Ophelia Adrift

by Helen Goltz

  Adam turned into the Warrnambool breakwater area. It was so beautiful and weird to be constantly surrounded by water here and at home. In my former life, the only time I saw coastal water was the annual Christmas holiday to the Gold Coast for a week. Now I was surrounded by more water than land. He pulled his white four-wheel drive into a car park next to a ute and small sedan.

  I thanked him and we got out. I removed my camera from my backpack and threw the strap over my shoulder. Adam grabbed a jacket for me which I offered to carry, but he said he had it under control. Good thing the cars were parked away from the jetty as the waves and sea spray crashed against it with a loud slap.

  “The dive boats go from the Lady Bay boat ramp,” Adam said pointing to a ramp in the distance. “We can hire a boat and just go over the top, the wreck is about thirteen metres below the water so you’re not going to see it but you can get an idea of where it lies. Or I can just show you from here.”

  It was really rough out there, I mean really rough. He must have read my mind and said, “come on, we’ll have a look at the general area.”

  I nodded, pleased. We walked around the area while Adam indicated where the La Bella came in, where it ran into trouble, and where the wreck now lay. I took photos of the area and took it all in. It was amazing to think that a piece of history lay below the surface of the water. If I wasn’t such a scaredy cat I would have loved to have dived below to see it ... maybe one day. I could tell Adam was itching to get into a boat and go out, even to drift over the top of it.

  “Sorry to be such a landlubber,” I shrugged. I wondered if he was disappointed in me—I hated to be a wet blanket.

  Adam laughed. “It’s pretty wild out there today, let’s not tempt fate.”

  “Are you referring to the curse, the myth I mean?” I asked.

  He looked surprised. He dug his hands into his jeans pockets and looked at me quizzically.

  “Who told you about that?”

  “Everyone when I started doing this assignment.”

  “Mm,” he said. “It’s just superstition.”

  I nodded. “So do you go out after midnight?”

  “Not if I can avoid it,” he said.

  ADAM

  We left the La Bella wreck area and I took Ophelia to see some of the best swimming and surfing beaches.

  I couldn’t believe it—when we headed further down the beach, guess who was there? Yep, Chayse Johann. Every other day he’s surfing at Port Fairy when I’m there, but no today, he decides to surf near his home. The guy’s a dick.

  He sees Ophelia, waves, drops the board and has the nerve to come over. Glad to see he’s still sporting a few cuts and bruises since we last met.

  “Hey Ophelia,” he says, then looks at me and says my name, “Adam.”

  “Chayse,” I expelled his name between gritted teeth.

  “What are you doing here?” he asks Ophelia. He’s standing there wet from the ocean in just his boardies, no wetsuit in this cold, and thinking he’s some surf legend.

  Ophelia looks to me. “Adam is helping me with my assignment, so we’re checking out the area where La Bella lies and just doing some tourist sightseeing.”

  “Yeah, well check out the facts too,” Chayse said.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I arked up. I felt Ophelia’s hand go to my chest and she gently pushed me back a step.

  “I’m doing plenty of research,” she assured him. “You’ve both been really helpful.” Ophelia steered the subject onto something safe and looking out to sea, said “surf looks good.”

  “Yeah you should get back to it,” I suggested.

  Chayse ignored me.

  “Want me to take you out in the boat?” he asked Ophelia.

  I step forward again. “What a good idea since clearly that wouldn’t have occurred to me,” I snapped.

  He glared at me and Ophelia physically moved in front of me.

  “Ah, thanks Chayse, but we’ve got it covered. In fact, we were just leaving, right Adam?”

  Chayse and I were too busy staring each other down for me to answer.

  “Right, Adam?” she said a little louder. “Bye, Chayse, good to see you.” She turned, hooked her arm through mine and led me away.

  “Yeah see you Lia, catch you Monday at school.”

  I’m catching her right now, tonight and all day Sunday too, buddy, I thought. I sighed. Why did I let that idiot get to me? I looked down at Ophelia and she had the trace of a smile upon her lips.

