Read Online Lethal Legend by Kathy Lynn Emerson - Free Book Online

hundred and fifty years ago.
    “Four hun—”
    Graham Somener chuckled at her amazement. “Yes, Mrs. Spaulding. You heard correctly. The ship Miss Dunbar is looking for went down in the year of our Lord 1401—almost a hundred years before Columbus ‘discovered’ America.”
    “And you think something could have survived?”
    “Miss Dunbar does.” He shrugged. “Enough to be recognizable as part of a ship. There might even be bits of the cargo left. As I understand it, if the ship hit one of the ledges that surrounds this island and sank, it would have settled either on the ledge, in which case the remains were quickly broken up and swept out into deeper waters, or to the bottom. If it came to rest in sand, there’s a chance some of it has been preserved. It would have been covered up all this time, you see, and thus protected.”
    Diana’s brow wrinkled in thought. “If only tiny bits of a shipwreck are left, how will anyone be able to recognize them for what they are?”
    “Ah, that is the purpose of Mr. Ennis and his diving suit.”
    As the meal progressed and Graham expanded upon his explanation, it occurred to Ben that his old friend had taken more than a passing interest in Miss Dunbar’s quest. He was not only remarkably well informed about the shipwreck, but about deep sea divers and their gear, as well. Well, why not? Graham had likely been the one who’d paid for it all.
    “Everything is sealed,” Graham assured Diana, “so there is no risk of the suit filling up with water. In addition, these suits have a double security system. Air comes in by way of a hose that is close to the right ear and has a manually adjustable valve. A second hose goes straight to the mouth. Air escapes from a non-return valve on the helmet. That is necessary, you see, to get rid of stale or excess air.”
    “I think I will need to examine an actual helmet to understand what you mean,” Diana admitted. “It sounds very complicated.”
    “Much less so than earlier models. In the old days, helmet divers were hindered by lines and hoses and could move only with difficulty. To make things worse, their passage would stir up a cloud of muddy water, limiting visibility. In the best of conditions, if a diver wanted to take a closer look at something, he’d only dare lower his face glass for a moment. There was great danger otherwise of accidentally inflating his suit, which would blow him to the surface and likely kill him.”
    “A dangerous business, then.”
    “Indeed, and that wasn’t the only risk. If the anchor dragged on the tender carrying the air pump, the diver was as good as dead.”
    “Fascinating.” Diana shifted eager eyes to Ben. “Will we have time before we leave to watch the start of the dive?”
    He glanced at the Ormolu clock on the sideboard. “We should be able to see a bit of the action, but then we’ll need to head back to the wharf to watch for the Miss Min .”
    Graham put down his fork with a clatter. “You did make her promise not to speak of any of this, or write about it?”
    The surprised look on Diana’s face answered him before Ben could explain himself. “Ben?” she whispered, seeing the flash of temper in Graham’s eyes.
    “Settle down, both of you. Diana’s not here to expose any secrets.”
    “But if Miss Dunbar finds what she’s looking for, it will cause a sensation. Surely she’ll want credit for her discoveries. I—”
    Graham rose to his feet so abruptly that his chair toppled over backwards. “You’ll not write one word. I forbid it.”
    “If it concerns the excavation, it will not be up to you.” Cheeks flaming, Diana stood, too. She clutched her napkin so tightly that her knuckles shone whiter than the linen.
    “Calm down!” Ben shouted.
    Both parties jumped at the crack of his voice.
    Graham drew in a deep, steadying breath. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to watch the dive, after all. There won’t be room in the rowing boats to take you around to the