As a symbol for his terrible secret, Tristram chose the opal.
I would not find out his secret for many years.
Before I was shamed and left Bairnsdale, he and I had had many conversations about his opal. After he had shown me the jewel the first time, he did not show it to me again. In fact, he was downright reticent about it – my curiosity about its history would be answered in excruciatingly small measures. My interest in the opal made Tristram highly suspicious – he often said so. However, I just couldn’t let it go.
Long before I came to Bairnsdale, I was obsessed with opals. I was also haunted by a recurring dream.
In my dream, the scene of the robbery lies before me, and I am on my hands and knees. I search through opals and broken glass, and my fingers get cut. I pick up opal afte