  I rolled my eyes. “I know, sorry. It’s just he’s a ...”

  “Yeah, I get it,” she cut me off.

  “I’m starved. Want to eat?” I asked.

  “A coffee at least,” she agreed. She reeled around quickly to stare at someone.

  “What’s up?” I asked and looked to see what had distracted her.

  She abruptly turned away and looked to the distance.

  “Nothing, I just thought I saw someone ... something,” she shook her head.

  I could swear her eyes filled with tears but she turned her face from me and when I next glanced, she was back under control. We headed back to my car, I unlocked it and taking her camera, put it and her jacket that I had been carrying in the back. As we were driving away I could see Chayse putting on a show for her; further along the beach lay Imogen with her girlfriends, sunning themselves despite the cold.

  “He’s got a gorgeous girlfriend, why’s he hanging around you?” I said without thinking, again.

  She looked at me and grimaced. “Yeah, why would you hang around me ... unattractive, anaemic-looking me, when you have Imogen?”

  I shook my head. Too late to take that back, I began back-peddling fast.

  “I didn’t mean that. You’re gorgeous too, but ... and I mean in a sisterly way ... but I’m just saying when is enough going to be enough for that guy?” I glanced at her and realised I was only making it worse. “I’ll shut up.”

  “Are you sure you want to be seen with me for coffee? You could do better,” she asked.

  Crap ... this was all Chayse’s fault again. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, my mind working overtime on how to dig myself out of this one. I turned the car towards the cafe on the foreshore with the beautiful ocean view—that should impress her.

  She punched my arm and grinned.

  “Lighten up, Adam, I’m only playing you.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “I can’t tell,” I told her. “We don’t know each other well enough for you to play me yet.”

  “Well get used to it, bro,” she said with the emphasis on “bro”.

  I pulled over into a car park out in front of the cafe.

  “My shout,” I said, “since I’m the working one and the one who has to make amends.”

  “Least you could do,” she agreed, with a smile. “C’mon, I’ll see if I can spot someone who is your type. You should call me sis though, just so that no one thinks you’re stuck with me.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” I grimaced. I guess I deserved that one.

  Chapter 14

  JACK

  I knew she was in pain, so was I. It was made worse for me by the fact that she was hanging around with Adam and that Chayse guy—both of them looking out for her. When she put her hand on Adam’s chest I nearly tore between them. I felt my heart rip with jealousy.

  I’m trying to keep away from her, but she’s not like the others. I was in control and when it was over with them, that was it. But she’s got some power over me—she wants me but doesn’t need me; she drains from me and it makes her stronger. How is she doing that or am I doing it because I’ve been blindsided by her?

  I watched her the morning I took her home, holding her in my arms and carrying her up the beach. She lay in bed after, tossing and turning in those few hours before dawn. I followed her to school and watched her in art class ... her eyes always outside, seeking me. I wanted to stop the pain for both of us and just appear, but I have to think this through. If she is stronger
than me, I may have to give her up or never let her see me, she’ll destroy me. But I don’t think I could watch her with someone else.

  She waited for me all Friday night, sitting in the attic window—a pale, lonely figure. I wanted to go to her and to kiss and hold her so badly I ached. I hate this.

  No, it’s best I stay away. I’m trying to stay away.

  Can you stay away from your destiny?

  OPHELIA

  Monday. I never, ever thought I would be pleased to have a Monday school morning thrust upon me but I need to get out of my head. I just need to be busy, be with my new friends and not think about him.

  No sighting of him, no sign of him. He’s gone—I don’t know what I was to him, but it is over, as brief and intense as it was.

  I hate you Jack.

  Don’t come back, don’t come near me. For you to let me hurt like I have since dawn Friday morning ... to not come to me or even explain ... you have no heart.

  I am not thinking about you anymore.

  I am not going to waste anymore of my life on you Jack. I don’t know why we clicked anyway... maybe because we were alike; maybe because you just got me and didn’t feel sorry for me or see me as the new girl.

