She had a package of breakfast bars by the sink and decided they would have to do for a meal. She would be seen if she tried to leave their small resort, and she didnt want anyone to know she had just been seeking her own companyor company other than theirs, anyway.
Munching an oat-and-honey granola bar, she stared at the television, then started flicking the channel changer. Nothing drew her attention. The sound of laughter filtered to her from the bar area, and she found herself annoyed that they all seemed to be getting along so well. Shed been disturbed enough that her own friends were making fun of her. The Thor Thompson thing was more than she could stomach. The man was arrogant beyond belief.
She threw herself on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She had to make the first discovery now.
The bet was ridiculous. Totally immature. She should just tell him in the morning that it was off. Except that she was the one who had started it.
Eventually the exertion of the day began to take its toll. She left the television on for company but changed into an oversize T, turned off the lights and tried to get some sleep. At first she could still hear the sounds of conversation and laughter, just as annoying as before.
But she needed rest. Last night she had slept at last but not long enough. At least today, she hadnt seen a thing in the water except fish and coral.
The world was well, she told herself.
A little voice crept in. Bull!
At last she drifted to sleep.
In her dreams, she was diving again. The sound of her breath through the regulator was soothing. The water was clear. Tangs and clown fish darted by. A very large grouper, a good six feet, hovered by the reef. The sun struck the water, the rays arrowing down. Anemones wafted with the current.
And then
She saw the woman. Hair drifting in golden streams. Head bowed, arms lifted in the easy current. White fabric drifting against the length of her body Feet tied to the weight that held her down.
Her head lifted. Her eyes opened. Her mouth worked. No sound came, but her eyes pleaded, filled with an infinite sadness.
Then, from behind her, they rose.
Skeletal forms with decaying flesh cloaking their bones. Skeletal forms brandishing knives and swords, bodies rotting, clothing streaming from them in oddly colorful tatters.
They marched. Marched across the seabed, sightless eye sockets staring at Genevieve, bony jaws locked with determination.
She was frozen at first, unable to move.
She had discovered something, she realized. Something she wasnt meant to know.
And now
The sound of her breathing stopped.
The army of skeletons was almost upon her. She turned to swim away, only to discover that she was surrounded. There was no escape.
A rotted arm in a tattered jacket reached out for her. Suddenly skeletal arms were rising all around her, bony fingers nearly touching her flesh.
She sensed the girls soundless warning. Beware
She could almost smell the overwhelming scent of decay.
Rotting flesh. A breath away
It was impossible, she told herself. Impossible to be smelling death and decay beneath the surface, breathing through a regulator.
She awoke, jerking bolt upright in the bed, filled with dread and panic. She forced herself to breathe deeply. It was a dream, only a dream. Inhale, exhale.
She gritted her teeth. Ridiculous. She wasnt like this!
She felt thirsty, anxious for a glass of water, for something tangible. Tea. She could make tea. Maybe it was close enough to morning that she could just stay awake.
The television was still on. Paid programming. Some buff guy talking about his new cardio machine. She could see him past the screen dividing the room.
She let him keep talking. She liked the voice, and the light cast by the television. Actually, she needed more light. She turned on the bedside lamp.
It was only when she stood that she realized she was wet. And salty. As if shed really been in the sea. Swallowing hard, she rushed into the bathroom, turning on the main lights on her way. She started to splash her face with cold water, then looked into the mirror of the medicine cabinet above the sink.
Her heart thudded; her breathing ceased.
There was seaweed in her hair.
3
The strangest clattering noise was going on, as if someone was throwing pots and pansor as if chains were being furiously shaken.
Marshall Miro was aware of the sound, deep in the fog of sleep. He twisted and turned. He almost awoke. The sound was unsettling. It reminded him of
What?
Somethingunpleasant.
He fought the sensation and the noise. His body clock informed him it was too early to wake up.
So he didnt.
Jack Payne was vaguely aware of a noise. It fit right in with the video game he was playing in his dreams. The game was called Kick-Ass Karena, and kick-ass it was. Gorgeous animated women battled one another and the player for supremacy. And when a guy won, it was all his: the booze, the women and the victory, hot or ruthless.
