Pearlie's Ghost Page 4

  Then Naoko ran the bath for Pearlie. The bathroom was huge, as big as Pearlie’s sitting room and kitchen put together. And there were two bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. Pearlie couldn’t believe that the water came straight out of the tap. Not like Darwin, where water came from a well. And what was even more amazing was that there was a hot tap and a cold tap with the words written on the knobs. Nobody had to heat up the water. It was like magic.

  While Pearlie had a long soak, Tinto sat in the bathroom sink catching drips of water with his tiny hands. The longer Pearlie lay there, the more the horrible memories began to fade. It was as if they, too, were being washed away with the dirt and dust of the long tiring journey. She knew they would come back, but for now, this was the happiest she could be.

  Finally Pearlie pulled the chain attached to the plug and watched the water swirl away. She heard it gurgle in the pipes. Singing pipes, she thought. And smiled.

  While Mrs Ito served dinner to Reverend Makepeace and Mrs Makepeace in the big dining room, Pearlie and Naoko ate in the kitchen. It was beef pie, mashed potatoes with peas, and lemon delicious pudding for dessert.

  Pearlie had two helpings of pie and wanted two helpings of pudding but couldn’t fit it all in. She sat back, rubbing her tummy. ‘I can’t believe you eat like this every day.’

  Naoko took the dishes to the sink. ‘They’ve had to cut back because of the rationing.’ She filled the sink with hot water and Pearlie took a tea towel off the rack.

  ‘Tell me about the ghost, Nao.’

  Naoko stiffened. ‘I hear noises, strange noises, coming from outside my bedroom at night.’

  ‘Have you ever looked?’

  ‘Are you crazy? I told you in my letter I’m scared stiff of ghosts. I just pull the covers over my head and pray it won’t come into my room. You’ll see tonight. It comes at the same time, just as the grandfather clock downstairs strikes ten. That’s why I wake up, because I hear the clock. I’m the only one who sleeps upstairs. Mrs Makepeace thought that it would be a nice room for me because it’s a girl’s room. She and the Reverend sleep downstairs. He has a bad leg so he can’t easily climb up and down. And Mum sleeps next to the kitchen. I wish she didn’t. I wish someone slept upstairs with me.’

  ‘I do now,’ Pearlie said.

  Naoko nodded.

  ‘I thought you looked tired because they were working you too hard.’

  ‘Oh no. Mrs Makepeace is really good to Mum and me. They are both very kind. They treat us just as if we are ordinary people instead of the “enemy”.’

  ‘Have you told them about the ghost?’

  ‘Mum came and listened once,’ Naoko said. ‘But she doesn’t believe in ghosts. She said it was the water pipes or rats or the wind.’

  ‘The Chinese man who helped Dad get rid of the ghost in the shop said ghosts are either lost, or they have something they want to tell you, or they don’t want to leave the person they love –’

  A glass fell over on the table behind them and both girls jumped.

  They giggled with relief when they saw Tinto somersaulting between the salt and pepper shakers.

  Then Naoko said, ‘Mrs Makepeace will have a pink fit if she sees him on the table!’ And she shooed him off with sudsy hands. Soap bubbles flew in the air.

  Tinto jumped down and chased the bubbles, bursting them with his paws.

  Pearlie and Naoko couldn’t help but laugh.

  After a while Pearlie said, ‘We’ll go ghost-hunting tonight and solve this once and for all. Then you won’t have to worry about it again.’

  Naoko smiled.

  ‘What’s so funny?’

  ‘Remember when you were the unbrave one?’ said Naoko.

  Pearlie nodded thoughtfully. ‘I know . . . you’re right. I’m not scared of anything any more.’ she said. ‘I’ve had to look after myself. I guess it’s changed me.’

  ‘Like catching Beake . . . that’s more than me and Reddy could do put together,’ said Naoko, admiringly.

  Pearlie’s eyes suddenly felt droopy and she yawned. She’d been up since early that morning and she desperately needed to go to bed.

  ‘Come on,’ said Naoko, letting the water out of the sink. ‘We’ve finished here. Mum will do the rest.’ She lifted Tinto onto her shoulder and they went upstairs to the bedroom.

  ‘Which nightdress would you like to wear?’ Naoko said, holding them up on their hangers. One was white and lacy; the other was pale blue with tiny flowers embroidered on the bodice.

