The Disappearance of Anna Popov

by Gabriel Farago

  ‘But ...’

  ‘We must hurry; it’s almost dark,’ interrupted Will, looking down into the gorge melting into the twilight. ‘Okay, guys, let’s go.’

  64

  Djambinmarra Caves, 8 p.m.

  Jack knew he was in serious trouble as soon as he lost his footing and looked up. Supported only by the rope tied around his waist, he was swinging slowly from side to side, unable to go up or down.

  Jesus, how did I get into this? he thought, trying to stay calm. Jack had no proper climbing gear and only an improvised rope as his lifeline; there was nothing he could do but wait.

  When Jack glanced over his shoulder, he could sense movement. Turning his head, he could see a dark shape coming slowly down the cliff on his right.

  ‘Over here, mate,’ shouted Jack, recognising his friend. The dark shape came closer and stopped just above him.

  ‘I’ll get you out of here, but only if you hold still,’ said Will. ‘Your rope won’t last much longer.’

  ‘Great.’

  ‘That’s what happens when you take the scenic route,’ joked Will, lowering himself down next to Jack until he found a secure foothold in the rock. ‘How’re you feeling?’

  ‘Stuffed.’

  ‘You look it.’

  ‘Thanks, mate.’

  ‘This is what we’ll do: There’s an easy way up just above me. I think I can reach you from here and pull you over. You’ll use me as a ladder and climb up. We’ve done this before during the Mount Victoria fires – remember? Once you stand on my shoulders you should be able to free your rope and move it across. After that, it’s easy; straight up. It’s only a few metres.’

  ‘You’re out of your mind,’ said Jack. ‘You can’t support us both; not with that piddling excuse of a rope. We’ll both go down.’

  ‘No we won’t. It’s the only way; trust me. Are you ready? Give me your hand.’

  Leaning over the edge, Andrew and Merriwarra stared down into the gloom. They could just see Will a few metres below them standing quite still. Andrew had his hands on Jack’s rope, and Merriwarra was holding Will’s. Both ropes were attached to the winch behind them.

  ‘What do we do now?’ asked Merriwarra.

  ‘Nothing. We wait. It’s all up to them down there,’ said Andrew.

  ‘Is there nothing we can do?’ asked Rebecca, feeling sick.

  Cassandra looked at her and sadly shook her head.

  ‘Why did he have to go back down, the fool,’ said Rebecca close to tears.

  ‘Because he’s the man he is,’ said Cassandra, putting her arm around her friend.

  ‘They’re not going to make it, are they?’ said Rebecca, fear stabbing at her heart.

  ‘I’m not sure ...’

  ‘But we both saw ...’

  ‘Hush ... Believe!’

  Will extended his arm towards Jack as far as he could without losing his footing, but still couldn’t reach his friend’s outstretched hand. ‘Try to swing across to me,’ he said, ‘it’s the only way I can get hold of you.’

  ‘What about the rope?’ said Jack.

  ‘No choice.’

  ‘Shit! Here we go.’

  ‘Take it easy!’

  First, Jack shifted his weight from left to right, until he began to swing like a pendulum, each arc bringing him closer to Will’s outstretched hand.

  ‘Come on, you’re almost there,’ said Will, encouraging his friend. As Jack’s rope moved, the jagged edge of the rock above him cut deeper into the fraying hemp. ‘Got you!’ Will grabbed Jack by the wrist and pulled him across. ‘Now, put your arm around me.’ Jack did as he was told. ‘And wrap your legs around mine.’

  ‘Thanks mate,’ said Jack, perspiration running down his burning forehead. ‘What next?’

  When Will looked at Jack’s flushed face, he recognised the warning signs: exhaustion, shock, fear and disbelief, simultaneously assaulting a vulnerable mind. He realised that he would have to carefully talk Jack through each step of the difficult climb, right up to the very top.

  ‘Now comes the tricky bit,’ Will said, grabbing hold of Jack’s rope. ‘Let go of your rope and climb on top of my shoulders. Use my rope instead.’

  ‘The moment I do that, I transfer my weight, and we both depend on your rope for support,’ said Jack, uncertainty and hesitation making his voice quiver.

