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buoyancy compensator vests and peeled off the wet suits. The tropical sun was blistering even near the cool surface of the water.
    â€œWell?” Leonid asked expectantly.
    â€œIt’s definitely some kind of a compound. And old. That’s obvious.”
    â€œHow can you be so sure after only one look around?”
    Remi explained about the block construction, and Leonid nodded. “Then you’re certain?”
    â€œIt’s exactly what we suspected—a sunken complex of buildings.”
    â€œYou don’t dive?” Sam asked Leonid.
    The Russian shook his head. “Never learned.”
    â€œYou should take a crash course while we’re waiting for the dive boat to arrive. You can’t very well head up an aquatic expedition if you don’t go in the water.”
    â€œI’m not sure at my age this old dog has many new tricks left in him,” Leonid said.
    â€œNonsense. We’ll find an instructor. What else do you have to do over the next few days?”
    Leonid looked unconvinced. “Are you sure? I haven’t exactly kept this”—he gestured at his body—“in athletic shape.”
    â€œIt mainly involves floating around, Leonid. Jacques Cousteau was doing it at twice your age. Come on. Live a little,” Sam teased.
    The captain returned the boat to the shore and they disembarked onto the hot sand. Remi gazed down the beach to the grove where the crocodile had attacked and she nudged Sam.
    â€œWhat happened to our big friend?” she asked in a low voice.
    â€œThe locals probably overcame their fear of the area to drag it off.The hide’s worth a small fortune,” Leonid said. He turned to the islanders. “Can you make it tomorrow?”
    The captain and his crew exchanged worried glances and then the old man shook his head. “No. This is a bad place,” he said, his accent so thick his words were almost unintelligible.
    â€œCome on. Nothing happened. Easiest money you ever made.”
    The islanders looked at one another again and the captain frowned. “Money won’t do you any good here. I should never have come—this bay is cursed. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave and never return. If not, there will be more misfortune, and may God help you.”
    Leonid barked a harsh laugh. “Come on, old man. Cursed? You don’t strike me as someone who scares easily.”
    The captain fixed him with a cold stare. “I did as you asked, but no more. Pay me so I can get out of here. Just because you’re willing to gamble with your lives doesn’t mean I am.”
    â€œLittle dramatic, don’t you think?” Leonid said. The captain waited in silence as Leonid peeled off several bills and handed them to him. “Remember our deal. You tell nobody about this.” He fingered another bill.
    â€œI won’t tell a soul. And even if I did, nobody will want to tempt fate. I heard about what happened to Benji. He lost a leg to the curse.” The captain paused. “There will be more. That’s just the start.”
    Leonid passed him the larger-denomination bill and the man trudged back to the boat. He used the outboard to back it off the sand, and then the remaining two crew members trundled to the truck and took off, leaving Sam, Remi, and Leonid standing alone on the beach.
    Remi glanced at Sam. “Did you see the old man’s face? He was terrified.”
    â€œNative superstition. Mumbo jumbo. Nonsense,” Leonid scoffed.
    â€œHe’s heard of this bay before, though. It might be interesting to find out what the rumors are,” she said.
    â€œDoesn’t really matter, does it? There’s a lost city right offshorenobody knows about and we’ve discovered it. Who cares what some childish legends say about it?” Leonid spat.
    â€œThere’s usually an element of truth to folklore, Leonid,” Sam chided. “Can’t hurt to ask