  Pearlie chose the blue one because it reminded her of a Darwin sky. She slipped it over her head and did up the three tiny mother-of-pearl buttons.

  ‘Do you want to get into bed with me?’ Naoko said, pulling back the sheet.

  Pearlie did and Tinto snuggled down under the covers, curling up between them.

  ‘I’ll wake you at ten o’clock,’ said Naoko. ‘Goodnight, Pearlie.’ And she gave Pearlie a squeeze.

  Pearlie lay in bed watching the branches of the old silver birch outside play shadow-chasey on the ceiling. Then she heard Naoko softly crying.

  ‘Are you all right? What’s wrong?’ she whispered.

  Naoko sniffed. ‘Having you here has brought back so many memories,’ she said. ‘I was thinking about my dad and how I might never see him again.’

  ‘Oh, Nao, you will. The war can’t last forever,’ Pearlie said.

  ‘You don’t know how awful it’s been,’ Naoko said. ‘When we got here I couldn’t get used to how people stared at us. Then some boys in the street threw rocks at me. Now I never leave the house.’

  ‘Never?’

  ‘My mum tries to make me but I don’t feel like it. I keep remembering those horrible boys, the things they said . . .’

  How Pearlie missed the old Naoko, the brave adventurous girl who laughed at everything and was afraid of nothing. She held her best friend. I will have to be the brave one now, she thought.

  Pearlie, Pearlie.’ Someone was shaking her, whispering her name.

  Pearlie was groggy at first, and then she remembered where she was.

  ‘It’s here,’ Naoko whispered. She was sitting up in bed, staring at the door.

  Pearlie heard the last of the chimes of the grandfather clock and sat up beside her. Then a noise came from the hallway, right outside their bedroom door. It was a soft mournful moan followed by a scratching noise.

  The blood in Pearlie’s veins froze.

  ‘That doesn’t sound like the pipes,’ she said, throwing back the sheets and getting out of bed. ‘Come on, Nao.’

  She moved towards the door but Naoko shook her head.

  ‘I’m staying here.’

  Pearlie nodded. ‘Keep Tinto with you, all right?’ she said and tiptoed to the door. She put her ear to it then opened it a few inches.

  The soft moaning stopped at once.

  Pearlie glanced back at Naoko whose eyes were round with fright. ‘Be careful, Pearlie,’ Naoko whispered.

  It was cold and eerily quiet in the hall when Pearlie opened the door and poked her head out. She could hear the tick tick of the grandfather clock downstairs. The floorboards creaked as she took a couple of steps out of the room.

  Suddenly Naoko cried out, ‘No, Tinto!’

  Before Pearlie knew what was happening, Tinto scooted between her legs and scampered down the hall.

  Naoko was at Pearlie’s side, breathless.

  ‘Sorry, Pearlie. I couldn’t hold him any longer. Where did he go? Can you see him?’

  ‘Shhh, yes, he’s there,’ Pearlie whispered, pointing.

  Tinto was sitting perfectly still a little way down the hall, staring at something.

  ‘What’s down there?’ Pearlie asked.

  ‘Just an old wardrobe.’ Naoko gasped. ‘Do you think . . .’

  ‘Let’s find out,’ Pearlie said, reaching for Naoko’s hand.

  ‘Wait, Pearlie.’ Naoko went back inside her room. She reappeared holding a candle. The flame made their shadows dance acro
ss the ceiling and walls.

  Tinto still hadn’t moved. He seemed mesmerised. Can he see a ghost? wondered Pearlie, her chest tightening.

  When they reached the wardrobe, Pearlie bent down and picked Tinto up. ‘Stand back,’ she said and slowly opened the door, ready to leap away if something sprang at her.

  But the only thing that came out was a damp, musty smell.

  ‘Nao, put the candle on the shelf so I can get a better look.’ She handed Tinto to Naoko and inspected each shelf carefully, stepping up on the bottom shelves to see the top one. It was completely empty.

  At that moment Tinto struggled out of Naoko’s arms and jumped onto the floor. Then he disappeared underneath the wardrobe.

  They both looked at each other. Pearlie took the candle off the shelf and got down on her hands and knees. She moved it slowly across the floor.

  ‘Nao!’ she gasped. ‘There’s a door!’

  Naoko knelt on the floor beside Pearlie.

  ‘It must be the door to the tower room,’ she said. ‘But why hide it behind a wardrobe?’

