A Ring Through Time

by Pulman, Felicity

  ‘But as we’re telling the truth, there’s something else you should all know,’ Noah said, his voice slightly anxious now. He withdrew his arm from Allie’s waist and straightened his shoulders. ‘The fact is Cormac lied to Alice.’

  There was a collective intake of breath around the classroom. Everyone was sucked into the story now.

  ‘He told Alice that he and Padraic were political prisoners, but that wasn’t true,’ Noah continued. ‘They were actually caught and tried for forgery. Padraic worked for a legal firm and I guess he supplied the documents for Cormac to copy and change. That’s why they were convicted and sent to Australia. They came directly to the island as part of the Maconochie experiment — the “new hands” they were called. Unfortunately, they continued their fine arts here on the island and forged a letter, supposedly from the Governor, granting them a free pardon. They lost points for it under Maconochie’s system and that’s why they were left behind after his recall. However, being forgers, they managed to alter the records somehow — I’m not quite sure how because Padraic never spoke about it, of course. It was my dad who found out the truth just recently, when he decided to trace the family tree. He managed to locate the records of the trial against the brothers and the real reason they were deported to Australia, and he kept on digging. He doesn’t like to talk about it, but the bottom line is that Padraic and Cormac passed themselves off as political prisoners during John Bennett’s time here, I suppose hoping that the authorities would be more lenient. It didn’t influence John Bennett, but it seems to have paid off once Padraic got back to Hobart. He scored his ticket of leave shortly afterwards. He told his new family all about John Bennett’s brutality, but he never said anything about how he and his brother scammed the prison system, or why they’d really been transported. So far as we know, he went straight after he was married, but that could have been because Cormac was the forger, not Padraic.’

  Allie blinked. She was shocked by Noah’s revelation. So that was the secret that Alice had sensed Cormac was withholding from her. Nothing to do with a wife or a sweetheart. Perhaps he was afraid she would betray him if the truth became known. But Allie was in no doubt that Cormac had loved Alice, and that sooner or later he would have plucked up the courage to confess what he’d done. She was also sure that Alice would have forgiven him — and kept his secret too.

  ‘So that’s it,’ Noah concluded. ‘Now you know the truth about both our families.’

  The absolute silence that had greeted his disclosure gave way to a buzz of commentary around the classroom.

  Ms Elliott came forwards and held out her hand. ‘This is all absolutely fascinating,’ she said. ‘May I look at Alice’s diary?’

  Reluctantly, Allie handed it over. Her teacher carefully turned the pages, perhaps making sure it was authentic. Then she handed it back to Allie.

  ‘I can see this is precious to you,’ she said gently. ‘Why has your family kept it hidden all these years?’

  Allie gulped. ‘They don’t know I’ve got it.’ With some reluctance, she confessed where she’d found it, and then told Ms Elliott how Georgy had searched for further information in the Mitchell Library in Sydney, but that Susannah’s letter had finally been located in Tasmania.

  ‘So your family doesn’t know about any of this?’ Ms Elliott said.

  Allie shook her head.

  Ms Elliott gave a low whistle. ‘Then I suggest you tell them as soon as possible. But thank you both for being brave enough to break the news to us first.’

  The rest of the lesson passed in a daze for Allie. She went hot and cold as she thought about what she’d done and what had been said. She was sad that Cormac had lied to Alice, but she also knew that Noah’s family would be beside themselves when they found out the real reason Cormac had been hanged. She put her elbows on her desk and buried her head in her hands, tuning out the class as her thoughts ran riot. Ms Elliott was right: she’d have to tell her parents now. She hated to think how they might react.

  Noah would also have to confess what he’d done. How would his family take it? Allie wondered if maybe the two families should get together to discuss the past, and its implications for the future. She glanced across at Noah, and saw that he was wearing the hair ring on his little finger. An idea came into her mind; she spent the rest of the lesson thinking about it.

  She was heading towards Noah in the playground at recess, but stopped when she saw that his mates had got to him first. She was about to retreat to the library when Meg blocked her path.

