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further. Uncle Gord had his back to me and was looking out over the water. I tried to see past him to figure out what he was waiting for.
    I saw another dark shadow move quietly behind Uncle Gord.
    Judd Warner! With his pistol pointed at Uncle Gord.
    I slowly pushed open the locker door.
    It was all in front of me. The deck of the boat. Judd Warner standing behind Uncle Gord. Uncle Gord looking into the water. And the black, black ocean beyond.
    â€œHands behind your back,” Judd said in a low voice.
    Uncle Gord started to move.
    Judd stepped forward and pressed his pistol against Uncle Gord’s back.
    â€œHands behind your back or I pull the trigger.”
    Slowly, Uncle Gord put his hands behind him.
    Slowly, I stepped out of the locker. With the loaded speargun in my hand.
    â€œGood,” Judd Warner said to Uncle Gord. “It’s a lot easier taking you before those three gorillas get back on the boat.”
    I heard a click. Judd Warner had just handcuffed Uncle Gord’s wrists together.
    I raised my speargun. The safety was still on, but Judd didn’t have to know that. I was afraid I might trigger the spear by accident.
    â€œDrop your gun,” I said in a shaky voice. “I’ve got a speargun, and I’ll shoot if I have to.”

chapter twenty-seven
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re doing, Ian,” Judd said. “You’re making a mistake.”
    â€œI’m going to count to three. Then I shoot. One...two...”
    Judd bent over and set the gun on the deck.
    â€œNow unlock the handcuffs,” I said.
    â€œIf you’ll listen to me,” Judd said. “You would know that—”
    â€œOne...two...”
    Judd reached into his pocket. I watched carefully to make sure he wasn’t going fora knife. A few seconds later, he unlocked Uncle Gord.
    Uncle Gord turned around.
    â€œIan?”
    â€œI followed him,” I explained. “I didn’t want to tell you until I knew what was happening.”
    â€œI owe you one,” Uncle Gord said. “Keep him covered while I get the gun.”
    I pointed the speargun at Judd’s chest. Judd kept still. I couldn’t see his face in the dark. Just the outline of his body.
    When Uncle Gord had the pistol in his hand, he handcuffed Judd Warner and put the key in his pocket.
    â€œWe can relax now, Ian,” Uncle Gord said, stepping away from Judd. “This guy won’t be able to do anything to us.”
    â€œWhat is all of this about?” I asked. “It doesn’t look like a treasure hunt.”
    â€œYou’re smart, Ian,” Uncle Gord said. “That’s what I’ve always liked about you.”
    Uncle Gord was backing away from Judd as he spoke. He kept the pistol pointed at Judd as he moved beside me.
    â€œYou want to know what this is about?” Uncle Gord said.
    â€œYeah,” I said. “All of this is weird. And what is Judd doing?”
    â€œI’ll tell you in a second,” Uncle Gord said. He turned to me and in a single movement pressed the pistol against my head. “First, I want you to throw the speargun overboard.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œI’m not joking. Throw your speargun into the water behind you. Or I’ll put a neat little hole into your head.”
    I was frozen with disbelief.
    I heard the pistol click as Uncle Gord brought the hammer back.
    I threw the speargun behind me. It splashed into the darkness a second later.
    â€œSee,” Uncle Gord said. “You are smart. Now stand beside Judd where I can watch both of you.”
    This wasn’t real, I told myself. It felt like I was walking through waist-deep glue as I moved to stand beside Judd.
    â€œLook behind you,” Uncle Gord said. “That’s your answer.”
    At first, I saw nothing but black. It hurt my eyes, I was looking so hard. Finally, I thought I saw something. For a moment, I wondered if it was my imagination. It seemed