  ‘I know that. Do it! Now! My foot’s going numb.’

  Jack took hold of Will’s rope, and slowly pulled himself up until his knees came to rest on Will’s shoulders, the thin rope cutting deep into his wrists.

  ‘Stand up, and try to free your rope. Hurry!’ Will had lost all feeling in his foot, and was afraid of losing his balance, the excruciating pain in his legs and thigh sending crazy little white stars dancing in front of his eyes. Using the slack of his own rope, Jack managed to pull the rope away from the overhanging rock and move it across next to Will’s.

  ‘Done.’

  ‘Now let go of my rope and climb up using yours. Quickly! I can’t hold on much longer.’

  ‘What’s happening?’ asked Merriwarra. ‘Can you see anything?’

  ‘It’s Jack! He’s coming up! Let’s give him a hand,’ said Andrew, pulling Jack’s rope with all the strength he could muster. Rebecca ran over to him and took hold of the rope from behind to help. Assuming that Will was coming up too, Merriwarra did the same and began to pull with all his might, adding to the strain on Will’s fragile rope.

  Looking up, Jack could see the cliff top a few metres above him. Almost there, he thought. Thanks, mate. I owe you.

  He must be up by now, thought Will, moving his leg to ease the numbing pain. As he turned to begin his climb, he lost his footing. After that, everything happened with lightning speed.

  Unable to support Will’s full body weight, the knot began to part under the strain. Slowly at first, but accelerating with each fibre slipping through the loop, it quickly became weaker. Before Will could find another foothold in the smooth rock, the knot gave way.

  Just before he reached the top, Jack saw Will’s rope crack past him like a stockman’s whip. Turning his head, he looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief and fear. ‘Noooo!’ he shouted, as he watched Will plunge backwards through the moonlight shadow into the rocky jaws of death waiting at the bottom.

  Andrew and Rebecca pulled Jack up to the top, and dragged his limp body over the edge.

  ‘He’s in shock,’ said Andrew, looking at Jack, cowering on the rock ledge in front of them.

  ‘Look at this,’ said Merriwarra, holding up the frayed end of his rope. ‘This is what I got.’

  ‘Oh my God!’ said Rebecca, looking at Cassandra.

  Cassandra limped over to Jack and knelt down next to Rebecca. ‘It was Will who was in danger all along, not Jack,’ she said softly, placing her hand on Jack’s burning forehead. Jack opened his eyes and looked at Cassandra. ‘Will’s gone,’ he said.

  ‘I know,’ replied Cassandra.

  ‘Because of me ...’ said Jack.

  ‘No. Because of who he was. You would have done the same for him.’

  Jack turned his face away. ‘The baby?’ he whispered, looking for justification.

  ‘Asleep in your backpack; safe,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘One life in return for another?’ asked Jack, searching for salvation.

  ‘No, Jack, it doesn’t work that way. True friendship has no measure,’ said Cassandra.

  Jack lifted his head and looked gratefully at her. ‘Take it to its mother.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Feeling better, Jack closed his eyes. Absolution perhaps? he asked himself, overwhelmed by grief, but daring to hope.

  Andrew slipped off Jack’s backpack and handed it carefully to Cassandra.

  ‘Precious cargo,’ he said. ‘Slept through the entire ordeal.’

  Sitting on the ground with Anna’s head in her lap, the countess was oblivious to what had just happened. Cassandra walked over to her, a small bundle in her arms.<
br />
  ‘She keeps asking for Billy,’ said the countess, wiping her teary eyes. ‘She must be delirious, poor child.’

  ‘Not exactly,’ said Cassandra, folding back the towel to expose the sleeping baby’s face. Turning towards Cassandra, the countess looked at the baby, a hundred questions screaming for answers. ‘Why don’t you give her this to hold?’ said Cassandra. Kneeling down beside the countess, Cassandra handed her the tiny child. ‘This is William, your grandson,’ she whispered.

  Jandamarra

  We were right there when the brave man died. We saw his soul leave his shattered body moments before it was claimed by the torrent thundering through the gorge. Pigeon was beside himself with worry. He had just watched the son he had never met being rescued by two strangers risking their lives. Soon, however, anxiety was replaced by joy: mother and son were safely reunited at the top.

