“Can we call Mischa’s mum and ask her if Mischa can stay longer?” Lara asked. “We could go to the beach. She hasn’t seen the plaque.”
“It’s too late to call Mischa’s mum. She’ll be on her way.”
Gretchen cleared her throat. “I’m taking Mischa home today.”
Lara’s eyes lit up. “Do you want to stay and go swimming?”
“I’m taking Cody and Jordan home as well.”
The girl’s cheeks reddened. “They can come swimming too.”
A swim sounded nice, and she hadn’t seen where the Ridge met the gulf, but Georgie had spoken about it many times. She glanced at Darcy to check whether it was something he wanted to do. He gave a small nod and smile, which she took for encouragement. “Let me call Joan and make sure she’s got no plans this afternoon.”
After a brief conversation, it was agreed they would all go swimming at the beach. Lara ran outside to tell her friends and Gretchen finished cleaning. In a surprisingly short amount of time, they were on their way to the beach in two utes, Brandon driving one, and Darcy the other, the kids sitting in one of the trays, the rest of the Stokes dispersed between them with Georgie, Matt and Arthur joining them too.
It was a bumpy half-hour ride over the red dirt track that led to the gulf. This part of the station had small trees and shrubs lining the track and occasionally they had to slow for a stray sheep. A final small hill and the aqua water glistened in front of them. Directly ahead was a large island a short distance offshore and to the left was a clump of mangroves with some kind of marker nearby. To the right, the beach curved around into the distance. The kids made a mad dash to the water as soon as the ute pulled to a stop, but Gretchen climbed out slowly, her muscles already protesting from the earlier ride.
“Are you swimming?” she asked Arthur.
He hesitated. “Maybe. I want to read the plaque first.” He gestured towards the marker by the mangroves.
Gretchen frowned. “What is it?”
“It lists the names of those who were aboard the Retribution when it wrecked on the island out there.”
Sounded interesting. “Can I come?”
“Sure.”
They walked over to the plaque while the others unpacked towels and an esky of drinks. The way everyone worked in synch made it seem as if this was a regular occurrence.
Arthur got out his mobile phone and took a few photos of the metal plaque both from the front and back before he stepped closer to study it. The names had been engraved deeply enough on the metal to have been unaffected by rust. Two Stokes were listed: Lilian and Reginald, who had to be Georgie’s ancestors. Then there was Da Lim. Da Lim was Ed’s girlfriend, Tess’s, ancestor. All the other names were unfamiliar, which was a little surprising because so many locations in Western Australia were named after people whose ancestors could still be found in the community. Though Retribution Bay hadn’t been settled until years after the shipwreck.
Arthur studied the names, frowning.
“Is something wrong?”
“There’re too many names.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lil—” He caught himself. “Nothing.”
He wasn’t telling her something. Her muscles tightened, knowing by the way Arthur closed off that this was something secret, something which would interest Kurt. She bit her teeth to stop asking questions. What she didn’t know, she couldn’t report back. Hopefully, what Faith had told her last night would be enough to keep Kurt from carrying out his threats. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m going for a swim.”
She hurried away, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake.
***
Arthur watched Gretchen move away, enjoying the sway of her hips. Though he wanted to spend more time with her, he had almost told her about Lilian’s journal. He needed to be careful what he said, especially if Stonefish had got to her. He’d have to figure out a way to broach the subject.
When she reached the towels, he studied the plaque again. He should have brought his notes with him, but he was almost certain Lilian had mentioned only twenty-five people on board the Retribution. This plaque listed thirty. He checked the photos he’d taken to ensure they were clear and examined the sign more carefully. The smooth metal pole had no markings on it. The back of the plaque, the side facing the ocean, was a little battered, but similarly unmarked. He would guarantee this wasn’t the original plaque. Its condition was far too good to have been here for a hundred and fifty years. Which begged the question: did the original plaque have additional directions to find the treasure? Or had whoever erected this one copied it marking for marking?
Was the original plaque lying in a forgotten place in one of the outbuildings at the Ridge? He’d have to ask Amy if they’d looked for it.
Lara ran up, Mischa right behind her. “Did you find something?” she asked breathlessly.
Arthur glanced at Mischa.
