‘Why did you bring her again?’ Tad cast a black look at Cassie who was smiling an innocent welcome in what she hoped was the right direction. ‘She’s such a …’
‘I’ve got something for you,’ Froggy said again, determined not to get into a slanging match in front of Cassie.
‘Something good,’ he added. ‘A photograph of your brother, Joseph. At least, I think it’s Joseph.’ He was suddenly afraid he might disappoint Tad. He’d shown Cassie the two photographs on the way down, and she’d exclaimed over the man’s likeness to Froggy’s father.
‘He looks like an older version of Tad, too,’ Froggy had told her. Now he looked from the photograph to Tad. The resemblance was striking.
‘Photograph?’ Tad blinked at Froggy.
‘A picture. Kind of like a painting.’
‘Oh, yes, of course! Show me!’ Tad snatched the prints eagerly from Froggy’s hand, studying them intently. His delighted cry filled the air. ‘It’s Joseph! I recognise the little mole at the side of his mouth. It was the only thing, the only likeness I mean, that he inherited from Mary-Anne. And here he is getting married!’ He peered at the old photograph more closely. ‘Why does his new wife look so frightened?’ he asked.
Froggy smiled, remembering his father’s comment. But he didn’t have a chance to say anything, for Tad was questioning the other photograph.
‘Is this Joseph, too? In uniform? What happened?’
‘He was a soldier in the First World War,’ Froggy explained. ‘They called it The Great War, the “war to end all wars”, but we’ve had another big one and lots of little ones since.’
‘Tell me what happened to Joseph,’ Tad prompted eagerly. ‘I’ll wager he was a hero!’
‘So my dad says. But he died during the war, Tad.,
‘A good way to go.’ Tad nodded self-importantly, as if taking personal responsibility for Joseph’s valour.
Froggy looked incredulous.
‘Well, it’s better than dying of smallpox in the Quarantine Station!’
‘Ah, yes,’ said Froggy. ‘We need to talk about that.’ He sat down on the warm, flat rock. Cassie sat down beside him and, after a moment’s hesitation, so did Tad. He listened intently as Froggy told him everything they had discovered at the Quarantine Station, as well as what he had found out from the family tree.
‘So you see,’ Froggy concluded, ‘George Davidson became Joseph Davidson, aged two, while the records show that Joseph Dearborne died.’
Cassie nudged him. ‘Tell Tad what you saw in your vision.’
‘Not now, Cassie.’ Froggy was determined to find out about Joseph before he started accusing Tad of cowardice. Besides, he was sick of Cassie telling him what to do!
‘What’s she going on about now?’ Tad asked, casting a resentful look at Cassie. ‘What vision?’
‘I saw Joseph,’ Froggy admitted.
‘Joseph?’ Tad jumped to his feet.
‘And Mary-Anne.’ Froggy couldn’t look at Tad. ‘She was lying in bed. Dead. Of smallpox.’
‘Tell him the rest of it!’ Cassie demanded.
‘There was a woman sitting beside the bed, holding a little boy. He was screaming, trying to get to …’
‘Mary-Anne,’ Cassie interrupted.
Tad frowned at her, not bothering to hide his dislike. ‘How would you know who …’
‘It was Joseph,’ said Froggy. ‘I said his name and he …’ He paused and swallowed hard. ‘He was quiet for a moment and then he started to scream again.’ Froggy stared down at the rock, hardly able to hide his contempt for Tad.
But Tad was too excited to notice. ‘I remember that woman!’ he exclaimed. ‘I asked her to look after Joseph while I …’
Ran away, Froggy thought.
‘I had to go and find my father,’ Tad explained. ‘Her baby had just died. She was just sitting there and …’
‘Do you know if her baby’s name was George? George Davidson?’
‘No,’ Tad shrugged. ‘It was just a tiny baby. I thought it was a boy, but it could even have been a girl!’
‘I reckon it was a boy.’ Froggy took the sheets of paper from his pocket and smoothed them down. ‘You see, I think the woman swapped her dead baby with your brother, Joseph. She left George Davidson to be buried at the Quarantine Station and pretended Joseph was her own baby.’
‘Brilliant, Froggy!’ Cassie slapped him on the back.
Tad looked sceptical.
‘She took a big risk,’ Froggy said. ‘Someone could have noticed that her child was called George, and that it was Joseph Davidson who left the Quarantine Station.’
