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“When you live in a town the size of Honiara, you’re always in the neighborhood.”
“How’s he doing?” Remi asked.
“He’s stable, but probably not up to seeing anyone yet. We have him sedated. I’m sorry. But I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
“Thanks. We don’t even know him, so he might not understand who we are,” Remi said.
“I’ll just tell him the people who saved his life came by to check on him.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I am going to put the bite on you for a donation, so it’s the least I can do,” Vanya joked.
“You offered to help us last night. I hope you don’t mind if we take you up on that,” Sam said.
“Of course not. What can I do?”
“Keep a secret, for starters,” Remi said, looking around the area.
“My lips are sealed.”
“The anomalies we’re here researching? They appear to be the remains of a sunken city.”
She blinked twice. “A what?”
“An ancient city off the coast.”
“Off Guadalcanal? You can’t be serious.”
Sam nodded. “We are. And we want to know if there are any legends about such a place. I’d imagine there would have to be. One of the old captains said something about a curse? We’d like to find out what’s behind it.”
Vanya took a seat in the empty patient lounge and stared at the two of them as though they’d appeared from another universe. “I was born here and I’ve never heard of a cursed sunken city. That sounds like science fiction. No offense.”
“None taken. I know it sounds far-fetched. But we’re sort of in the legends business and this isn’t the first time that the seemingly impossible has turned out to be real,” Remi explained.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that you found something. I just can’t believe that . . . that you found ruins around here. I mean, no disrespect, but it’s not like the Solomons are known for their advanced civilization stretching back to ancient times. Look around. That someone built a city that’s now underwater . . .”
“Well, city may be a bit grandiose. More like a complex,” Sam conceded. “But, still, is there anyone you can think of who might be able to answer some questions for us? Maybe an elder? Someone who’s well versed in all the oral traditions?”
She shook her head. “Perhaps Orwen might know. He socializes a lot more than I do. But, off the top of my head, nobody springs to mind.”
Sam frowned. “He seemed rather down on foreigners coming to the islands and taking advantage. He might not be receptive to an overture for help.”
“Oh, don’t let Orwen’s bluster put you off. He’ll help if I ask him to.”
“We’d really rather keep the circle that knows as small as possible,” Remi cautioned.
“Well, if you’re going to mount any kind of real expedition, you’re going to need permission from the government and that’s Orwen. I can’t see the administration just allowing you to go around disturbing our heritage even if they don’t know it exists just yet. Orwen’s your best shot at getting their okay.”
“We don’t even know what it is we found. It might be premature.”
“And better to ask forgiveness than permission? I wouldn’t try that here. As you probably surmised at dinner, the islanders can be touchy when it comes to their territory. I’d do it properly from the beginning.”
Sam nodded. “Good advice. Could you touch base with him?”
“I’ll call right now. Do you mind waiting?” Vanya asked, rising.
She disappeared back into the hospital. Sam leaned into Remi, his voice low. “I wish we didn’t have to share anything about the find.”