  ‘Nao, help me push the wardrobe away. Tinto, come out my little man,’ Pearlie said.

  Tinto crawled back and out and jumped onto Pearlie’s nightdress. Then he clambered up onto her shoulder.

  ‘Shifting it will make too much noise,’ Naoko said. ‘Let’s do it tomorrow when they go off to church.’

  ‘You’re right, Nao,’ Pearlie said. ‘Maybe Reverend Makepeace is hiding something.’ She reluctantly closed the doors and they crept back to their room. Pearlie felt an excitement, like the excitement she used to feel in Darwin when they were about to go on an adventure.

  She couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

  In the morning Pearlie and Naoko waved goodbye as Reverend Makepeace, his wife, and Naoko’s mum drove off to church. As soon as the car turned out of the gates, Pearlie and Naoko raced upstairs.

  Naoko wasn’t scared in the daytime and began to boss Pearlie around. Pearlie didn’t mind. She was glad the old Nao was back, even if it was just for a short while.

  ‘Come on, Pearlie,’ Naoko said. ‘Push harder.’

  ‘I’m pushing as hard as I can,’ Pearlie said, straining against the wardrobe.

  They tried leaning with their backs against the side and using their legs. But the wardrobe was huge and heavy and made of solid wood. It was as stubborn as Grey Ears, sighed Pearlie. The thought made her smile. ‘Oh peanuts!’ she finally said, puffing. ‘What are we going to do now?’

  ‘We could climb through the window,’ Naoko replied, her eyes lighting up. ‘There’s a vine on a trellis that goes right up the outside of the tower.’ She hesitated. ‘Oh, but you’re scared of heights.’

  Pearlie shook her head. ‘Not anymore,’ she said, grinning.

  Naoko led Pearlie down the staircase and out to the front of the house.

  It was a bright sunshiny day and both girls felt happy being together again.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ Naoko said, looking up at the window.

  ‘Looks like Tinto’s going to beat you to it,’ Pearlie laughed as he jumped on the vine and began climbing up through the leaves.

  At the top he sat on the window ledge. They both giggled when he hung upside-down, holding on with his long tail while he tried to catch a spider. The spider dashed inside a crack just in time.

  ‘My turn,’ said Naoko. She was used to climbing and reached the top in no time. She stood on the trellis outside the window and tried opening it. ‘It’s been painted over . . .’ she yelled down to Pearlie.

  ‘I might be able to fix that,’ Pearlie said. She took her lucky penknife from her pocket and climbed up.

  Naoko moved aside to make room for her. ‘Hey, is that Reddy’s?’ she said, raising her eyebrows.

  ‘He gave it to me the day he was evacuated,’ Pearlie replied.

  ‘I knew he was your boyfriend.’

  ‘Don’t be dumb, Nao,’ Pearlie laughed, embarrassed. She opened the sharp blade and ran it several times between the window frame and the ledge, cutting through the paint. ‘There, that should do it.’

  And she was right. The window glided up easily.

  The hidden room was filled with furniture but covered in a layer of dust. There was a four-poster bed and books neatly stacked in bookshelves. On one side of the bed was a small table with a wristwatch, a book and an empty glass.

  ‘It’s as if the person whose bedroom this belonged to could come back any minute. It gives me the creeps,’ said Pearlie.

  She went over to the cupboard and opened one of the doors. It was full of men’s clothing. And they were well made too, with fine stitching just like the clothes that Pearlie’s dad used to sew for his customers.

  ‘Look,’ Naoko said, standing in front of some photographs hanging above a chest of drawers.

  There were lots of photographs of football and cricket teams. And a smaller photograph of a man who looked about Hazel’s age. He was wearing a uniform and sitting on the lawn of the big house.

  ‘That must be him,’ said Pearlie. ‘The one who used to live in this room. But why has it been hidden away?’ Her eyes went wide. ‘Maybe the Reverend and his wife murdered him . . .’

  Naoko shook her head, laughing. ‘Honestly, Pearlie! They are nice people. There must be some other reason.’

  Pearlie opened the top drawer of the dresser. Lying on a piece of blue velvet was a medal – a silver cross with a purple-and-white striped ribbon attached to it. She picked it up to take a closer look. On the front were aeroplane propellers and a wreath with a crown. ‘He must have been a pilot,’ Pearlie said, turning the medal over. ‘Here’s his name – Archie S Hatfield. 1939.’

