A Ring Through Time (22 page)

‘Can we float boats down the canal, Allie?’

Micaela tugged on Allie’s arm, bringing her back to the present. She saw that the little girl was clutching a long sword-like frond that had fallen from one of the Norfolk pines. Her face shone with excitement as she broke off a piece and ran to throw it into the reed-choked water of the canal. It floated momentarily but quickly stalled among the reeds.

Seeing Micaela’s disappointment, Allie suggested, ‘Let’s follow the canal and find a patch of clear water.’

The child clapped her hands. Clutching the remains of the long brown frond, she skipped beside the canal until it disappeared into a tunnel. The channel was lined with concrete here, and there were no reeds so the water flowed unimpeded towards the sea. Down on the beach, Allie could see a group of teenagers splashing around the diving platform moored out in the bay. It was too far away to see if they were her schoolmates or tourists.

‘Why don’t you try here, Micaela,’ she suggested.

Floating boats down the canal kept the child happily occupied for a time. The baby slept on, and Allie kept an eye on the teenagers, who’d come out of the water and were now playing touch footie on the beach. She was almost sure one of them was Noah. When she straightened from inspecting Micaela’s little flotilla, she was surprised to find him closing in on her.

‘Uh … hi,’ she said, trying to ignore the little kick of excitement in her stomach.

‘Babysitting?’ he asked.

‘Yeah. These are the Armstrongs’ children. Micaela, say hello to Noah.’

The little girl shyly bobbed her head.

Noah grinned at the child. ‘Hey, Micaela.’

Allie was just silently congratulating him for not making any snide remarks about commandants and Government House when he said, ‘So you’ve been inside Government House. How did it feel to be in the place where your ancestor once lived?’

Allie looked at him, wondering if he was for real.

He flushed slightly. ‘I mean … you know, I sometimes get the feeling that there’s something else going on around here. Especially down by the gaol. I sense people around me — convicts. And sometimes I hear music. I wondered if you’d had the same experience?’ He looked at her expectantly.

Should she tell him? Allie felt hot and sweaty at the thought. But she held the key to what had really happened to Cormac O’Brien — if only she had the courage to share her knowledge.

‘Yes, I’ve sensed something,’ she admitted. A sudden thought struck her. ‘I was looking round the old part of the cemetery the other day. I didn’t see anything about your ancestor.’

‘That’s because he was thrown into “murderers’ mound”. It’s a burial mound outside the cemetery fence where they buried the mutineers who were involved in the so-called “cooking pot riot”. Twelve were hanged at the time, but several more were strung up after that, for one stupid reason or another. Cormac was one of them.’

Cormac had helped to dig his own grave! The realisation hit Allie with the force of a tidal wave. She put a hand to her mouth, frightened that she was going to be sick.

‘Are you okay?’

She shook her head, unable to speak.

‘Yeah, his death isn’t something we like to think about either.’ But Noah sounded more concerned than judgmental.

Allie swallowed hard. ‘Your family haven’t thought to put up a memorial for him?’

‘No.’ Noah frowned. ‘I never thought about it before. I guess they haven’t either.’

‘How much research have you done into your ancestors’ time on the island?’ Allie asked.

‘Not much. It doesn’t make for happy reading, you know.’

The answer came quick and sharp. Allie understood, and felt ashamed.

‘No, I guess not. I’m sorry.’

‘I thought you’d argue that his death was justified, given your ancestor was responsible,’ Noah added.

Allie shook her head. She didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, Micaela came to her rescue.

‘I’m hungry,’ she said, inserting her small body between them and looking up at Allie. ‘Can we go home now?’

‘Yes, of course. Gotta go,’ she said unnecessarily, and Noah grinned.

‘
Si yorlyi morla
.’

‘Yeah. See ya,’ she replied.

Allie felt sick with grief as she walked back to Government House. She couldn’t imagine how Alice must have felt when she found out about Cormac’s final resting place. John Bennett was even more brutal than the islanders realised.

The baby was still asleep by the time Allie reached Government House. Rather than wake her, Allie wheeled the pram into the kitchen, and poured a glass of milk for Micaela and found her a biscuit and a banana. There was no sign of the Armstrongs.

‘Sit here and have your snack,’ Allie told Micaela, then she hurried to the passage where she’d seen Alice before. She felt jumpy and breathless with nerves.

‘Alice?’ she whispered. ‘Are you there?’

Silence.

‘I found your diary. And I have Cormac’s ring.’ She held up her hand and touched the ring. ‘I know what happened to Cormac.’

She waited, hoping desperately for a sign of some sort. She could hear Micaela humming tunelessly in the kitchen, but otherwise all was silent.

‘Where did you go after Cormac died? What happened to you? And to Susannah?’

Silence.