  We thought that this moment marked the completion of the difficult task set for us by our ancestors. Mayannie had become Anna again and was about to re-enter the world of the Malngadu with her baby son.

  Despite all odds, Pigeon and I had succeeded. The circle was complete and a great wrong had been addressed. Restless spirits no more, we were ready to take our rightful place by the campfire of our ancestors. As we were soon to find out, however, the spirit world had something quite different in mind.

  65

  On the way back to Never Never Downs, 8 March

  Anna’s life hung in the balance. Andrew decided to leave at once and take his chances in the dark. Jack refused to go. Crushed by grief and guilt, he wanted to begin searching for Will’s body in the morning.

  Andrew took him aside. ‘I know how you feel,’ he said, ‘but there’s virtually no chance of finding the body. No one can go down there ...’

  ‘I’ve got to try. I owe him that much.’

  ‘Merriwarra and McGregor will come back and have a look around further downstream, just in case.’

  ‘I can’t leave ...’

  Andrew shrugged and called out to Cassandra, ‘Try and talk some sense into him. He can’t stay here, and we’ve got to go – now!’

  Cassandra walked over to Jack. ‘There is something you can do for Will,’ she said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Look after the living. And that includes you. Don’t lose sight of why he died,’ she added softly. The comment hit the mark. Reluctantly, Jack followed the others to the cars.

  Merriwarra took advantage of the full moon casting its ghostly light across the sleeping landscape. With intuition and his extraordinary knowledge of the land guiding him, he was able to find a way back to Never Never Downs during the night. When the going got too rough, he walked in front of the cars to find a safe passage through the wilderness. There wasn’t another man alive in the entire Kimberley who could have accomplished this.

  Barely able to stay awake herself, the countess kept Anna alert throughout the journey by talking to her. Feeling Anna close to her gave her strength to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions assaulting her exhausted mind. However, elation and joy were soon overpowered by disbelief and fear for Anna’s life.

  Cassandra sensed the countess’ dark mood and wanted to distract her. ‘It’s a beautiful baby,’ she said, cradling the sleeping child in her arms.

  The countess looked at Billy, tears in her eyes. ‘He’s gorgeous,’ she said. I must stay awake, she thought, rubbing her aching temples.

  Anna’s condition appeared to have stabilised for the time being. Eyes closed and breathing regularly, she seemed content in her mother’s arms.

  ‘This is crazy,’ said McGregor, trying to follow the bobbing tail lights of Andrew’s Land Rover in front of him. He had to fight to keep his eyes open and his hands on the wheel. Slumped in the seat next to Rebecca in the back, head resting against her shoulder, Jack was confronting his demons. Every time he drifted towards the sanctuary of sleep his battered body craved so much, Will’s bloodied face appeared, looking accusingly, he thought, at him.

  ‘How is he?’ asked McGregor, glancing over his shoulder.

  ‘Shaking like a leaf.’ Rebecca put her hand on Jack’s burning forehead. ‘And very hot.’

  ‘Shock. And fever. Try to keep him warm.’

  Jack opened his eyes and looked at Rebecca. ‘I can’t believe he’s gone,’ he said, his teeth chattering.

  ‘Hush; you must rest,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘I can’t. I hurt too much.’

  ‘I know.’

  Jack closed his eyes again. This time, Will spoke to him. ‘There’s something you can do for me, mate.’

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Look after the living.’

  ‘Look after the living,’ repeated Jack, speaking slowly.

  ‘What did he say?’ asked McGregor.

  ‘I think he’s hallucinating, poor darling,’ replied Rebecca, stroking Jack’s sweaty hair. ‘But he’s just fallen asleep,’ she added after a while. ‘Thank God!’

  Progress was arduous and slow, but they reached the homestead at first light. After a hot shower and a hearty breakfast in the warm kitchen, everyone felt better.

  ‘You’re going back?’ asked Jack. McGregor nodded. ‘What are the chances?’

  ‘Of finding him?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Not great.’

  Looking dejected, Jack stared into his coffee cup.

  ‘Wouldn’t you rather he rested under the stars up here than in a tiny box with a brass plaque in some lawn cemetery no one comes to visit?’ said Andrew.