‘Not at that place. Not with what was going on there.’ Tad thought for a moment. ‘Joseph knew his name,’ he pointed out. ‘Maybe she had to call him Joseph.’
‘There’s another problem, Tad,’ said Froggy. ‘You say the woman’s baby was only tiny? How could the authorities confuse a two-year-old with a tiny baby?’
‘You have no idea how awful that place was.’ Tad shuddered. ‘The doctor was a drunk. Or mad. Or both. He never went near the smallpox patients. He wouldn’t know how old people were when they died.’
‘What about the gravediggers?’
‘Who’d ask them? They weren’t in charge of the paperwork, I’ll wager.’
‘What does he say?’ Cassie asked impatiently.
‘That no-one would notice.’
Froggy turned to Tad. ‘According to the death register, Joseph Dearborne died of smallpox on the same day as your father and Mary-Anne.’ He thought back to the small boy he’d seen. His face had been red and swollen. From crying? Or was it the flush of smallpox? ‘Are you sure Joseph didn’t have smallpox, too?’
‘No!’ Tad glared at him. ‘It was the baby who died of smallpox. And so did Mary-Anne. Joseph was well when I left him.’
‘So why did you leave him then?’
‘Damn you!’ Tad stamped his foot. ‘I already told you! I had to find my father.’
‘Don’t get mad with me, Tad. And don’t fade away either!’ Froggy retorted. ‘I mean what I say. If you want my help, you have to tell me the truth now, otherwise Cassie and I’ll go away and you’ll be stuck here on this rock forever!’
‘Go for it, Froggy. Find out what really happened!’ Cassie encouraged him.
‘Why don’t you tell her to go away!’
‘Cassie’s been more help than you know!’
She gave Froggy a pleased smile and he sighed. He didn’t want to encourage her. She was bossy enough as it was!
‘Tell me exactly what happened at the Quarantine Station, Tad,’ he demanded. ‘If you’d died of smallpox like you said, Thaddeus Dearborne or Thaddeus Fisher would be listed with the others who’d died. But your name isn’t there. And you’re not on the list of people leaving the place either. So, what happened?’
Tad scowled at him but wouldn’t speak.
‘Tell me!’ Froggy stood to confront Tad.
Tad stayed silent and Froggy’s patience snapped. ‘You drowned, didn’t you?’ He poked Tad in the chest. ‘Why don’t you admit it?’
Tad’s head snapped up, his eyes wide and startled. ‘How did you …’
‘Because this is where it happened!’
Tad shook his head.
‘What does he say?’ Cassie tugged his sleeve.
‘It’s true, isn’t it?’ Froggy was determined Tad should admit that he was responsible for the drowning dreams.
‘I picked up your memories when we moved over here,’ he prompted. ‘That’s why I came here that day. You were calling me, weren’t you?’
‘How do you know I drowned?’
‘Because I’ve been dreaming about it.’ Froggy looked at Tad, no longer bothering to hide his contempt. ‘You drowned running away from the Quarantine Station. You abandoned Joseph, didn’t you?’
‘Upon my word, that’s not true!’ Tad cried, fists clenched, lunging at Froggy as if he would knock him into the water.
Froggy step
ped back hastily. His action wasn’t lost on Cassie. ‘What’s happening?’ she asked.
‘Tad thinks I’ve insulted him. But I’ve only told the truth.’
‘You’re a lying cad!’
‘Me? A liar?’ Froggy laughed. ‘If you won’t tell me what really happened, Tad, I’m going!’ He took Cassie’s hand and pulled her up.
‘All right! All right!’ Tad gazed out across the water to the Quarantine Station, his expression sombre as he thought back to the past.
‘Is he going to tell?’
‘He says he will.’
‘This is none of her business. Keep her out of it!’ Tad protested.
‘She can’t hear you anyway!’
‘But you’ll tell her, won’t you?’ Tad sighed.
‘You’ll tell me what he says, won’t you?’ Cassie asked.
‘Just get on with it,’ Froggy said.
As Tad began the story, Froggy repeated his words to Cassie so that she wouldn’t feel left out. He was glad to have a second opinion. Although Tad’s story was horrifying, Froggy still wasn’t sure how far he could trust or believe him.
