by Di Morrissey
He called out, ‘Be right with you,’ and hurried back into the bar. ‘What can I . . . Holy cow! Shit, Anna!’
Anna was clutching a glass of water and leaning her head on the bar. She suddenly slid onto the floor and started shaking.
‘Jesus, Anna, where’ve you been and what happened to your face?’ He rushed over to her.
‘Now that I’m here, everything’s all right.’ She tried to smile. ‘I just have to have some water.’
He waited while she gulped the glass of water, then he helped her to her feet.
‘What happened?’
‘I caught Davo taking Shirley’s opals and so he took me too.’
‘He abducted you? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?’ Mick asked. ‘How did you get away?’
‘I’m all right now, Mick. He took me out to his camp, but I got away. I’ve been running for hours. I came across the lake.’
‘Geez. That’s miles. Did you come through that storm out there?’
Anna nodded.
Mick stared at her. ‘You sure you’re okay? Do you want something stronger than water? Do you want to tell me what happened?’
‘I’ll be fine. I was pretty scared, but he didn’t rape me or anything. I feel safe, now I’m back in town.’ She paused and then told Mick what had happened. ‘I went into Shirley’s dugout and there he was. Taking Shirley’s opals. When I surprised him, he tied me up, gagged me and put me in the back of his Land Rover.’
‘Geez. Davo did that? We’d better call the cops.’
‘He’s not far away. I ran across the lake and he drove around it to wait for me on the road into town. He fell down one of the shafts at the old mine site there and I think he’s broken his leg. I made him tell me where he’d hidden the opals. They’re in the water tank back in his camp. Then I took his car and drove back here.’
Mick looked grim. ‘I’ll call Broken Hill now.’
‘Will I have to take the police out to find him?’
‘Shouldn’t think so. You’re clear about where he went down the mine shaft, so they’ll find him. I expect they’ll drive out to his camp and get Shirley’s opals, too. Don’t you worry about Davo. Go and have a lie down and leave everything to me.’
Mick dialled the number. ‘Why would he steal from Shirley? She gave him money . . .’ he muttered to himself.
‘Hello, Broken Hill cop shop? I’m reporting a crime.’
As Mick talked to the police, Anna went slowly to her room. She could barely put one foot in the front of the other and she fell onto her bed. When she woke up, it was dark and she was ravenous. She had a quick shower and was about to return to the bar when there was a tap on her door. She opened it, and when she saw Mick she asked, ‘What’s happening?’
‘The police’ve got him. Found the opals, too. Someone’ll come out tomorrow and get a statement from you. I said you should have a rest and I told them I’d keep an eye on you.’
‘Thanks, Mick. You’ve been so kind.’
Anna turned and went outside and sat on her little patio in the crisp night air. The sky was clear and the evening stars glimmered in the deep lilac sky. She started to shake again and tears ran down her face.
Mick joined her. ‘Anna, love, what can we do?’ He sounded concerned. ‘Have you spoken to your family?’
‘Not yet,’ said Anna. ‘I don’t want to worry them. I’m fine. No, I’m not. I’m tired, I’m hungry. I’m upset.’
‘You should talk to your mum and dad.’ He patted her hand. ‘Never thought Davo’d do the dirty on Shirley, after all she did for him.’ He shook his head.
‘Is Shirley all right?’ asked Anna. It felt like she’d been away for weeks.
‘Yeah. Kerrie is with her. You should speak to Kerrie. Perhaps it might be better if she tells Shirley what’s happened.’
Anna shrugged. ‘Maybe it was all a spur of the moment thing with Davo. He went into Shirley’s and she wasn’t around. He knew where she kept her opals so he took them.’
‘You’re being too kind, Anna. He didn’t have to take you, too. Why don’t you go into the kitchen and get Thelma to give you a big feed? Then when you’re ready, call your parents and Kerrie, too, if you want to.’
‘Kerrie, it’s me, Anna. How’s Shirley?’
‘Shirley is doing just fine. Doesn’t want to be here, of course. Thinks she can have an operation and go straight back to her dugout. I can’t believe she was a nurse. What’ve you been up to? Mick said you’d gone walkabout.’
