The Opal Desert (43 page)

‘It's got some nice colour but patchy.' He handed it to her.

‘Yes, blue and green stripes.' She gave it back to him.

‘Ribbon, with a bit of pinfire. I'm trying to collect examples of all the different opal patterns.' He turned the stone in the sunlight, enjoying the flashes of colour.

‘Why don't you mine fulltime, Mick?' asked Anna. ‘Digging out opal yourself must be more exciting than buying it from a miner.'

He nodded. ‘Sure is. I used to love mining. Now you need money to buy dozers and heavy equipment. Price of diesel has gone through the roof, times are tight and people aren't paying the good prices for opal, not like they used to. Lot of miners who have the good stuff are sitting on it, waiting for times to change. Too many restrictions from the mines department now. So little blokes like me, retired people working up here in the winters, are finding that mining is too expensive. We're being pushed out by the big boys who are after the gas below the opal level, and whatever else they're finding down there. Nah, I'm happy being in town now. Let the others do the mining, while they still can.'

‘I've been happy here too, Mick. But it's time I went.'

‘I understand that, love. Been a terrible thing, this Davo business.'

Anna paused a moment. ‘It was scary at the time. But when I think about it now, somehow it's made me stronger because I came through it. I'm not going to let it affect me negatively. In fact, in a way, it's proved something to me.'

‘What's that?'

Anna almost smiled. ‘Having to pace myself out there, at the lake, because I knew I had such a long way to run showed me that my head can control my feet. I used to be a mad bolter, but now I know I can stop that. I really understand what my coach was trying to tell me. When I start running competitively again, I'll be able to run a tactical race.' She added, ‘I need to get some money together somehow and I'll be right. I'm raring to go and give running my best shot. So Mick, I'm going back to Adelaide to find my coach.'

‘Well, I'm blowed. All of us felt real bad about Davo. Never would have thought that he would grab you like that. But, as everyone says, ratters can be dangerous. In a way it was my fault, too. Everyone knew Shirley's key was hanging in the bar, so I guess he just helped himself.

I s'pose he thought he could get away with it. Would have too, if you hadn't surprised him. You pressing charges?'

‘I can't pretend it didn't happen, but I just want to move on now. I've told my parents and they want me home for my twenty-first birthday.'

‘That'll be a big day. When is it?'

‘Quite soon, actually.'

‘You know what would be nice? How about we give you a send-off party and make it an early twenty-first bash as well!' exclaimed Mick enthusiastically. ‘Y'know, Shirley will be home in a day or so, and we might be able to get her to come down to the pub, now that she's been to Broken Hill. Kerrie's bringing her back. Kerrie's bloke, Tim, is bringing some Yugo friend. Pam and Doug are back. Ingrid's here. Yep. Sounds like a party.'

‘I don't want any fuss,' began Anna.

‘Thelma can make a cake, we'll have a barbie out here. Give you a right old send-off, Anna.'

Mick phoned Kerrie who agreed that it was an excellent plan.

‘We'll be back in a couple of days,' she told Mick. ‘Tim has taken our friend Goran to Lightning Ridge for a bit of a look-see while I'm here keeping Shirley company in the hospital. Tim's father Roth is on the valuing committee over at the Ridge.'

‘So he's one of the experts who values stones anonymously for miners unsure about their value. Been a good system that,' said Mick.

‘Yes. Roth wants to bring more jewellers and marketing people from all around Australia to learn more about opals. He says people don't know enough about them to appreciate the fabulous stones. I told Tim that every Aussie girl should get an opal when she turns twenty-one!'

‘That's it! That's what we can give Anna! She needs money so she can go on training or something.'

‘I'm one step ahead of you, Mick!'

There was a shout from the front of the pub and everyone moved outside as a great cheer went up. Kerrie and Tim were on either side of Shirley, supporting her as she gingerly walked from the car, while a smiling Goran walked behind her. Spontaneously everyone broke into applause as Shirley was helped inside and settled into a chair.

Pam and Ingrid looked at each other, their eyes filled with tears of delight. Kerrie sat beside Shirley, who gazed around, taking in the scene.

‘Never thought I'd be down here again,' she said softly to herself.

‘Gin and tonic, wine or . . . ?' Mick asked Shirley.