  ‘That was quite a story you told the class this morning,’ she said. ‘And I guess it explains a whole lotta stuff I didn’t understand before. Onya for telling everyone the truth, Allie. And I’m sorry I gave you a hard time over Noah.’

  To Allie’s relief, she linked arms with her, and, without giving Allie time to protest, dragged her over to the group.

  Nat gave her a sour look, but Fran smiled a welcome.

  ‘So it looks like you and Noah go back a long way,’ she teased. ‘Like a century or more.’

  Allie felt hot colour wash over her face. ‘That’s up to Noah,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Guess I can’t compete with a love that lasts through time.’ Nat looked over at Noah, not meeting Allie’s eyes.

  Allie didn’t know what to say, so she kept silent. As always, Meg stepped into the breach.

  ‘Plenty more where he came from, Nat. No historical baggage either,’ she said cheerfully.

  Nat managed a small smile. ‘Okay,’ she said to Allie. ‘You win.’

  ‘It’s not a competition,’ Meg said sharply.

  ‘No.’ Nat looked abashed. ‘No, you’re right. Sorry, Allie. It’s just …’

  Allie nodded. ‘I know,’ she said, remembering how hard it had been to get over Jason in spite of everything he’d done; how resentful she’d felt of Sara when, even before she left Sydney, she’d sensed that her friend was coming on to him.

  ‘I know,’ she said again and gave Nat a smile.

  FIFTEEN

  Telling her parents about Alice’s diary proved far more difficult than Allie had expected. Their horror when they realised the truth about John Bennett and the havoc he’d caused within their family and within the penal community was bad enough. But things got even more tricky when she confessed how and where she’d found the diary. And their anger increased when she explained that Ms Elliott and her classmates now knew the truth.

  ‘You could at least have told us first,’ Catherine Bennett protested. ‘It’s a lot to take in. I’d like to have seen the diary and the letter, just to know exactly what this was all about before the story spreads around the island.’

  ‘As it will, and with embellishments no doubt,’ Hugh Bennett added dryly.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ And Allie truly was. Her parents had every right to complain, but they still didn’t know the full story.

  ‘That boy you went out with yesterday? Noah. Why did you tell him first?’ her mother asked.

  Allie revised her opinion. Perhaps her parents weren’t as blind as she’d thought. She was too embarrassed to tell them about the connection she’d felt with Noah right from the time she’d first met him, but she had to come up with something.

  ‘It was his ancestor that John Bennett hanged. I knew his family didn’t believe in Cormac’s guilt, and I thought he deserved to know the truth,’ she mumbled.

  Her father sighed. ‘I thought we’d come over here for a taste of the quiet life. Looks like I was wrong.’

  Allie wondered what sort of spin she could put on it to excuse her actions. ‘I’m sorry. I know how proud you were of our ancestor. And I know I’ve stirred up an ants’ nest with all of this. But once I found the diary, I thought the truth should come out one way or another.’ She had a flash of inspiration as she recalled Noah’s words. ‘After all, the diary and the letter are historical documents that give an insight into the convict past here on the island.’

  ‘Very personal documents.’ Catherine
Bennett pulled a face. ‘Do you really want Alice’s diary, her most intimate thoughts, to be put on display in one of the museums for everyone to paw over?’

  ‘No, of course not!’ Exposing Alice wasn’t Allie’s intention at all. ‘We don’t have to show anyone else the diary, or Susannah’s letter. Can’t we just make a note of the basic story, and maybe photocopy a couple of pages of the diary to authenticate it? Wouldn’t that be enough?’

  Hugh Bennett shrugged. ‘I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,’ he said diplomatically. ‘In the meantime, perhaps we should ask Noah’s family over for a drink or something?’

  ‘And a formal apology?’ Catherine gave a wry smile.

  ‘For God’s sake, this all happened years ago!’ Allie said impatiently. All the same, she was interested to meet Noah’s family, and to gauge their reaction. ‘But why don’t you invite them over anyway? We’re going to have a lot in common.’

  ‘I’ll think about it. In the meantime —’

  Catherine was interrupted by the phone ringing. Allie flew to answer it, glad to escape.