The sound just seemed to be part of the game.
Victor heard a noise and woke up with a start. For several seconds, he just sat up in bed wondering what the hell had woken him up.
He heard nothing. Nothing at all.
Groaning, he lay back down and prayed for a little more shut-eye.
Jay Gonzalez never quite made it up. The noise seemed to be coming from a distance. He wanted to get up. Wanted to stop it. But there were times when he fell asleep with the lights or the television on, then wanted them off but couldnt quite rouse himself enough to do it.
He didnt even open his eyes, despite the fact that the sound disturbed him deeply. It brought to mind things that wereuncomfortable. Painful. It touched memories that.
That he wished would remain lost.
Ignore it, he told himself. Sleep.
The sound would be gone by morning.
Thor bolted up. What in Gods name was going on?
He slid his legs over the side of the bed. He didnt turn on a light, having learned it was better to cloak oneself in darkness to check whatever might be going on in the light. Barefoot, he walked softly to the door of his bungalow and looked out.
A benign moon fell over the sand, water and nearby cottages. It was a serene picture. A semitropical night in paradise, all as it should be.
So where the hell had the noise come from?
Looking at the next bungalow, he saw that it was alive with light. It was Genevieves bungalow, he was certain. Okay, so she liked things bright. Couldnt hang her for that.
Not that he wanted to hang her. Just
Why the hell couldnt the woman be normal?
He started, suddenly certain he had heard a scream.
Or not.
It almost seemed as if the sound had come from inside his own head. He studied the cottage next to his own. If anything was wrong
Swearing, he strode toward her lighted window.
Genevieve stared at her reflection in the mirror, all but paralyzed.
Okay, this was frightening. A dream was one thing. Hopping out of bed to plunge into the water in the middle of the night was another. What the hell was happening to her?
She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a hurried knocking at her door. She glanced at her watch. Five-thirty-five. Not as late as she had wanted to sleep, but early enough to get up for the day. Early enough for someone to be knocking at her door?
Then she heard her name called, softly but urgently. Genevieve?
She froze, recognizing the voice.
Are you all right in there?
She strode to the door, opening it to see Thor Thompson, as expected.
But for once he wasnt laughing at her; he actually looked concerned.
Uh, good morning, she murmured, holding tightly to the door. Of course Im all right. Why are you asking?
He stared at her as if she were suffering from something contagious. She realized she still had seaweed in her hair. Self-consciously, she reached for it.
You didnt hear aracket? he asked her.
What?
He sighed, pointing to the neighboring cottage. Thats me, next door. It sounded as if something wasclanking over here, and then it sounded like a scream.
Clanking? she repeated blankly.
He shrugged, looking ill at ease. With heror himself? Yeah, clanking, clanginglike chains. You cant mean to tell me you didnt hear anything?
Im sorry. I must have been sleeping, she murmured.
Or swimming.
Pardon?
Swimming. Youre all wet, and youre wearingseaweed.
Oh. Well, I like a morning dip now and then.
Right, he murmured, staring at her flatly. You just wake up, feel the urge and plunge right in? In the dark?
Now and then, she said lightly. I am losing my mind, she thought. But he was the last person in the world with whom she would ever share that information.
Interesting, he said. Well, if youre sure youre all right, Im going back to bed.
She wasnt all right at all. But there was no way in hell she was going to tell him so. Im fine. She smiled. Are you all right? It sounds as if youre hearing things. You know. I see them, you hear them.
Something was making a racket, he told her flatly.
She shrugged. Well, it wasnt me.
Couldnt have been. You were swimming.
I was about to make coffee. If youd like some? she added, praying her words were perfectly casual. Indifferent.
Hands on his hips, he looked at her as if shed just made another entirely insane suggestion, but then he shrugged. Hell, I guess Im up for the day.
He followed her in. She went straight for the coffeemaker and then the sink, filling the pot with water, then setting the premeasured bag into place to brew. Hed taken a seat on the futon that served as the sofaor guest bed. She realized he was studying her, and she was pretty sure she made an absurd picture, dressed in the long, soaked T-shirt, seaweed still in her hair.