Cassie seemed to have no such doubts. Her sympathetic gaze moved between Froggy and a rock some distance from where Tad was actually standing. As he had his back to them, staring out to sea, Froggy didn’t think it worth mentioning that she was looking in the wrong direction.
‘Actually, the last person I saw at the Quarantine Station was Ralph.’ Tad turned abruptly and held out his hand for the lists Froggy had made. Scowling, he scanned them impatiently, but his expression lightened as he jabbed a triumphant finger at a name halfway down.
‘Ralph!’ he cried. ‘I bet that’s him! Ralph Walsh, discharged August 28th. I wonder if he was still wearing my belt? And my boots? I wonder if he ever told anyone about me?’ His expression darkened once more as he kicked savagely at a small pebble. ‘I suppose he thought I’d run away and left him, too.’
‘So, what happened when you rowed over here to Dobroyd?’ Froggy prompted.
Tad turned back to the sea. Froggy could hardly hear him as he took up the story once more. His voice got lower and more and more distressed as he told them how he had found a hiding place in the cave for the family treasure; how he had tried to get back round to the beach once more. ‘I walked into the sea. The waves caught hold of me. They wouldn’t let go, picking me up, dumping me down onto the rocks. I fought and kicked and I … I …’
His voice died and, after a moment’s silence, Froggy took up the story, picking up the dark thread that ran through Tad’s mind, replaying the last moments of Tad’s life.
Horrified, Cassie sat silently, imagining the scene. ‘So, the family treasure’s still there? Hidden in the cave?’ she asked at last.
Tad gave a grudging nod.
‘Yes,’ Froggy told her. He turned to Tad, trying not to sound too eager. ‘What is it, do you know?’
Tad shrugged. ‘My father just called it “the family treasure”,’ he said, adding reflectively, ‘but he always sort of laughed about it.’
Froggy was thoughtful for a moment. ‘I reckon you’re going to have to fetch it, Tad,’ he suggested. ‘I mean, we’ve done everything else we can and you’re still here. I reckon if you want to leave this place you’ll have to get the treasure and give it to me!’
Cassie pinched his arm excitedly and Froggy jumped.
‘Are you going to be rich?’ she hissed.
‘I dunno.’ He tried not to sound too hyped-up.
Tad watched them both, scowling ferociously. ‘I’m not going,’ he said. ‘Why should I? It was my father’s treasure. It has nothing to do with you.’
‘But Tad, you have to!’ Froggy was determined not to be cheated out of his inheritance after everything he’d been through to get to this moment.
‘I can’t. I won’t.’
‘You have to! You’re the only one who knows where it is!’
‘I’m only a ghost. I won’t be able to carry it. You have to go. You’re the one who wants it.’
‘But I don’t know where you’ve hidden it.’
‘You’re afraid, aren’t you?’ Tad taunted.
‘Damn right! I don’t want to wind up like you!’
‘Froggy! What a thing to say!’ Cassie cast an apologetic look in what she hoped was Tad’s direction. He ignored her. The two boys glared at each other.
‘Tad, can’t you get it?’ Cassie wondered how to phrase it tactfully and decided there wasn’t an easy way of doing it. ‘I mean, you’re already dead. You can’t drown again!’
‘Where did you find her?’ asked Tad.
‘She’s right,’ Froggy said steadily. ‘It makes sense for you to go.’
‘No! I … I’ve already tried once before. It was no good. It just didn’t work.’
‘You’re lying again!’ Froggy accused him. ‘You haven’t been back at all, have you?’
Cassie looked anxious. ‘Make him go!’ she insisted.
‘No! You have to go,’ Tad turned on Froggy. ‘I don’t want to. I can’t!’ There was real fear in Tad’s voice. Froggy allowed himself a moment’s understanding. But only a moment.
‘I can’t go, Tad. I don’t know where the stuff is. You’ll have to get it. We’ll wait for you down by the sea.’ Froggy studied Tad’s anxious face, wondering how to persuade him. ‘We’ll help you if you get into trouble.’
A moment of hope flickered in Tad’s eyes. ‘You will?’
‘Sure.’ Froggy thought how stupid he must sound. At least Cassie wasn’t laughing at him. Had Tad really tried before? Froggy could sense his fear, in fact he shared it. But he knew that if Tad wouldn’t go, that only left him. Just the thought of swimming out to the cave made Froggy’s skin crawl.