‘This is an occasion. We thought champagne!' said Tim. ‘Mick, bring out your best bubbly.'

‘This is an amazing place,' said Goran. ‘I see why it meant so much to Stefan. And Shirley is very special. But that place she lives in. It is a cave! I could hardly believe it when she showed me. I always thought that Stefan had exaggerated.'

‘It's different,' agreed Tim. ‘Some dugouts are very luxurious. But Shirley seems to have all she wants around her and even if she is nearly eighty, she manages quite well.'

‘There are good people here, too,' said Goran. ‘It is a friendly community. My relatives have never left Sydney. They have never seen places like this, which are nearly on their doorstep, while I have flown nearly halfway around the world to be part of this.'

‘We haven't had a big bash in Opal Lake for some time, so this has turned out to be the perfect opportunity,' said Pam as she surveyed the room from the other end of the bar.

Anna laughed. ‘This is such fun, I can't thank everyone enough.'

‘I'm glad that we could get here, too,' said Helen. ‘Who's that with Kerrie and Tim?'

‘It's quite a story. That fellow – Goran – met Shirley's Stefan in Yugoslavia. Bit of a tragic tale as it turns out,' said Mick. ‘I'm sure we'll get the details eventually.'

‘I believe it's made a big difference to Shirley,' said Anna quietly. ‘I'm so happy for her.'

‘We're just glad to have her back at the Lake, safe and well,' said Mick.

‘How is the fossil research going?' Tim asked Helen and Gustav as they came over to join him, Kerrie and Shirley.

‘It's so exciting. Our dream of establishing the Australian Opal Centre is becoming a reality. Soon we will be able to exhibit properly the greatest collection of opal, opalised fossils, and heritage and stories that have come from the opal fields,' said Gustav. ‘Glenn Murcutt and his wife, Wendy Lewin, have designed a groundbreaking building out near the Three Mile open-cut at the Ridge, so it's in situ so to speak.'

‘It's an amazing building,' enthused Helen. ‘It will draw visitors from all over the world – a global centre of research to promote everything to do with our national gemstone. There's nothing like it anywhere else in the world!'

‘Sounds fantastic,' said Kerrie. ‘Tim and his father have some novel ideas for ways to promote opal. How about in the Sydney to Hobart, one of the maxi yachts used a spinnaker made of opal print material? And at the Sydney Festival opal-patterned lights could be projected onto the sails of the Opera House!'

Shirley listened to this exchange and said to Helen and Gustav, ‘I have something I'd like to donate to this Opal Centre, but there is one proviso.'

Kerrie stared at her, guessing what Shirley was about to say.

‘It's a rather lovely opalised fossil and I'd like it to be displayed as a gift from Stefan Doric.'

Kerrie touched Shirley's arm and said softly, ‘That's a lovely idea. Very appropriate.'

Shirley turned to Anna. ‘And for you, young lady. I want to help you. You were very brave and I want to thank you for retrieving my opals. Over the years old miners have bequeathed me their opals on the understanding that, when the time came, I would know what to do with them. I think that time is now.'

Anna looked stunned and began to shake her head, but Shirley took her hand.

‘It's time those stones were put to good use. I'm sure Roth can organise a good price for them and you can use that money to get to wherever it is you need to help you become a great runner.'

‘Shirley, I couldn't possibly accept . . .' began Anna, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘Just offering them is so wonderful of you . . .'

‘I'm not just offering them, I mean it. And I hope I get to see you on a podium winning some medal, if that's what you're aiming for.'

Anna was speechless, embarrassed and shocked. She turned and flung her arms around Shirley, hiding her face.

‘This calls for a toast,' said Tim. ‘Everybody, gather round.'

With their champagne glasses raised, everyone in the pub grouped together, some even spilling out the front of the little hotel onto the footpath.

‘To the doyenne of Opal Lake, Shirley! We're glad you are healthy, happy and back home. To Goran, thank you for making the journey to bring Shirley the truth. And to Anna, who is our hope for the future not only as an athlete but as a young woman we all admire.'

‘And the best barmaid this pub ever had,' interjected Mick.

‘And . . .' Tim continued with a smile, ‘to Kerrie, whose generosity has brought so much of this about, and to your own future, your own dreams and your own happiness. May they be mine, as well. I love you.' He leant forward and kissed her.