Act like its perfectly normal, she warned herself.
How do you like your coffee?
Black.
Macho, huh? she murmured.
Nope. Best way to learn to drink it when you might be out for a while with milk that goes sour and a crew member who forgot to buy sugar or creamer.
Right. Perfectly sensible.
She sensed his shrug.
We crazy people like it light, she murmured.
Hey, its a new day, he said politely.
The coffeemaker chimed. She poured two cups, handed him one, fixed hers the way she liked it and sat across from him on one of the two wicker chairs that faced the futon.
I saw something down there, she said flatly. Today Ill figure out for myself what it waswhile discovering the first relic.
Youre not just going to find it, youre going to find it today?
She shrugged nonchalantly.
And you think Im arrogant, he murmured.
She lifted a hand. When the shoe fits
He looked as if he was going to rise. To her deep annoyance, she realized she didnt want to be alone. What are they going to talk to us about this morning? she demanded quickly.
The usual, I imagine. Stuff weve already heard about preserving the reef while we excavate.
Were working as carefully as we can, she said.
He grinned. They just want to keep putting in their two cents, thats all. And I have to hand it to Prestonhis research was top-notch, and his logic appears to be the same.
I know. I read the letters written by Antoine DMas, the pirate who watched the Marie Josephine go down. It all makes sense to me, too.
There you go. We agree on something, he murmured.
They both heard the sound of footsteps pounding on the sand and the knock at the door. Hey, you up in there? Bethany called.
Genevieve stood and opened the door. Bethany was ready for the day, it appeared. She was wearing cutoffs over her one-piece Speedo. Her hair was tied back, out of the way.
Good, youre up early! she announced. I didnt want to sit around alone any longer. Theres nothing on the TVhey! she said suddenly, seeing Thor on the futon.
Hey yourself, he greeted her, standing politely.
Bethany suddenly stared at Genevieve, as if really seeing her for the first time. Youre soaked. And theres seaweed in your hair. What the hell?
Genevieve looked meaningfully at her friend, her back to Thor Thompson. You know me. I woke up early and just couldnt resist the lure of the water.
By the dock? Bethany said incredulously.
Genevieve made her stare fiercer. On the beach side, she snapped. I cant resist the water sometimes, and you know it.
Oh. Um. Right, Bethany murmured.
Do you want coffee? Genevieve asked quickly, changing the subject.
Sure, thanks.
Bethany plopped down on the futon, where Thor joined her. You still on for tonight? she asked.
Genevieve nearly spilled the coffee.
Yeah, why not? he asked.
Barhopping, Bethany told Genevieve. Were all going.
Should we be barhopping? Genevieve asked.
We dont have to drink at every bar. But Thor, Lizzie and Zach havent spent much time here. Were going to show them the must-do tourist places and then our own favorites. Hey, were always in by four oclock. We can shower, eat somewhere cool, show them a few spots and be back by eleven-thirty. Marshalls coming, and Thors the boss of his team, so She shrugged. Itll be great.
Im not so sure, Genevieve murmured.
When did you suddenly turn into such a stick? Bethany demanded.
Here. Take your coffee. Entertain yourselves. Im going to shower, Genevieve said.
Youre going to showerto go diving? Bethany asked.
Yeah. I want fresh seaweed in my hair, she said, and left the two of them together on her futon. She walked into the bathroom and closed and locked the door. She stared at her reflection in the mirror again. She realized she was deeply irritated and didnt know why.
She also didnt want them to leave.
Determined not to dwell on the situation, she hopped into the shower, washed her hair, then hopped out. Her suit from the day before was on the rack, and she slipped back into it, then found shorts and a denim shirt, and slipped them on over the suit. When she emerged, the two were still talking.
It was weird. I thought it was coming from here, too, Bethany was saying.
What are you talking about? Genevieve asked sharply.
Weird noises. Bethany laughed. If I didnt know you better, Id have said you were cooking!