What could she say that might encourage Alice to show herself?

‘There’s a boy in my class called Noah. He’s descended from Cormac’s brother, Paddy, just as I’m descended from your brother, William,’ she tried.

Silence. Not even the faintest movement of air.

‘I … I feel there’s some sort of connection between us, between me and Noah,’ Allie said. ‘I’ve felt it ever since I got here. But …’ She stopped and touched the ring to give herself courage. ‘But the past keeps coming between us. In fact, I care about Noah just like you cared about Cormac.’

There, it was said. Her true feelings, out there.

Allie waited for a sign from Alice, anything at all to indicate that she’d been heard. She waited for as long as she dared, knowing that she should be with the children. Finally, she was forced to acknowledge that perhaps the ghostly presence wasn’t Alice after all. Either that, or Alice wouldn’t show herself in the daylight. But I’ll try again, Allie promised herself. If the unhappy ghost was Alice, she would keep on talking to her to let her know that she wasn’t forgotten, and neither was Cormac.

Over the next couple of days, Allie waited impatiently for news from Georgy. Everywhere else she’d looked, she’d drawn a blank. It was as if the Bennett sisters had never existed. She was tempted to ask Noah if she could look at any information his family had about Paddy and Cormac, but the memory of how he’d cut her off stopped her. Besides, he’d already said he’d never heard of Alice Bennett so it seemed that was a dead end too.

Alice’s story, and Cormac’s death, had settled on Allie’s shoulders like a deadweight. She longed to tell her parents about her find, but she was afraid they might insist that the diary should go into the public domain. She couldn’t bear the idea of exposing Alice’s private thoughts and feelings, her raw despair when she realised that, in trying to save Cormac, she’d condemned him to death. And yet while Allie kept the diary hidden, she kept Alice hidden too.

She was walking aimlessly along the road leading to Emily Bay, wondering whether to cut up towards the cemetery to see
if she could locate ‘murderers’ mound’, when Meg fell into step beside her.

‘Where are ya going?’ she asked.

Allie shrugged, immediately abandoning her plan. ‘Just walking.’

‘Let’s go down to the pier. I overheard Noah and Pont talking about going windsurfing after school this arvo.’

Allie stopped. ‘And I’d want to go because …?’

Meg clicked her tongue in impatience. ‘Because you’ll see Noah. Come on, Allie, get a grip. If you want to get together with Noah, you have to make an effort. I can’t do it all for you.’

‘He’s not interested.’ But Allie kept on walking beside Meg.

Meg beamed at her. ‘That’s where you’re wrong. I heard Fran and Nat talking about you in the toilet block during lunchbreak. They didn’t know I was there.’

‘Talking about me? Why?’

‘You and Noah. Fran told Nat she was making an idiot of herself chasing after Noah when he’d made it obvious that he just wanted her as a friend. And then Nat blamed you for getting in her way and stuffing things up between them. And Fran said no, and reminded her that the bust-up had happened before you even arrived on the island. And Nat said the break-up was a mistake and if it wasn’t for you, she and Noah would have got together again. And Fran told her she was dreaming and she should get over it.’

‘It’s not fair that Nat’s making me out to be the wrecker of her great romance,’ Allie said.

‘No-one thinks you are. Well, no-one except Nat. But,’ Meg stopped and swung Allie around to face her, ‘if you do like Noah, you need to do something about it.’

‘Like what? You know how he feels about the Bennett family!’

‘Yeah, well, that’s just stupid. You need to —’

‘Hey, girls.’

Startled, Allie swung around. She wondered how long Noah had been following them, and just how much he’d overheard. She was sure she was blushing so she kept her head bent. Finding Alice’s diary had complicated everything because now she knew the truth — and Noah didn’t. It had set up a barrier between them, one she didn’t know how to cross.

‘What are you doing here?’ Meg said. ‘I thought you were going windsurfing.’

‘Change of plan. We decided to go fishing off the reef at Slaughter Bay instead. But the tide’s still too high to walk across so Pont’s dad’s given us permission to take out his boat. Pont thought you might like to come with us?’

‘That’d be good.’

Meg answered for both of them, although Allie wasn’t sure if she was included in the invitation. She was just about to refuse when Noah looked directly at her.

‘There’ll be lifejackets on board,’ he said, ‘so there’s no need to be afraid.’

Allie knew he was remembering her aborted snorkelling attempt. She felt hot with embarrassment.

‘I’m not afraid,’ she retorted, trying to still the flutters of fear in her stomach.
You’ll be in a boat, not in the water. You’ll be safe
.

‘Good. So you’ll both come then.’

