narratorAUSTRALIA Volume One

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  In the room shared by Eve and Gerry, Rick lounged back on the large bed, his grimy sneakers crumpling the ivory-coloured quilted bedspread. He was reading from the Bayleton brochure.

  ‘Hey, no wonder we’re the only guests,’ he exclaimed. ‘This place is spooky. Listen to this: the original owners of the house were Patrick and Catherine O’Brien. Their only child, Arthur, born when Catherine was 42 years of age, died tragically when he was five. He had been scalded accidently in the kitchen and died several days later from the resulting infection. Catherine became mentally unhinged and died six months after the tragedy. She fell from the balcony of the main bedroom, onto the ground below. Whether this was deliberate is unknown. The ghost of Catherine, in a black lace dress and cap, haunts the room that was once the nursery. This room is not used as a guest bedroom.’

  Rick made a wry face.

  Eve shuddered. ‘No wonder her spirit can’t rest,’ she said sadly.

  ‘Oh come off it, Eve,’ said Gerry lightly.

  ‘Wow, get this guys,’ said Rick excitedly, still reading from the brochure. ‘Another ghost who makes a rare appearance is the Staring Woman − the spirit of a woman who lived in the area in the 1930s.’

  Abruptly, Gerry raised himself from the pale green wingback chair he had been lolling in and gave a dismissive grunt. ‘Anyway, I’m going to have a walk around the grounds before it gets too dark. Coming, Rick?’

  Rick rolled off the bed, flinging the brochure onto the dressing-table.

  ‘See you at seven,’ Eve called after them as they left the room.

  She picked up the discarded brochure and sighed. ‘Bring it on,’ she said quietly.