Cheers, laughter and shouts followed, and people gradually moved to the barbecue and its tantalising smells.

Kerrie reached for Anna's hand. ‘A small birthday gift from me. For you to keep and remember Opal Lake.'

‘I don't need anything to remember, this has been . . .' Words failed Anna. ‘I'll come back and visit, may I, Shirley?'

‘Of course, dear. I'd be upset if you didn't. Open your present.'

Pam and Ingrid came forward to watch as Anna opened the little bag Kerrie handed her.

Anna simply stared, speechless, at the shining, glittering gem in the palm of her hand.

‘It's the ring from Opal Lake!' exclaimed Pam. ‘What a wonderful idea, Kerrie.'

‘I found it there when I first went to the lake,' said Kerrie. ‘It had been there a long time, waiting for the right person to claim it. You conquered that lake, Anna, so I think you are the right person. I hope you enjoy it.'

‘I can't accept it, it's too much,' said Anna, but she couldn't take her eyes off the magnificent ring.

‘Wear it for Australia,' said Tim firmly. Kerrie slipped it onto Anna's finger, where it sat snugly. Kerrie and Shirley exchanged a smile.

‘I will,' said Anna simply. ‘Thank you.'

Shirley turned to Kerrie and took her hand. ‘I was resigned to the fact that my days would fade quietly to black in my special hole in the ground. But knowing Stefan is never coming back has freed me to step outside into the world again. Thanks to you we have formed a bond, learnt from each other and our friendship will stay as bright as that opal ring.' Shirley's eyes looked as blue as the sky above, giving a sudden flash of the young girl she'd been.

‘Yes, Shirley, you're right,' said Kerrie. ‘Women friends are special. They can shape who we are and who we want to be. They support and nurture us and give us strength and comfort. Out here we've helped each other but let's not wonder why it happened but just enjoy being the friends we are.'

To my children, Nick and Gabrielle, and my grandchildren, Sonoma, Everton and Bo, who light up my life.

To darling Boris, who loves opals and opal country, and suggested this book.

To James Fraser for sticking with me so staunchly these past twenty years (through twenty books!) as a friend and a publisher.

To Ian Robertson, who stepped into my life around book number eight and changed my professional life – for the better! – and continues to dispense advice, humour, friendship and good cheer.

To my good friend and editor, Liz Adams (and her lovely Richard), who's unfailingly there for me every day, who occasionally shouts, but is never wrong, and stirs me to make each book better than the last. Thanks, Liz!

To all my wonderful friends of twenty years at Pan Macmillan, especially Ross Gibb, who signed me up twenty years ago, along with the ‘old hands' – Roxy, Siv, Tracey, Sally, Leanne, Jeff, Mark and Joybelle!

Thanks once again to Rowena Lennox – your forensic copy editing is wonderful!

And to my loyal proofreader Ted Johnston, who told me some years back that life gets better in your nineties!

And thank you to the many friends I've come to know on the opal fields who've shared their knowledge over the years: Len Cram, Bob Barrett, Margie and Warwick Schofield, Robert White, Elizabeth Smith, Barbara Moritz, Graham Gibbons, Jeff Hood and Bill Robertson.

And to all the men and women on the opal fields and in the industry who shared their time and stories.

And special big thanks to John Murray for his wonderful artwork!

Di Morrissey is one of Australia's most successful writers. She began writing as a young woman, training and working as a journalist for Australian Consolidated Press in Sydney and Northcliffe Newspapers in London. She has worked in television in Australia and in the USA as a presenter, reporter, producer and actress. After her marriage to a US diplomat, Peter Morrissey, she lived in Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South America and Washington. Returning to Australia, Di continued to work in television before publishing her first novel in 1991.

Di has a daughter, Dr Gabrielle Hansen, and Di's son, Dr Nicolas Morrissey, is a lecturer in South East Asian Art History and Buddhist Studies at the University of Georgia, USA. Di has three beautiful grandchildren: Sonoma Grace, Everton Peter and William James Bodhi.

Di and her partner, Boris Janjic, live in the Manning Valley in New South Wales when not travelling to research her novels, which are all inspired by a particular landscape.

www.dimorrissey.com