  ‘And here’s something in the newspaper about him,’ said Naoko, picking up a clipping from the drawer. She began reading it out aloud. ‘Archibald Hatfield was killed in action over North Africa. Beloved son of Jack and Margaret Hatfield. Brother of Elizabeth Hatfield. Archibald received the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry during active operations against the enemy. Archie will be forever in our hearts.’ She looked at Pearlie. ‘Do you think . . .’

  ‘That Archie is the ghost? Looks like it,’ said Pearlie. ‘Now it’s up to us to find out what he wants.’

  ‘I wonder if the Reverend knows about this room,’ Naoko said. ‘We should tell him.’

  ‘No, Nao, we’ve got to figure this out ourselves. What if the Reverend frightens Archibald away?’

  Just then, Tinto came out from under the bed dragging something behind him.

  Pearlie bent down and picked it up. ‘It’s a dog collar! And look, there are still some white hairs on the buckle.’

  ‘Hey, I remember seeing a wooden cross in the garden behind the tennis court. It could be the grave of a dog,’ said Naoko.

  ‘Then that’s where we’ll begin,’ said Pearlie.

  The grave was under a large Moreton Bay fig tree, its branches like long slender arms with fingers stroking the ground. Tinto jumped off Naoko’s shoulder and climbed up amongst the dark green leaves, pulling off the fruit and throwing it down.

  There was an inscription hand-painted on the cross. Pearlie knelt down to read it.

  ‘RIP Snowy, Best Friend to Our Archie, in Life and in Death.’

  She felt a pang of sadness as she thought of Rusty and Goliath so far away; she hoped they were safe.

  Naoko had picked a posy of flowers and she laid it at the foot of the cross.

  Just then they heard a dog barking. They peered into the dense shrubbery at the back of the garden.

  ‘That’s the same dog I heard when I arrived,’ Pearlie said. ‘Here boy. Good boy.’ She whistled but no dog came.

  ‘I often hear him. But I’ve never seen him,’ Naoko said. ‘I don’t know who he belongs to. I sometimes even hear him at night just before the grandfather clock strikes –’

  Pearlie’s eyes widened as a thought struck her. ‘That’s it, Nao! What if it’s not Archibald’s ghost at all. What if it’s the ghost
of Snowy? And all he wants to do is be with his master again. It all fits perfectly.’

  The two girls were growing more and more excited.

  A fruit from the Moreton Bay fig tree landed on Pearlie’s head. Then Tinton jumped down onto Naoko’s shoulder.

  ‘There’s just one problem,’ Nao said. ‘We can’t move the wardrobe by ourselves. We’ll have to tell Reverend Makepeace.’

  Pearlie nodded. ‘You’re right, Nao. We’ll talk to them as soon as they get back from church.’

  Reverend Makepeace and his wife and Mrs Ito returned at midday. They took off their hats and hung them in the hall. Then the Reverend went into his study.

  ‘I will go and prepare some lunch,’ said Mrs Ito. ‘Naoko and Shinju, can you give me a hand?’

  ‘We’ll be there in a minute,’ Naoko said.

  ‘Don’t be long,’ Mrs Ito said and went through the house to the kitchen.

  Mrs Makepeace was about to go upstairs when Pearlie elbowed Naoko in the ribs.

  ‘Mrs Makepeace,’ Naoko called, looking at Pearlie. ‘Can we talk to you for a moment?’

  Mrs Makepeace stopped on the landing. ‘Yes, of course, dear. What is it?’

  ‘Well . . . um . . . you know the old wardrobe upstairs?’ she began.

  Pearlie watched Mrs Makepeace’s face to see if there was any change in her expression.

  Mrs Makepeace smiled and nodded. ‘Oh, yes, that old thing,’ she said.

  ‘Well . . .’ said Naoko, taking a breath. ‘Did . . . did you know there’s a room hidden behind it?’

  Now the expression on Mrs Makepeace’s face did change. But instead of looking like a guilty person would, her mouth turned into a sad smile.

  So she does know about the secret room! Pearlie thought.

  ‘Come into the parlour, children,’ Mrs Makepeace said, ‘and I will tell you about it.’

  Pearlie and Naoko sat on the sofa while Mrs Makepeace settled herself into a maroon wingback chair opposite them.