  ‘Allie? It’s Sylvia. I’m wondering if you’d be free to look after the children on Saturday night, please? It’s a progressive dinner to raise funds for the local hospital. I imagine your parents will be going as well.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Allie didn’t even have to think about it. This was her chance to put her plan into action. ‘What time do you want me?’ she asked.

  ‘Seven thirty, if that’s okay?’

  ‘Sure.’ Allie hesitated. The next part was somewhat tricky. Sooner or later she’d have to confess to the Armstrongs about finding Alice’s diary. But there was something more important to sort out first. ‘Sylvia, would you mind if I asked a friend around to babysit with me? A boy. Noah O’Brien.’

  There was a short silence. Allie wondered if Sylvia was imagining what they might get up to together in her absence and prickled with embarrassment.

  ‘That’s fine, Allie — so long as you make the children your priority. And I know that you will.’

  ‘Of course. Thanks, Sylvia.’

  Allie exhaled in relief as she put down the phone. She felt for her mobile in her pocket, ready to call Noah once she was safely back in her bedroom.

  ‘I heard what you said to Sylvia.’ Her mother was standing in the doorway, her forehead creased in a worried frown. ‘What’s going on between you and Noah?’

  ‘He’s a friend. A good friend. And … and there’s some unfinished business we need to sort out.’ Allie gave her mother a hug. ‘I promise I’ll tell you all about it later. There’s also something I need to ask you, once I’ve talked to Noah. But I’m sorry, Mum, I can’t tell you anything else just yet.’

  Without waiting for her mother’s reply, she hurried off to make the call.

  With the introductions over, the Armstrongs went off to the dinner. Allie took Noah to the children’s bedrooms to check on them.

  ‘This is the baby’s room,’ she whispered, and they paused for a few moments beside the cot. Next door, Allie put her finger to her lips and looked down at the little girl. ‘You’ve already met Micaela.’

  ‘And now?’ Noah said as they walked across the courtyard back to the main part of the house.

  ‘And now we go ghost-hunting.’

  ‘Please tell me you’re joking!’

  ‘No!’ Allie dug her fingernails into Noah’s arm. ‘This is important. Alice is still here, haunting this place. I know it’s her. I saw her.’ She held up her hand, displaying the hair ring. ‘Are you wearing your ring, like I asked you?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Noah smiled at her. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’ he muttered. Allie led him into the hall and turned left into the passage. She shivered. Sylvia hadn’t been joking when she’d said the air was colder here. She took Noah’s hand. In silence, they waited for something to happen.

  Allie saw her first, but felt Noah’s hand tighten around hers and knew that he’d seen her too. A slim young woman in a blue dress with a lace collar, standing beside the door of the small bedroom. Her face was pale, her eyes heavy with grief. Allie was afraid to speak, afraid she might vanish if the silence was broken. Now that the time had come, she didn’t know what to say.

  It was Noah who slowly raised his free hand so that the ghostly woman could see the ring he wore.

  ‘Alice,’ Allie breathed, and held up her own hand, Cormac’s hair ring dark against her pale skin.

  The woman made a small movement towards Noah, and then stopped. Allie knew it was time to take a chance, perhaps the only chance she would ever have.

  ‘Alice, I found your diary,’ she said softly. ‘I know what happened between you and Cormac all those years ago.’ She put her hand on Noah’s arm. ‘This is Noah. He’s descended from Cormac’s brother, Padraic.’

  Should she tell Alice that Cormac had lied to her? No!

  ‘My name is Alice too,’ she continued steadily. ‘I’m called Allie for short. And I’m descended from your brother, William.’

  She thought the wraith was listening. She couldn’t be sure, but knew that she had to go on with her explanation.

  ‘Noah and I have the same connection that you had with Cormac all those years ago,’ she said, feeling hot with embarrassment as she said the words. ‘His family have lived on the island a long time, but my family arrived only recently. But Alice, this is no longer a penal colony. That closed just a few years after you died. Your father and Susannah and William went back to Hobart with the convicts. Your mother died here, six months after you disappeared. Your father was killed a few years later by a group of prisoners after he was made inspector general of penal establishments in Victoria.’