It wasn’t a question and Noah didn’t wait for an answer. He hurried on towards the pier, where Pont waited beside his car. A boat nestled on the trailer behind it. Allie shivered as Pont and Noah connected the boat to the davit at the end of the pier, which lifted it out of the trailer and swung it gently into the water.

She looked at Meg as they walked along the pier. ‘So Pont issued this invitation? Anything you’re not telling me?’

Meg laughed. ‘Yeah, I think he’s kinda cute,’ she admitted. ‘But I bet he only invited us after Noah told him he had to.’

Noah was waiting at the steps at the side of the pier. ‘Come on down,’ he called, holding out his hand.

I can back out even now
. But Allie knew she couldn’t. Wouldn’t. Even though she felt shaky with fear, she forced herself to scramble down after Meg, and took Noah’s hand to climb into the boat.

As soon as she was settled, he called to Pont, ‘Where d’ya keep the lifejackets, mate?’

‘I didn’t bring them. No need. We’re only going just outside the reef.’

Noah looked worried. ‘Can you swim, Allie?’

‘Yeah.’ Allie took a breath. ‘Yeah, I used to go surfing all the time back in Sydney.’

‘That’s okay then.’

It wasn’t in the least okay, but Allie wasn’t brave enough to say so because Pont had started the motor and they were already heading out to sea.

Once Pont cut the motor and the guys got out their fishing rods, Allie started to relax. She closed her eyes, her mind drifting back to the diary and the fishing trip Jack Cartwright had told Alice about.

‘What are you hoping to catch?’ she asked dreamily.

Noah shrugged. ‘Trumpeter, kingfish, trevally. There’s lots of good eating fish around here.’

Allie remembered something else. ‘Do hunting parties still go over to Phillip Island?’

‘What for?’ Pont asked.

‘Goats. Rabbits. Wild pigs?’ She couldn’t remember if Alice had mentioned anything else in her diary.

Noah frowned. ‘Officers used to go hunting there during the time of the penal colony, but the feral animals have all gone now. They’re trying to revegetate the island to repair the damage that was caused all those years ago. It’s become a breeding sanctuary for seabirds.’

Allie was sorry that she’d turned Noah’s thoughts to the convicts, but it seemed Meg couldn’t resist stirring the pot.

‘You guys have got so much in common — your families should really get together to swap notes about the past,’ she suggested.

Noah stole a glance at Allie. ‘Not sure my parents would be in that,’ he admitted.

‘But you guys could pave the way.’ When no-one replied Meg clicked her tongue in exasperation. ‘I dunno. What’s with you guys? It’s stupid being so hung up about your rels.’

‘You’re the one suggesting we should swap notes,’ Noah pointed out.

‘And why should I apologise for anything my ancestor did? It’s nothing to do with me,’ Allie said.

A short silence followed her pronouncement.

‘Yeah, it’s best to bury the past and move on,’ said Noah.

Encouraged, Allie risked a smile in his direction. To her enormous relief, he grinned back at her.

Thinking Noah might tell her more about the past without realising it, Allie ventured a question. ‘Meg says you’re really into music, that you play the violin?’

‘Yeah. At home, in private.’

‘Is it old?’ Noah looked blank and Allie added quickly, ‘I mean, has your violin been passed down through your family?’

‘No. My parents bought it for me once they realised I was serious about music.’

‘I have a violin,’ Allie said. ‘An old one, a family heirloom.’ She hesitated, yet it seemed right to continue. ‘I don’t know how to play it, but I was thinking I’d like to learn. Could you … would you teach me?’

Noah stared at her. Allie felt a rising tide of red wash over her face.

‘I mean … I can pay you for lessons, if you want?’ she said quickly.

‘I don’t want payment. It’s just … why now? If you’ve had the violin all these years, why didn’t you learn to play it before?’

Good question. Allie had no idea how to answer without mentioning Alice. Fortunately, Meg came to her rescue.

‘I told Allie you were ace at the violin. Why wouldn’t she want to learn from the best?’

To Allie’s relief, Noah laughed. ‘Okay, I’ll come over after school sometime and we’ll make a start, see how you like it. And I won’t be offended if you decide it’s not your thing,’ he added.

‘Thanks.’

‘Or you could switch to playing the guitar, Allie,’ Meg added, looking pleased that her matchmaking seemed to be paying off. ‘Then you guys could serenade us at barbies and parties and that.’

‘Pont!’ Noah’s shout startled them all. ‘Watch out for the reef, mate!’

‘Shit, I’d forgotten that the tide’s going down.’

Pont dropped his fishing rod and quickly turned to start the motor. It sputtered and died. He pulled the cord again, and again, but the engine wouldn’t catch. Allie could see the dark reef under the water as they drifted closer. There was a harsh grating sound as the boat scraped across rocks and coral, then it stopped, stuck fast.