  I sighed, you’re out Jack! If only my heart could fall in sync with my head and do what I asked.

  HOLLY

  “You will never believe it,” I said to Ophelia as we hurried for the bus.

  “What?” she asked.

  “It’s here, hurry up,” Harry said going ahead of us to wave the bus down before we all missed it. Ophelia and I raced behind him.

  We got on board and I glanced to the pack of girls that had thrown the threatening letter at Ophelia. They were glaring at us, well at Ophelia. She didn’t seem to notice. We dropped into our customary seats half way down the bus and Harry turned around and leaned over the seat.

  “Good weekend?” he asked Ophelia.

  “Yeah, thanks. Adam took me around and showed me some of the sites for the assignment,” she answered.

  “Lucky duck,” I sighed. “I wish Adam would show me around the sights, any sights, the local tip would do!”

  Ophelia laughed and then looked glum again. I don’t know what’s going on with her. I wonder who she was before she came here, you know, what she was like when her life used to be normal, with parents and everything. She still looked pale and tired to me, more than she did when she first arrived.

  “Hey did you and Tyler go cycling?” she asked Harry.

  “Yeah,” Harry said acting casual. “We swapped bikes and then did a good long circuit. We’re going to do it again next weekend.”

  Ophelia looked pleased, so did Harry even if he was trying to be cool about it. He continued to prattle on about the weekend and I scolded him.

  “Shh, I’ve got news for Lia.”

  “Sorry, sorry,” Ophelia remembered I was about to tell her something. “You were saying ... what won’t I believe?”

  Harry rolled his eyes and sat back. “Go ahead with your girls’ talk.” But I noticed he still listened in. Behind us, someone yelled as a rowdy game of throwing someone’s bag around got a bit out of hand.

  “What won’t I believe?” Ophelia pushed.

  I lowered my voice and leaned in closer. “I saw on Facebook that Imogen and Chayse have broken up.”

  Ophelia looked surprised. “Really?” she said. “They were on the beach together on Saturday.”

  Harry shrugged. “Must have happened after that. Who cares?”

  “I care,” I declared. “Because I think he’s keen on Lia.”

  “No way,” she said. “Besides I’m busy. I’ve got school and a project, study, you guys, Peggy, Uncle Seb, Adam and the dogs to manage, I’m busy.”

  I rolled my eyes and sat back. “You’re the only girl in the whole school and probably the whole planet who would be too busy for Chayse Johann.”

  Ophelia laughed. “Whole planet? Wow!”

  I grinned, “Too much? Okay just here then.” I watched as she cast a furtive glance to the back of the bus.

  OPHELIA

  Peggy and I sat side-by-side in the library working on our history projects. What I loved about Peggy was that she was wonderfully oblivious to drama, and she loved Harry. She didn’t ask about Adam, didn’t moon over Chayse, and had no idea he had broken up with Imogen. She probably didn’t know he was going out with Imogen. But she knew plenty of other stuff.

  “Are you going to join a club?” she leaned over and asked.

  “I hadn’t given it much thought,” I said. I hadn’t given it any thought actually.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” she continued. “You’re thinking there’s so many and how do you fit them in with homework and study.”

  I nodded. I was happy to run with that thought.

  “What are you going to join?” I asked.

  “I’m already in the music club, and the book club, but I’m thinking ... actually Dad’s pressuring me to join a club with some physical activity in it,” she shuddered as she said it.

  “We could join one of those together,” I suggested. It was the least I could do for Peggy who had looked after me so well. “I hear there’s a tri-club ... we could make up a team of three ... you know one of us does the run, the other the swim and the other the cycle?”

  “I don’t know but we can ask,” Peggy said. “Ooh, I love that idea, Lia, thanks. Dad will be rapt. You know, Harry was the cross country champion for Year 10 last year but he likes to cycle too.” She brightened. “We could ask him to join our tri team and he could do the cycling leg, unless you wanted to do that of course?” She looked at me with worried eyes, keen to have Harry in our team.

