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"I know that. And since I can tell you're dying to know, I'm forty-three. Satisfied?"
"Yes. Thank you. I'm thirty-two, by the way." My foot has a mind of its own and decides to tap furiously on the rock ledge beneath me. My hands want to wring themselves too. I keep staring down at the muddy river, but I still can't see a thing. "Maybe you should pull him out. It's been too long."
"Relax, Ashley."
"No, I can't do that. Pull him out, please."
Munro gives me an exasperated look.
I point down at the water. "Get him out of there."
"You're being overly—"
Errol springs up out of the water. He lets out a triumphant shout, then swims over to the ledge to climb onto it a few feet from me. Errol grins. "Success!"
I throw my arms around him. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were drowning."
"No, lass, I was never in any danger." He grasps my face and kisses me deeply. "But I like knowing you care enough to panic."
I glance at Munro. "What were you going to say? Something about me being overly…what?"
Munro actually seems sheepish, though only for a moment. Then he reverts to his usual grumpiness. "I was going to say you're being overly lenient in letting Errol free dive like that."
"Oh, sure, that's what you wanted to tell me. Afraid I'm not buying that 'overly lenient' bullshit. I think you were about to say something sexist."
Munro urges Errol to step aside. Then he clasps my hand and kisses it. "My deepest apologies to you, Ashley, for any affront I may have caused you."
"I accept your apology, even if it is partially sarcastic."
"Thank you, lass. You have unburdened my heart."
"Quit while you're ahead."
Munro bows and kisses my hand again. Then he moves away to let Errol come closer to me.
"What did you find?" I ask. "Seemed like you stumbled onto something."
"I did. Do you have a piece of paper and a pencil? I'll draw it for you."
Munro retrieves a pad of paper and a pen from his pack and gives them both to Errol. I watch while Errol sketches something on the sheet, his pen moving so swiftly that I have trouble keeping track of his strokes. When he's finished, he hands me the pad of paper.
I study what he drew. "This looks a lot like the map we have."
"Aye, that's what I thought too."
"But this must be a continuation of the original drawing. Whoever created the cavern Kincaid found must have wanted to keep it a secret. Why else would somebody hide the next part of the map underwater?"
"Ye read my mind, Ashley." Errol slaps the back of his hand on Munro's chest. "See? I told ye she's a clever lass."
Munro rubs his forehead. "So now we're following another map that will lead to yet another one, and on and on and on."
"I'm paying you to be our guide," I tell him. "So shut up and be happy. You'll get piles of money when this is over."
He rubs his chin. "Aye, that is the silver lining."
Errol slaps his palms together. "Back in the raft. Our journey hasn't ended yet."
I help the boys push the raft halfway into the water, but Munro insists that Errol and I should climb in while he gives us the final push into the river. Then we're off again. Munro and Errol immediately begin paddling to avoid the boulder and the rapid that flows around it.