Pont’s face was white with tension. ‘I can’t risk the motor. Can you guys bail out and push the boat off? Preferably without tearing its guts out!’

‘I’ll go.’ Noah hopped over the side of the boat and put his shoulder against it to try to push it off from the reef. The boat lurched sideways with a sickening jolt.

Allie remembered the gravestones she’d seen in the cemetery commemorating those who had died on the reef. She shuddered, already imagining the icy water closing over her and dragging her down, the waves smashing her body against the rocks, the circling of predatory sharks scenting blood.

‘Allie! Meg! Get out and help me push!’ Noah shouted.

‘Don’t take them off,’ Pont warned as Meg bent to shuck off her sneakers. ‘You’ll cut yourself on the coral.’

‘Okay.’ Meg swung her legs over the side of the boat and dropped into the water.

Feeling sick with fear, Allie followed her.

‘Okay, one, two, three … let’s go!’ Noah sang out.

Allie felt the strain on her muscles as she heaved against the boat. It grated, shifted slightly, and settled once more.

‘Wait for the next wave,’ Noah instructed.

Allie watched the white line roll towards her. She braced herself against the rush of water as they heaved again, and was conscious of a sudden lightness as the boat floated free.

As soon as the water was deep enough, Pont set about trying to start the engine. The boat was further out to sea now and Meg and Noah set off in pursuit. Allie watched them
go, keeping her balance on the reef with difficulty against the breaking waves. Her heart hammered with fright. She couldn’t make her arms and legs work to swim after them. She stayed anchored to the reef.

After what seemed like forever, Noah looked around for her. ‘Come on, Allie,’ he called. ‘It’s too shallow for Pont to come in and get you.’

He waited for her, treading water. Allie was shaking; long tremors of cold, paralysing fright zinged through her body. Slowly, reluctantly, she edged off the reef and began to swim towards him. She felt deep water underneath her and sensed that she was being pulled out to sea. She screamed, swallowing water as she thrashed around wildly in her efforts to keep afloat.

‘Allie! Hey! Stop it! I’ve got you, you’re okay.’

In her relief, Allie clutched on to Noah, restricting his movements and threatening to drown them both. He put the heel of his hand under her chin and pushed her away, breaking her hold. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the wrists and placed her hands on his shoulders, swimming over her so that she lay flat on her back underneath him.

‘It’s okay,’ he said more gently as he began to swim both of them towards the boat. ‘I’ve got you. There’s nothing to be afraid of, I promise.’

‘Grab my hand.’ It was Pont.

Helped by Meg, he hauled Allie over the side. She flopped onto the bottom of the boat feeling like a stranded whale.
Too embarrassed to meet anyone’s eyes, she gathered herself up and sat down on the wooden seat. She crossed her arms around her body and crouched over, trying to control her shivering. Noah pulled himself into the boat and sat down close beside her.

‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said. ‘But you told us you could swim.’

‘I can.’ Allie gulped a breath of air. She was close to tears. ‘I … I thought I was being swept away by the current. I thought you were going to leave me out there to drown.’

‘I’d never do that!’ Noah regarded her thoughtfully. ‘Why are you so freaked out? Has something like this happened to you before?’

Allie nodded, keeping her head bent. She knew they were waiting for an explanation but she couldn’t bear to talk about it. She’d always done her absolute best to forget that day. And yet the memory had followed her here, and if her dreams and her ongoing panic attacks in the water were anything to go by, she would never get over it, never be able to forget about it, or forgive Jason. The incident had scarred her, and taken away her friends. Now it was stopping her from enjoying all the things she used to enjoy, like swimming and surfing. And snorkelling on the reef — she’d been looking forward to that, but it hadn’t worked out either.

‘It might help to talk about it,’ Noah suggested.

Sunk in the black misery of her memories, Allie shook her head.

‘Tell us,’ Meg encouraged. She looked at the guys. ‘But whatever she says goes no further than this boat,’ she added fiercely.

Pont and Noah nodded.

‘Promise?’ Meg insisted.

‘Yeah,’ said Noah, and Pont nodded again.

‘You’re with friends, Allie. You can trust us,’ Meg urged when Allie still didn’t speak. ‘And what’s just happened also goes no further, okay, guys?’ she added.

‘Sure.’

Noah and Pont were both nodding. Could she trust them? Noah was right, Allie thought. Talking about it might help. And she had nothing to lose save her pride. She took a deep breath, and then another, trying to summon up her courage.

‘I was out surfing one day with … with Jason, my boyfriend.’ She felt Noah give a small involuntary jerk beside her. ‘My ex-boyfriend,’ she added for his benefit. ‘We didn’t have our boards, we’d just gone in for a bodysurf. The waves were breaking quite far out so we swam out to catch them. And we got caught in a rip.’