‘You go!’ he urged. ‘I’m sure it’ll be all right this time.’
‘All right, then. But the sea’s beastly rough. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,’ grumbled Tad. ‘Come down to the water’s edge with me. Make sure you keep watch.’
‘Tad, before you go.’ Froggy fumbled in his pocket for the Swiss army knife. He pulled it out and laid it in front of Tad.
Tad’s eyes gleamed as he picked it up and pulled out a blade, sliding it experimentally over his skin. It was sharp and bit deep. Tad winced. He turned his attention to the gadgets, his touch reverent and his gaze avaricious.
‘I’ll swap you for the rabbit.’ Froggy was sure he’d caught him at last.
Tad considered for a moment, playing with the knife, flicking the blades in and out. ‘No,’ he said, reluctantly holding it out.
‘No?’ Froggy’s voice rose in disbelief. ‘Damn it, Tad, it’s a good swap! And I gave you those photographs as well.’
‘I told you, Froggy. I’ll swap the rabbit for my mother’s locket, otherwise no deal.’
‘That’s not fair! You’ve got my rabbit and the photographs of Joseph. And I’ve got nothing.’
‘You’ll have the treasure,’ Tad said sullenly. ‘Isn’t that enough?’
The two boys scowled at each other.
‘Maybe you can fight about it later.’ Cassie had heard enough of the conversation to work out what was going on. ‘Isn’t it more important now to try to get the treasure?’ She glanced from Froggy to where she thought Tad might be.
‘That’s really all you two care about, isn’t it? The treasure!’
Froggy shrugged. ‘Cassie’s right. Let’s get going.’ He snatched the knife from Tad’s hand, closed it up and thrust it into his pocket, feeling shaky and sweaty with fear as he scrambled down the rocks after Tad. The roar of the sucking waves sounded frighteningly loud.
‘You’ll save me if I get into trouble then?’ Tad still sounded hostile as he stepped cautiously to the edge of the ledge.
‘I already told you I would. I don’t break my promises,’ Froggy snapped.
‘You’d better not!’ Tad eased himself over the ledge and into the water. He lashed out, swimming strongly, his head bobbing dark against the foam-la
ced water.
‘Has he gone yet?’ Cassie whispered.
Froggy nodded. ‘Yes. He’s going into the cave now.’
He sat down on the rock, pulling Cassie down beside him … and waited.
Nothing happened for quite some time. Then, squinting his eyes against the glare of the water, Froggy saw Tad emerge from the cave, empty-handed.
‘Where’s the treasure?’ he shouted, jumping to his feet. But Tad didn’t seem to hear him as he waded back into the water.
Froggy felt a moment of paralysing fear. ‘Tad!’ he shouted. ‘Don’t swim back!’ But his words were lost in the roar of the water. He felt sick as he saw Tad lash out, trying to swim against the waves, which rose up, forcing him back into the cave.
‘Is he coming? Why isn’t he here yet?’ asked Cassie.
‘I think he’s in trouble.’ Froggy’s teeth were clenched, all his attention focused on the sleek, black head that suddenly surfaced as Tad struggled towards them.
‘Tad! Hold onto me!’ Froggy leaned forward, felt Cassie clasp him round the waist for balance. He leaned further. But Tad seemed not to see his outstretched arm. He was gasping for breath, fighting the ocean with all his strength, his arms flailing wildly as he went under again.
‘Tad!’ Froggy screamed. He shivered violently, felt the water closing over him, dragging him down. ‘Tad!’ he gasped as Cassie’s clutching hands pulled him back from the edge.
‘Don’t Cassie! Let me go!’ He braced himself against her, leant forward once more and saw Tad’s drowning eyes looking into his.
‘Mama.’ He heard the faint sigh and found that he was looking down into an empty, churning sea.
Tad had gone. Only Cassie was left and she was shaking him violently, almost in tears. ‘What’s happened? What’s happened? My God, Froggy, you nearly went off the edge then!’
Froggy blinked at her. ‘Tad’s drowned,’ he said.
‘We already know that,’ Cassie said impatiently.
‘No. I mean he’s drowned all over again. That’s why he didn’t want to go back, Cassie, don’t you see? He knew what was going to happen.’ Froggy hugged himself, shivering violently. ‘Tad’s gone.’
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