‘Yeah, you could say that,’ said Anna drily. ‘There’s been a problem at Shirley’s dugout but it’s sorted. She doesn’t have to worry.’
‘What’s up? What happened?’
‘I found Davo inside her place stealing her opals.’
‘What? You’re kidding!’
‘He’d been there watering the plants, I think. I went into the dugout to see who was there.’
‘The dugout was locked. Mick had the key! I s’pose Davo could have taken it from the pub. He was in and out of Shirley’s place all the time.’
‘When he saw me and I accused him of taking Shirley’s opals, I think he panicked. He went nuts, grabbed me, tied me up and threw me in the back of his old Land Rover.’
There was a momentary silence at the end of the phone. ‘Are you okay?’ asked Kerrie. ‘Can you talk about it?’
Briefly Anna told Kerrie the details.
‘Anna, you have been so brave. Poor Shirley . . . Was it just the opals he took?’ asked Kerrie.
‘I think so . . . and a sort of package as well,’ said Anna. ‘I made Davo tell me where he’d hidden them, and the police have been to his camp and got them back.’
‘Of course, of course. I’m so glad you’re all right, Anna, and the police have retrieved the opals but I need you to go and look for something important in Shirley’s dugout.’
Anna listened as Kerrie explained.
‘I want to make sure that Davo has told the police about all of the opals he took and not just some of them. Call me back as soon as you can.’
Kerrie paced around the hospital wondering how she’d tell Shirley the news. Maybe she could wait until she’d heard what the police had recovered. What a terrible thing Davo had done to Anna. Kerrie had found him an unpleasant, arrogant man. He probably was not that bright and she’d been told he had a quick temper, but she would never have guessed that he would do something as frightening as this. And what a thing to do to Shirley, especially after she had helped him by putting money into his tour business. What a way to repay her kindness! How stupid.
Her mobile rang. It was Anna.
‘It’s not there. I found the hole behind the light but it’s empty.’
‘Oh no.’
‘What was it?’ asked Anna.
‘Opalised fossil. Very valuable. But more importantly it had an incredibly high sentimental value to Shirley. We have to make sure that the police get it back to her.’
Kerrie sat down by Shirley’s bed. ‘There’s been a bit of drama over at your place, but things seem to be under control. Anna is the heroine of the day.’
Shirley didn’t like the anxious tone of Kerrie’s voice. ‘What do you mean, at my place?’
‘It’s Davo. Anna caught him red-handed going through things in your office and he took your opals.’
‘What? How dare he? What did he say to Anna when she caught him?’
‘Actually Shirley, he panicked and grabbed her as well as your opals and took off.’
‘The opals?’
‘And Anna.’
Shirley gasped and laid her head on the pillow. ‘Is she all right?’
‘Yes. But he got a bit nasty. It must have been terrifying. Luckily she got away.’
‘Are you sure she’s not hurt? Did they find the opals? Oh, Kerrie, what about Tajna? He knew where I kept it.’ She threw a stricken look at Kerrie. ‘Poor Anna. Where is she now?’
‘Back at the pub. Davo took her out to his camp, but she escaped. He chased her i
n his Land Rover, but she ran right across the lake. He caught up with her on the road into town. Evidently he got out of his car and went after her but fell down one of the shafts at an old mining site and broke his leg. The police found him and they went to his camp to retrieve your things.’
Shirley had paled. She shook her head. ‘I can’t believe Davo did that. After all I’ve done for him. He’s nothing but a low-life ratter. Davo, a ratter. Of course, I should believe it. There are always ratters on the opal fields and they often think that violence is okay. I just can’t believe that Davo would be one.’
Shirley straightened up in her bed. ‘What about Tajna?’ You know how much it means to me . . .’
‘Shirley, calm down. I’ve checked on Tajna. Davo had taken it, but I rang the police and they assured me that it was safe with the rest of your opals. It’s fine and you’ll get it back, but perhaps this has been a good warning. Maybe it’s time you put it somewhere more secure than your dugout or gave it to a museum. Why don’t you talk to Gustav and Helen about it?’
Shirley shook her head. ‘I can’t. It’s my only link with Stefan.’