  Allie wondered if her namesake would feel sorrow or welcome the news.

  ‘Susannah married Jack Cartwright,’ she continued. ‘They lived in Hobart, and I believe the marriage was a happy one.’ No need to mention Susannah’s impression that she was second-best, Allie thought. ‘After your father’s death, William was sent to England, I guess to live with either your mother’s or your father’s family.’

  ‘My mother’s family?’

  The whisper was so faint, Allie wondered if she’d imagined it.

  ‘William spent time in India, and made a name for himself in the army. But he lived and died in England.’

  ‘And Padraic got his ticket of leave soon after he arrived back in Hobart,’ Noah chimed in. ‘He married and had children. That’s how come Allie and I are here today.’

  ‘But things are different now,’ Allie reassured her namesake. ‘We’ll tell your story, yours and Cormac’s. We won’t show anyone your diary,’ she added quickly, as the young woman put her hands up and took a quick step backwards.

  Allie was afraid she was going to disappear before hearing the reassurance Allie wanted to give her. ‘No-one’s going to judge you; everyone will feel sorry that your love had such an unhappy ending. You should know that Norfolk Island isn’t a convict settlement any more; there are no penal colonies in Australia at all now. There are prisons instead. But lawbreakers are only imprisoned after they’ve had a fair trial. In fact, there’s not even a gaol on Norfolk Island now.’

  Noah took up the story. ‘After the penal colony closed, a community who’d been living on Pitcairn Island made Norfolk their home, and their descendants still live here. This is a happy place now, and tourists — visitors — come here from all over the world because the island is so beautiful.’

  ‘I inherited your violin, Alice,’ Allie said. ‘I don’t know how to play it, but Noah’s going to teach me.’

  She thought the wraith smiled faintly.

  ‘It’s time to forget the past and find peace,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll keep your diary a secret, but your story will be known and so will the injustice of Cormac’s death.’

  Allie hadn’t had time to run the last part of her plan past Noah, but she couldn’t stop now. ‘There’s no headstone to commemorate that you ever lived here,’ she
said. ‘There’s nothing to commemorate Cormac either.’ She glanced at Noah, hoping he was going to agree with her. ‘We’re going to ask our parents to have headstones engraved and placed in the cemetery, you and Cormac, side by side. You don’t have to stay here any longer, Alice. You and Cormac can rest in peace.’

  The figure of the woman shimmered in front of them, and suddenly Allie heard a violin playing, a wild sobbing that raised the hairs on the back of her neck, before despair eased into a sweet and haunting tune. She thought she could see a man now, standing beside Alice, with long dark hair the same colour as Noah’s.

  As she turned to Noah to seek confirmation, the music faded into silence and the figures disappeared.

  Allie stood still, blinking back tears. She felt Noah’s arm go around her, solid and comforting.

  She managed a shaky laugh. ‘I hope it was all right to make that promise on your family’s behalf?’

  Noah’s arm tightened around her waist. ‘If they won’t do it, we’ll raise the money ourselves,’ he said, and kissed her.

  EPILOGUE

  ‘You don’t have to be afraid. I’ll look after you,’ Noah teased.

  Allie spat into her mask, rinsed it and pulled the strap over her head. The cold water swirled around her legs as she waded deeper. Was she still afraid? It was time to find out.

  She smiled at Noah. ‘Let’s go,’ she said, and slotted the snorkel’s mouthpiece into position.

  ‘Just stay here in the shallows for a minute and practise your breathing,’ he said.

  Allie flopped down and put her face underwater. She took a few experimental breaths, and then began to swim. She was conscious of Noah swimming beside her, but soon forgot about him as the sand gave way to rocks and the reef unfolded before her wondering eyes. She gazed with delight at the array of fish. They came in every size, shape, pattern and colour: blue, green, yellow, orange, silver, black and white. Some ducked for cover under nubbled platelets at her approach, while others flicked through and around soft blobby corals and sharp spiny fingers. A small reddish fish swam close to her, looking at her with an inquisitive expression.