  I grinned; this was getting better all the time. “Nope, I’m a runner but I can swim if absolutely necessary.”

  Peggy breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s perfect because I’m good in the pool, not so good on land.”

  “We’ve got the perfect team—tick that box then,” I whispered, noticing the librarian glancing our way. “Let’s suss it out later.”

  Peggy smiled enthusiastically and moved back to continue her assignment. I looked at the clock; I hadn’t thought of Jack for twenty minutes. What a great distraction Peggy was. I returned my attention to going through the digitised old newspaper about La Bella in the Trove archives. It was surreal to be able to read the newspaper extracts from 1905 when it actually happened.

  I scanned the newspapers; the first news story I could find was from The Argus on 16 November 1905 saying “no bodies have since been found.”[ii] Gruesome! Next was a notice on Friday 29 November in the Geelong Advertiser that "the conduct of the lifeboat crew was in every way satisfactory, that they had done everything possible to save the wrecked sailors, and that even if the regular lifeboat crew had been on board he did not think they could have done any more. He spoke highly of Fisherman Ferrier's conduct, but pointed out that he in his dinghy could go where the lifeboat could not.[iii]

  You go Adam’s great, great, great grandfather! Next were a few tiny lines in the Colac Herald on Friday 29 December that read: “Captain Mylius has been remanded at Sydney to Melbourne on a charge of manslaughter.[iv]

  And then I saw it ... a picture or rather a drawing of the deceased men who lost their lives on the La Bella; some of them not much older than me.

  I reeled back in fright. I couldn’t believe it. I leaned in closer to the screen again. The last man on the far right of the picture was my Jack—Jack Denham.

  Chapter 15

  OPHELIA

  The picture waited in my school bag, throbbing in my consciousness, but I didn’t look at it again until after dinner. I excused myself telling Uncle Seb and Adam that I had to do an assignment and was going to do it in my room. They both looked worried, so I tried to look as cheery as possible, even though my stomach was churning and I knew upstairs, pressed in my history book was a photo of a dead guy I was in love with. I’m seriously weirded out.

  I entere
d the room and before I turned on the lights I grabbed the curtains, hiding behind them as I slid them closed. I had spent the last four days watching the rocks and the beach for Jack, now I didn’t want to risk seeing him. I turned on a lamp and dropped onto the end of the bed. What do I do with this information? Jack is in a photo dated 1905. Even though it is a grainy, brown photo I know it’s Jack, he’s even wearing the same jacket he wears now. How can this be? Is he a ghost? There’s no such things as ghosts, well there might be, who knows, I mean how would I know if there are ghosts or not. I saw him in the daytime, you can’t see ghosts in the daytime. Can you?

  I grabbed my laptop and opened it. I searched for ghost characteristics ... maybe there’s an expert on ghosts. Ghost hunters, ghost chasers, paranormal experts, close encounters of the ghost type ... that will do nicely. I opened the page and scrolled down until I found ghost characteristics. Okay, deep breath. I began to read: a ghost can appear day and night but appearing at night is much easier as there is less interference. What sort of interference? Doesn’t matter. Appearing during the day drains a new ghost but old ghosts are capable of living amongst us undetected day and night. If Jack is a—sounds insane—ghost then he would be an old ghost, well over a hundred years old. I saw him and talked to him during the day, he would be strong enough to do that. It also explains how he got to that football so quickly and lifted me off the rocks. Have I been picked up by a ghost, literally? I read on and couldn’t believe what I was reading. A ghost can completely resemble a human and get stronger if love is reciprocated!

  I sat back and thought about it. If Jack wanted to get stronger, why wouldn’t he want my love? Why did he reject me? I went back to the list. Next, they can charm a human to fall for them—yeah, no shit. They can appear or disappear—well that kind of explains how he disappeared on the beach that morning when he deserted me. The next one made sense; a ghost needs heat energy to manifest, so the air around them grows colder. I felt that around him and his hands were so cold too.