Kerrie’s heart lurched. Suddenly Shirley looked older than her years. ‘I understand, Shirley, I really do.’
‘What will happen to Davo now?’ asked Shirley. ‘No one will want to have anything to do with him. Don’t know how his business will survive.’
‘More than that, Shirley. He’ll be charged with theft, kidnapping and assault!’ exclaimed Kerrie.
‘I suppose he will. Hard to believe that he could have done this. Is Anna very upset?’
‘I’ve been talking to both Anna and Mick and I don’t think you have to worry about her. She seems pretty resilient.’
‘I’ll be so pleased to see her. I can thank her for looking after my opals. She’s been amazing,’ said Shirley.
‘I just want my life back the way it was. Knowing I have my opals to cash in if I need to and knowing that Stefan’s fossil is close by. Dear Kerrie, let me rest a little. Hearing all this has worn me out.’
‘Of course, Shirley. But I’ll be back later. I want you to meet someone.’
‘I’m not up to visitors,’ Shirley said weakly, but then curiosity seemed to get the better of her. ‘Is this person a friend of yours?’
‘I asked him to come and see you, yes.’
Shirley closed her eyes and sighed. ‘I trust you, Kerrie. Whatever.’
‘I’ll see you later,’ said Kerrie gently, and left the room. She grabbed a takeaway coffee from the little coffee shop in the hospital grounds.
‘No muffin today? How’s your friend?’ asked the girl behind the counter.
‘Doing fine. No time for a muffin. I’m on my way to the airport to collect someone.’
Shirley was dozing when Kerrie re-entered the room. But she opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Kerrie. Then she looked at the man beside her. He looked to be in his fifties, good looking and definitely Slavic. He was smiling hesitantly at her.
‘Who is this? Where’s your Tim?’ asked Shirley bluntly.
‘Tim is coming up soon. He’s going to take you dancing,’ joked Kerrie. ‘This is Goran Zilich. He’s visiting Australia from Croatia.’
‘Oh.’ Shirley looked momentarily blank, then gathered herself, sat upright, adjusted the folded sheet and studied the visitor. ‘You have family here?’
‘Not in Broken Hill. My relations are in Sydney. We haven’t seen each other for a very long time, except for a cousin who came to Dubrovnik for a holiday. Tourism is very big there now. When you’re recovered you should visit Dubrovnik. It is a beautiful place.’
Shirley shook her head. ‘Too late, although I did once dream of going there. What are you doing here? How do you know Kerrie?’
‘I had some people do some investigating for me, or rather for you, Shirley, and that’s how I met Goran,’ explained Kerrie.
‘What do you mean, Kerrie?’
Goran leant towards Shirley. ‘May I call you Shirley? I feel I know you. I also knew Stefan.’
Shirley caught her breath and grasped his hand. ‘How do you know him? Where is he?’
Goran swiftly took her hand in his, shaking his head. ‘I didn’t mean to raise your hopes. Sadly, sadly, he is no longer alive.’
‘Then why are you here?’ demanded Shirley.
‘Shirley, it’s a long story,’ interrupted Kerrie. ‘After our last visit, when you told me all about Stefan, I just knew that I had to find out what had happened to him, so at least you would have some peace. Not knowing what happened to the man you love seemed so strange as well as terribly sad. So I decided to try and make some enquiries on your behalf. Through his art, Milton knew many important people, including a dear friend of his from Croatia. I contacted him and he referred me to a man who was experienced in finding out what happened to people who disappeared in Yugoslavia during the communist regime. So an investigation began. This man not only found out what had happened to Stefan, but he found someone who was with him when he died.’
‘That was me,’ said Goran. ‘Kerrie asked me if she could fly me to Australia so that I could personally tell you what I know about Stefan. So here I am. I met Stefan when I was still young. He was wonderful to me. We became friends.’
‘Where was this? In Yugoslavia?’ whispered Shirley, tightening her hold slightly on Goran’s hand.
