  Tom sat comfortably at the boat's stern as it glided smoothly through the water. It always baffled him how things as heavy as watercraft could be carried so easily by such calm-looking water. But it was a good thing that it was possible because that was what the whole mission depended on. The girl had warned that engines should not be used until they had gotten what they had come for. That is if they would get it. What were the chances? Zero to five perhaps?
      He got to his feet as he heard the boatman shout orders to his men. They had reached the spot and the nets would now be released. Tom knew nothing about these things - he was just a treasure seeker - that was why he had paid the boatman a handsome sum to fix everything and get him what he wanted. He could have stayed below deck like the boatman had advised, but he couldn't trust anyone, not when so much was at stake.
      He

  Ben had spent a day in his house and he was now quite convinced that he was back home and no longer in captivity. It would take a few more days for the nights to look a little different because the darkness as a free man had so much in common with the darkness as a captive - all pitch black and cold. But one thing he was very happy and grateful for was the fact that Tara was spending the night with him. In captivity, he never slept early. So even after midnight, he was still wide awake, checking every now and then to see if she was still there. He had to touch her to make sure and man, was her skin cold. After enduring several such touches in silence, Tara turned and snuggled close.
      "I'm not leaving," she murmured in assurance.
      "Glad to hear," Ben whispered in reply, expecting to hear the echo of his voice, forgetting that he was no longer in an empty room.
      "Hmm," was

Tom sat comfortably at the boat's stern as it glided smoothly through the water. It always baffled him how things as heavy as watercraft could be carried so easily by such calm-looking water. But it was a good thing that it was possible because that was what the whole mission depended on. The girl had warned that engines should not be used until they had gotten what they had come for. That is if they would get it. What were the chances? Zero to five perhaps?
      He got to his feet as he heard the boatman shout orders to his men. They had reached the spot and the nets would now be released. Tom knew nothing about these things - he was just a treasure seeker - that was why he had paid the boatman a handsome sum to fix everything and get him what he wanted. He could have stayed below deck like the boatman had advised, but he couldn't trust anyone, not when so much was at stake.
      He watched as the nets were released into the water in the manner that the boatman had assured him was

Chapter SIXTEEN