched her arm. ‘What is it, Mira? What is this that the kids have found?’

‘Mira.’ E.D. frowned and repeated the word. ‘Mira. Miracolo,’ he looked up suddenly. ‘Miracolo?’

‘You kids!’ Mira stood back and waved the bloodied towel at Ling. ‘You are meddling! I told you not to. I said no good would come of it. Oh…’ She looked at the table and picked up the metallic object. ‘My bracelet…’

‘Your bracelet, Mira? What do you mean? It’s too small for you.’ Angelo took the bracelet from Mira and turned it to the light. He rubbed it with the corner of his greasy apron and tipped it again to the light. ‘It is very dirty but…is it gold?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’ Mira sat down heavily. ‘A gift from…’ Mira’s voice trailed.

‘A gift from?’ Ling leaned forward in her seat.

Mira looked at her and shook her head. ‘No,’ she said, closing her eyes.

‘Mira, what little girl would go and bury such a beautiful gift?’ Angelo asked.

‘It was a gift from a terrible man to buy my silence.’

‘You’re Miracolo?’ said Ling softly. ‘The girl who wrote the diary.’

Mira looked at Ling. ‘How do you know about my diary?’

‘We found it.’ Ling paused. ‘Elizabeth has been contacting me.’

Mira took a sharp breath in and shook her head vigorously. ‘No, that can’t be.’

Ling’s face reddened. ‘I know it sounds strange, but it’s true. She comes to me at night. She mentioned Thomas and Will. Mira, she keeps asking for help.’

The kitchen was silent except for the sharp ticking of a clock on the wall. Angelo took Mira’s hand and rubbed it gently. E.D. took the towel and held it to his head, even though the bleeding had stopped. He didn’t say anything.

‘When I was a little girl…’ Mira started.

Angelo sat up straight. ‘You don’t have to say anything, my dear. It’s all in the past.’

‘But, Angelo, I don’t think it is.’ Mira sighed. She looked at E.D. and for a brief moment her face lightened. ‘I will tell you all that happened.’ Mira smiled weakly at her husband. ‘When I was a baby, my mother gave me to the orphanage. I
was not meant to be born—she was a sick lady, my mother—and she called me her little miracle.
Miracolo.
My mother could not look after me, and she put me into the care of an orphanage just before she died.’ Mira blinked back tears. ‘This was what Mr Jamison told me.’

‘Ronald Jamison?’ Angus said. ‘The man who ended up in gaol.’

‘Yes,’ said Mira. ‘He was a good man when his wife was alive but then he got gold fever.’

‘Gold fever?’ E.D. said. ‘Is that a type of disease?’

Mira gave a short laugh. ‘It is, in a way. Mr Jamison found out about the gold that had been hidden on the island. The first little pieces he found easily; they were lying like a trap just under the soil of the grave of some unknown soul. But he couldn’t find any more. He started to take us over there and told us to dig, dig, dig. Where was the gold? He didn’t know but he mapped out the island and thought that he knew. If it wasn’t in one spot, it could be in another. And what did it matter if he had to dig up the whole island? He had children to do it for him.’

‘He made you kids at Spray Cottage dig for the gold.’ Angus leaned forward. ‘For how long?’

‘Months. For months we dug for him.’ Mira shook her head. ‘Elizabeth, Thomas, Sebastian and myself. Not so much me. I think Mr Jamison took pity on my frail state. I was probably not much use anyway.’

‘Why didn’t you tell someone?’ Ling asked. ‘Or why didn’t someone notice what was going on?’

‘Oh no.’ Mira sat up, her eyes wide. ‘We could never tell. Not when he found the first few bits and pieces.’

‘You mean your bracelet?’ Ling leaned forward, staring into Mira’s face.

‘I don’t understand,’ Angelo said, clasping Mira’s hand. ‘What about the bracelet?’

Mira held it up for everyone to see. In the glaring kitchen light, the cleaned bracelet glowed a dull yellow. It was bent from where it had hit the ground.

‘He gave each of us a small piece when he found the first lot of treasure. We were allowed to keep it as long as we promised that we would not tell anyone what he was doing.’ Mira sighed. ‘You must remember—we were orphans. We had nothing. Or nothing yet. Elizabeth and Thomas had their house, but not yet—not until they came of age. Mr Jamison told us we would
be famous when we found the rest of the treasure, but that we had to find it or else bad luck would come to us.’

‘Bad luck? Was he talking about the Collaratta Curse?’ said E.D.

‘You’ve heard of it then?’

E.D. sat back in his chair, deep in thought. Angus kept staring at the bracelet. Mira held it out to Ling but she shook her head. She didn’t want to touch it. And nor, Ling thought, did Mira.

‘On the night that Elizabeth and Sebastian died,’ Mira continued slowly, ‘I was too sick to go and help dig. Mr Jamison, he was excited, but he was angry too. He was often like that.’ She paused again, turning away suddenly.

‘Cursed treasure,’ Ling said, softly, and then looked over at Mira.

‘So Mr Jamison,’ E.D. said, thinking aloud. ‘Where is he now? Is he still alive?’

‘Him?’ Mira shuddered. ‘He is in gaol. For what he did to us he got fifteen years. And for what he’d done in the past he got nearly another twenty years. He was a bad man.’

‘But Mira,’ Angelo said gently, ‘he isn’t in gaol any more. His sentence finished a couple of days ago—we know that. Mr Jamison is out.’

A breeze rattled the door of the shop and E.D. glanced at it uneasily.

Mira shook her head. ‘He won’t come back here. He would be driven out of town. He is no longer welcome at Intrepid Point.’

‘Mira, who is Will?’ asked Ling. ‘We know about Thomas and Elizabeth, and Sebastian. But who is Will?’

‘Will?’ Mira frowned. ‘I don’t know anyone called Will.’

‘Elizabeth…she says something about Will.’

Mira shook her head. ‘You have a good imagination. There is no one called Will. Only
a
will.’

‘A will?’ Ling sat up straight. ‘Of course. You said something about a will in your diary.’

‘Elizabeth knew that as the oldest child, her parents had left their house to her.’ Mira gave a small smile. ‘She was only the oldest by ten minutes.’

‘And where is the will?’

Mira started coughing and couldn’t stop. She clutched a handkerchief to her mouth until the hacking subsided.

‘It’s okay, my love,’ Angelo said soothingly.

Mira shook her head. ‘I do not know any more,’ she gasped. ‘But you must not meddle
any further. The Collaratta Curse may get you. You must promise to leave the secrets of this town alone.’ She started coughing again.

Ling and Angus stood up, and E.D. placed the bloodied towel on the table in front of him before standing as well.
‘Arrivederci,’
he said softly.

Mira had her eyes closed and Angelo put his arm around her. Neither of them noticed that no one had promised anything.