‘Yes, in Goli Otok,’ he replied, giving a little shudder. But the name meant nothing to Shirley so he continued. ‘It was a terrible place, an island, a lump of rock, in the Adriatic Sea, not far from the Croatian coast. Goli Otok means naked island and it is isolated and the vegetation sparse. Tito turned it into a political prison, to house those people who were still Stalinists, or who might have had pro-Soviet ideas. Later, when Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian or Albanian nationalists tried to make their voices heard, they were also sent there, as well as common criminals. I was imprisoned there with Stefan.’
‘Stefan in prison? Why was Stefan in prison?’ Shirley’s eyes blazed, demanding answers.
‘Shirley, wait. Goran will tell you the whole story,’ said Kerrie gently.
‘I can’t believe it . . . after all this time. If only I’d known before . . .’ Shirley sighed.
Goran shook his head. ‘You could have done nothing. It was a very difficult time. Most Yugoslavs never knew of the existence of Goli Otok. A few tourists go there today. It is all just rotting away as it was left.’
‘Why was Stefan in a political prison? He was only interested in becoming a good Australian. He didn’t have any political or nationalistic ideas,’ said Shirley.
‘Yes, I know. He didn’t but I did. I was young, passionate and reckless, and I protested and was arrested and ended up on that fortress island. That’s where I met Stefan. Sometimes I think it was meeting him that saved me. We shared a cell for a brief time and laboured together in the stone quarry. It was such heavy work, but Stefan was used to hard labour and he would do his work and then help me.’
Goran turned to Kerrie. ‘It was hellish on that island. The winters were freezing, the wind like cutting ice, and the summers hot, like a fire. There was no shade and when we looked to the sea we wanted to jump from the cliff just to cool ourselves. How I longed to see a forest or a lake. The prison was a whole township where we were forced to work in the quarry and workshops. There was a section where the solitary confinement cells were that had a chamber where . . .’ He glanced at Shirley and lowered his voice, ‘where unspeakable acts happened.’
‘But I don’t understand. Why, why was Stefan in that terrible place?’ asked Shirley. ‘He had only gone back to Yugoslavia to see his dying mother.’ Tears welled up in her eyes.
Kerrie began to wonder if bringing Goran to meet Shirley had been such a good idea. His words were like a scalpel opening up an old wound.
‘Stefan told me that he was arrested at the airport as soon as he left the plane. He was told by the authorities that they knew he was a subversive who had been
plotting against the regime. It all happened so quickly that he had no chance to contact anyone, family or friend.’
Shirley shook her head vehemently. ‘There’s no way that Stefan could be involved in that sort of thing. He was honest and he despised the others in Lightning Ridge who were hanging on to the old battles and ancient prejudices instead of getting on with their lives in their new country. Stefan was a good man.’
Goran nodded. ‘Yes, he was a decent man. I liked him very much.’
‘Please, go on with your story, Goran,’ said Kerrie.
‘Stefan had a trial, of sorts. The authorities presented their case and he had no way of defending himself, so he was convicted. That was not unusual. Anyone who was thought to be opposed to the regime could be imprisoned with very little chance of justice.’ His expression softened. ‘We talked about many things. Our homes and our family and how we hoped that things would change. He told me about Australia, that it was a good place. He talked about his Shirley, and how living with you was the happiest time of his life. He told me how he met you, and the fun you both had camping in the bush and living in a cave. I found this last part very strange, but Stefan said it was true.
I liked to listen to his stories. You both seemed to be so free and independent, living the life you truly wanted.’
Shirley closed her eyes and a tear slowly slid down her aged cheek. Kerrie reached out and gently touched her shoulder.
Goran went on in a quiet, steady voice. ‘We both talked about our dreams, and how we hoped our lives would turn out. One’s life can change so quickly and for unexpected reasons. That prison was a horrible place. But Stefan was always sure that one day he would get back to Australia and to you, Shirley.’
‘What happened to him?’ asked Shirley flatly, her eyes still closed.
‘I’m sorry, Shirley. He had been away from Yugoslavia so long that he was no longer used to the harsh winters. One winter he became ill, but the prison authorities ignored him. He was forced to continue the back-breaking work in the quarry, although he was not fit to do so. He collapsed and although he was taken to the prison hospital, he died of complications from pneumonia.’