was in pots on the stove. The lights were on, bunks were made, books were lying about. Everything about the ship spoke of life—except that there was no life to be found aboard her. Not a sign of a survivor existed anywhere. Nor was anyone ever found who had been aboard her. Yet, as she remained trapped in the sand, people from the nearby shore swore they could hear screams and creaks and groans by night, coming from the haunted ship.”
“Wow,” Brad said, his eyes round.
“And we’re in this Devil’s Triangle?” Darlene asked on a squeaky breath.
“Dead center,” Sukee told her.
“Well, I’ve yet to hear of an entire island disappearing,” Yancy said matter-of-factly.
Smith cleared his throat as if to contradict her.
“An
“Not really,” Smith said reassuringly. “But there is Bouvet Island, in the South Atlantic. I’m sure Mr. O’Connor can tell you about it, as well.”
Adam grinned, looking at Smith. “Named for Jean Bouvet, the French explorer who discovered it in…1750 or thereabouts?” He looked questioningly at Smith.
“Thereabouts—1739,” the older man said.
Adam turned to Sukee. “It’s appeared and disappeared several times since it was discovered. Naturally it sinks, but exactly why it rises and falls isn’t really known as yet.”
“And there are no disappearing islands anywhere near us, dear girl,” Smith assured Darlene.
“I know, but when we dive—” Darlene began.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be diving, then,” Liam suggested dryly. He grinned, lifting his nearly empty glass toward the children. “The triangle is one thing—bet you don’t know where the word cannibal comes from.”
Brad shook his head, eyes bright. “Where?”
“Roast loin of people, boy, roast loin of people. Columbus found these fellows with piles of bones and skulls in their homes in the Lesser Antilles. The folks called themselves Canibales, though they were really Caribes—just had a different dialect than some of the others. Columbus went on home, and soon flesh eaters everywhere were called cannibals.”
“Ooh! That’s disgusting!” Darlene said.
“True story,” Liam said, pleased that she was turning pale.
“How about another soda, honey? It’ll calm your queasy stomach,” Yancy suggested, rising and seeming to break the spell that had fallen over the group.
Sam rose, as well, slipping behind the bar with Yancy. As she did so, Judy and Lew Walker sauntered into the bar, arm in arm. They were starting to greet the others, but were interrupted when Darlene leaped up from her chair, ran to meet them and threw herself into her father’s arms.
“Darlene, what on earth…?”
“Do I have to dive, Daddy? Do I have to dive?”
Lew Walker stared at Sam, puzzled and indignant. “What have you told her, Sam?”
“Me? I haven’t said a thing,” she protested.
Adam was up, shaking his head apologetically. “I’m afraid that I’m at fault here,” he began.
“Damned right,” Liam muttered.
“Along with Mr. Hinnerman and Mr. Smith. I’m afraid I’m a bit skeptical regarding mysterious phenomena, and Mr. Smith and I indulged in a few historical tales. Sam had nothing to do with it.”
“Oh, Dad!” Brad said. “Mr. Smith and Mr. O’Connor know so much neat stuff! And Mr. Hinnerman’s an expert on cannibals.”
“Ooh!” Darlene moaned again.
“You’ve been telling my daughter about cannibals?”
“Right before supper, yum, yum,” Yancy murmured.
Sam elbowed her in the ribs. Yancy sucked in a breath and shrugged innocently.
“The part about the cannibals was really cool!” Brad said.
Lew looked at his daughter, perplexed. “Honey, you’re not going to meet any cannibals diving under the water,” he assured her.
“Who knows? People seem to disappear so completely, they might have been eaten!” Darlene said.
Sam came around the bar, walked up to Darlene and took her by the hand. “Darlene, I’ve been out thousands of times, and I promise you, I’ve never lost a single diver to a cannibal.”
“Have you lost any to anything else?” Adam inquired politely.
“No!” Sam snapped.
“Will you buddy up with me tomorrow?” Darlene asked her.
“Sure.”
“What about me?” Jim Santino teased.
“It looks like it’s going to be you and Liam tomorrow,” Sam said evenly.
“What about Adam?” Liam demanded.
“Hey, Mr. O’Connor! How about being my buddy?” Brad asked excitedly.
“Sure.”
“That leaves Sukee,” Jim noted, eyes and smile flashing.
“Sukee can choose where she wants to make it a threesome,” Sam said.
“Hands down, I’m going with the boys,” Sukee said huskily.
“Which boys?” Yancy demanded.
“I haven’t decided yet—they’ll get to find out in the morning!” Sukee said, laughing.
Joey and Sue Emerson, the honeymooners, sauntered into the bar. “What’s happening in the morning?” Sue asked.
“We were discussing tomorrow’s dives,” Jim said. “Don’t worry—no one had any idea of splitting up the two of you.”
“Or joining the two of you,” Sukee murmured.
“Where are we diving tomorrow?” Sue asked.
“Away from the cannibals,” Darlene said.
“Cannibals?” Joey repeated. “I know there are sharks out there, but cannibals?”
“Yes, there are sharks,” Adam said idly.
“Sam?” Darlene said nervously.
“Darlene, I’ve been diving my entire life, and yes, I’ve seen sharks, but no, I’ve never been bothered by one.” She cast a frown toward Adam, who had the grace to look instantly contrite. She knew that he hadn’t been referring to Darlene’s kind of shark, but the damage had been done.
Adam stood and came over to Darlene. “Did you know that swimmers and especially surfers are sometimes attacked, but that divers are almost never attacked?”
“Really?”
He nodded. “They’ve done extensive experiments out in California. A lot of scientists think that the sharks see people on surfboards and in their minds, the surfer looks like a sea lion, which is what the shark normally likes to eat. You’ve got much more of a chance of being struck by lightning than you do of being attacked by a shark.”
“Really?”
“Really. Sharks are actually fascinating creatures. Many of them are quite harmless to man. And you know, they’re related to skates and rays, like the giant mantas you see sometimes when you’re down. You know, if you’re careful and gentle, you can catch a ride on a big manta.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t be so bad to dive with, either, Mr. O’Connor.”
“You can call me Adam.”
She grinned at him slowly. “You could dive with Sam and me, you know.”
“Hey!” her brother protested.
Sukee was quick to smooth his ruffled feathers. “Maybe I’d enjoy a younger man as a dive partner for the afternoon,” she said.
“Oh!” Brad said. His mouth remained in a circular shape. Even his parents laughed.
“Why don’t we work all this out in the morning?” Sam suggested, a brittle smile curving her lips. Leave it to Adam. He’d charmed Darlene. He still had the touch.