  Jack thought about this for a while, and then looked at Andrew. ‘You’re right,’ he said, brightening up. ‘What about the formalities?’

  ‘We report the accident to the police.’

  ‘That’s it?’

  Andrew shrugged. ‘This is the Outback,’ he said.

  The weather at Never Never Downs was clear, allowing Andrew to take off later that morning. Radioing ahead, he made arrangements for an ambulance to meet them at the airport. He used his old contacts to ensure the patient’s true identity was kept under wraps, at least for the moment. Everyone agreed that Anna’s return should stay out of the limelight for as long as possible, as the media frenzy that was bound to erupt could only hinder her recovery. And who knew what fury the Wizard might unleash?

  Andrew had asked the police to meet them on arrival. All he would say was that a matter of national importance was about to unfold.

  Rebecca accompanied the countess and Anna with the baby to the hospital. Jack and Cassandra stayed with Andrew to talk to the police. Andrew made sure the ambulance had left the airport before he spoke to the two officers waiting for him.

  ‘The patient in that ambulance is about to make history,’ he said. ‘Let’s go to the station. We have work to do.’

  At first, the visiting Superintendent investigating the Tunnel Creek murders didn’t believe the retired Aboriginal police officer with the funny hat, and refused to call his superior in Perth. He wanted confirmation.

  But when Andrew told him that there were two witnesses waiting outside – one of them a prominent international best-selling author – ready to make a statement, he began to listen.

  Jack was taken into the interview room first and asked to give his account of events leading up to Anna’s discovery. When Cassandra was called in and added her side of the story, the enormity of what was taking place dawned on the Superintendent. It soon became apparent that the recent riot and shooting at Fitzroy Crossing, the double murders at Tunnel Creek and the Wizard’s arrest were somehow linked to the Popov case.

  Cassandra paled when she heard that the Wizard was out on bail and had been allowed to return to Sydney. This was the danger she had sensed all along.

  When Andrew explained that Countess Kuragin, Anna Popov’s mother, had just identified her daughter and was with her at the hospital, the Superintendent went into a tailspin. He asked them to wait outside and called the Police Commissioner in Perth for instructi
ons. The Police Commissioner contacted the Attorney General, who immediately briefed the Prime Minister. Within minutes, Anna Popov’s baffling return had become the hottest topic in the country.

  ‘Pretty good, eh?’ said Andrew, looking rather pleased with himself. He knew his vindication had begun in earnest. ‘We’ve just put a rocket up his arse. Arrogant prick.’

  ‘You sure did that,’ said Jack, trying to work out the impact of the dominoes starting to fall all around them.

  Cassandra nodded absentmindedly, unable to banish the dark thoughts strangling her heavy heart. It was time for her to act because it was now only a matter of hours before news of Anna’s extraordinary survival became public. Cassandra realised that to stay in the game, she had to be the one to tell the Wizard.

  ‘Can I borrow your mobile?’ she asked after a while. Uncertainty and hesitation had been replaced by steely resolve. She now knew exactly what she had to do. Andrew handed her his mobile, raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

  ‘I have to call the Wizard,’ said Cassandra. Andrew nodded. He’d been expecting something like that.

  The Wizard was addressing the council in the crypt when one of his lieutenants interrupted the meeting and handed him a mobile.

  ‘You better take this,’ said the man before the Wizard could reprimand him. ‘It’s her.’

  ‘How nice to hear from you,’ said the Wizard sarcastically, rocking back in his chair. ‘You took your time. Have you got anything to tell me?’

  ‘Anna’s been found. She’s alive,’ said Cassandra calmly.

  ‘What?’ roared the Wizard, almost overbalancing in his chair.

  Mesmerised, the others in the crypt looked on in silence.

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Broome hospital, recovering.’

  ‘Has she spoken to the coppers?’

  ‘Not so fast, Eugene. It’s my turn to ask the questions.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ barked the Wizard.

  ‘You claim that Tristan has come out of the coma. I don’t believe you. There’s one easy way to clear this up: let me speak to him, now. If he’s conscious, I’ll tell you all you want to know ...’

  ‘You’re in no position to make demands,’ snapped the Wizard.