Page 14 of Spring Break with a Treasure Hunter
“It’s still something we can get excited about, though. A new find. New treasure. You never know.” His voice was encouraging.
“True. I just hope it’s not a waste of a trip. But, you’re right. Especially with the hurricane, and I wouldn’t be able to do any further dives until it passed.” I was conscious I’d emphasized the I.
Finally, we arrived at what was little more than a curved stretch of pristine sand and a few scattered trees and shrubs.Jagged cliffs rose sharply at one end of the crescent beach and waves crashed at the base against rather dangerous looking outcrops that fell away into the water. The rock formations weren’t typical for this area. I examined the topography map. Rocks ringed the cliffs with isolated sea stacks, remnants of what was once a rocky headland worn down by millennia of erosion.
Clearly, it would be treacherous to enter this cove especially centuries ago, before sonar and depths sounder and before the location had been mapped. A little niggle of excitement bloomed inside me. The development on the island had just begun, with a high level focus to protect the surrounding marine life and island flora and fauna; you never know what could turn up. I was always careful when diving, respecting what’s under the waves.
“I think based on the map and notes, we should go in at the end of the beach.” Cork pointed, and I nodded.
“Yes, I think so too.”
It wasn’t long before we had suited up and waded out from the beach. Once the water closed over my head, I relaxed. I loved it down here. It was quiet, comforting; the sound of my breath in the regulator always reminded me of my dad. I glanced to my right, half expecting to see him beside me. Instead, I met Cork’s gaze. It gave me a little shock to see him, which was silly. But sometimes memories of Dad came at the strangest times and transported me back in time.
The bottom was silty, common for this area, and I was eager to explore the rocky area we’d identified. The water was different here, not as warm or as clear as home. But the underwater world was alive with fish, and I felt the current pulling at me. Another flicker of excitement raced through me. Current. Rocks. Waves. Treacherous for navigating, and I focused on the sea bottom. We were only in about thirty feet of water and the sea floor remained level for another twenty feet, then began to get deeper. The closer we got to the outcropping, the more visibility decreased,and the current strengthened. This definitely was a tricky spot to navigate.
Gilbert crossed my mind, and a sense of urgency filled me. I checked my air, and it was still good. I had enough time for some exploring. Cork gave me a thumbs up, which I returned. Then I pointed to where I’d like to start. We dove deeper, and he had his flashlight out, shining it in the crevices of the rocks.
We worked our way along and the going got tougher the closer we were to the opening to the sea. We were buffeted back and forth, and Cork took my hand. He pointed in the direction we just came and I shook my head, wanting to go a little farther.
That’s what usually happened. I’d keep telling myself just another few feet. There could be something buried ahead of us and if we stopped now, it would never be found. Treasure hunting could easily become an obsession, leading to unnecessary risks.
He tugged on my arm and reluctantly I let him guide me back. I don’t know what I was really expecting on this expedition. But I was hoping for something. What if just around the next outcrop was that something? A clue to theSirena’s whereabouts.
I scanned the bottom, hoping for an interesting protrusion. We weren’t prepared for a full-scale search though. This was simply a recon trip to see if it was a site of interest. And so far there was nothing encouraging and my hopes dwindled.
Nothing was here. Frustration built inside me like a storm of its own. I knew better than to let this get me down. It took a lot of research, knowledge, and as much as I hated to admit it, luck, to find lost artifacts.
We surfaced.
“It’s a dead end,” I said, my voice flat with disappointment.
Cork’s jaw clenched, and he glanced back at the shore, where Beck waited. “It was worth a shot,” he said, though there was no hiding the dismay in his voice.
We waded through the water back to the beach, where Beckham greeted us with a knowing look. “No luck?”
Cork shook his head. “Nothing. It’s not here.”
“Sorry about that,” Beckham said, genuine sympathy in his tone. “If there’s anything else I can do?—”
“I appreciate it,” Cork replied, his tone tight.
“Beckham, we may not have found anything today, but I’d like to take the papers and maps back home with me if that’s all right. I can do more research.” I looked back at the waves crashing on the rocks. “It seems intriguing to me to have such a comprehensive package of information, spanning years, that it’s possible there is something hiding beneath the waves.” I met his gaze as I took off the tank and unzipped my wetsuit. “But we need to get back to St. William’s.”
“Sure, take the papers. I know they’ll be safe in your hands. Also, we checked the forecast, and it’s best you sit tight for a couple of days.” Beck glanced between us.
“No, really?” This news deflated me.
“Listen, stay onIntrepid, and she’s moored safely in the marina. I’m sure Micki would be thrilled to have guests. Fletch and Robyn are here as well. It can be like a family reunion.” Beck’s smile was wide, and I had to admit the thought of staying on a super yacht was an experience I never thought would happen to me.
I glanced at Cork and raised my eyebrows. He smiled. “You know me, I roll with the flow. It’ll be great to spend time with friends.” He elbowed Beck.
“Good, it’s settled then. Let’s get going.” He glanced at the sky. “I doubt we’ll feel any effects from Gilbert, but there’s no point in hanging around.”
The helicopter flight back to Love Beach was relatively silent. I distracted myself by reading the notes from Beck, but had a hard time focusing. I was suddenly exhausted and my head bobbed. Cork put his arm around me and pulled me close to his side. I didn’t object; in fact, I welcomed it and leaned into him. There was no need for words, and I could barely keep my eyes open. So I didn’t fight it and relaxed into him.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad to let my guard down. To not hang on so tight to be in control. Share the load. He was safe. He was strong. He was … and darkness wrapped its cozy blanket around me.
9
