Читать книгу The White Rose - Madilina Tresca - Страница 9

Chapter Three

The Historian

C

hristopher Marriston and his wife Ghita had been born and raised in Fairfield. Today they lived in Wakeley with their two daughters. His wife was a casual teacher at St Mary Helen College, the local Josephite school. Christopher was head of the History Department at the University of Sydney.

After fourteen years of marriage Christopher and Ghita were still a strikingly handsome, Mediterranean-looking couple. Christopher wore his long wavy hair in a pony tail while Ghita maintained her natural curls, just at chin length. She had an endless assortment of looped earrings and never left the house without a pair. No surprise that their daughters had both inherited their parents long brown wavy hair. The name of their eldest had come to Christopher in a dream. He and his wife liked it and that's how they came to name her Charlotte. Charlotte was now in Year 7 and a year older than her sister, Azalea.

Christopher had grown up listening to stories about Mirela from his mother Lea-Christina and grandmother Josephine. As a child he thought it was just that, a story. A story his mother and grandmother had concocted to keep him entertained. Upon completing his HSC he decided to enrol in Australian History at Sydney University. His passion and almost obsession with the story led him to research the life and times of Colonial Sydney. During his research he was able to come by documentation that had proved the existence of his forefather. Now in the year 1997 and with his recently published book he is ready to introduce Mirela's story to the world.

On Sunday night Christopher was on Sixty Minutes being interviewed by Liz Hayes. Skyla had broken her own dinner rule and sat in the lounge room to watch the program while her family continued sitting at the dinner table. They all shook their heads and just carried on eating.

The interview took place in Marriston's home study. Gentlemen who had seen the white rose were invited to come forward to share their experiences. None did. It was Marriston's belief that the curse caused an emotional detachment to the girl in question which resulted in the man forgetting his feelings and dying.

'Can the curse of the white rose be stopped?' questioned Liz Hayes

'Maybe.'

'You seem to really believe in this curse and that a woman born of convict parents called Mirela really existed!'

'Yes.'

'I am sure that many of our viewers will be wondering and asking how can you be so sure and how is it that only you know this incredible story?'

'I know and I believe the story to be true because I am a direct descendent of Mirela,' was Christopher's reply.

Skyla jumped into the air and let out a shout. Her dinner spilled onto the floor. At that exact moment in the UK, a wealthy old dame dropped her cup of tea shattering the porcelin china to smitherines.

Liz Hayes continued her questions.

'Why now, why choose 1997 to come out with the story? Why choose to come out at all?' questioned Liz Hayes.

'The time has come for the curse to be broken. It will be defeated in the seventh generation. I am the first born male born in the seventh generation. Unfortunately, I do not know how or when that will happen. I also do not know if the curse can be broken. I have a lot of unanswered questions. I am hoping that my book will bring me the answers I have sought all of my life.'

'And if the curse is not defeated?'

'There will be consequences!'

Liz Hayes laughed, 'Do you really expect the people of Sydney to believe such a story?'

'No!' was Christopher's emphatic reply. 'I hope many will simply be entertained and enjoy my story.'

Liz Hayes drew in a deep breath. 'Well Christopher you have certainly got everyone talking about their local history.'

Christopher smiled proudly. He then looked into the camera. Skyla had the feeling a knife had just pierced her heart as she looked into the eyes of Christopher. His eyes seemed to be sending out a message You know the answer. Tell it to me now!

'Mr Marriston it has been a real pleasure. One of the most entertaining interviews I have done to say the least. Thank you for inviting us into your home and best of luck with Mirela's Rose.'

'Thank you.'