4
Two days passed with no word from Lovely. Diane called Miss Naomi twice but no one answered. She had a long chat with Marlo Wagner and explained the situation. At first Marlo made light of the old African curse, but grew more serious when she realized that Diane and the others were frightened by it. The legend of Dark Isle included many stories of white trespassers who had died mysteriously. Marlo also recalled something from a book she’d read about African mysticism: the curse went away with the death of the witch doctor, or mystic, or priestess. Or whatever they were called.
Diane assured her that Lovely was believable. Hearing and watching her had convinced them all. “We could almost feel a spirit in the room,” she explained.
There was a sudden search for black archaeologists. Marlo knew two who had helped the African Burial Project and she promised to call them immediately.
Diane called Dr. Gilfoy at FSU and described the current wrinkle in their plans. He, too, scoffed at the idea of a curse, especially one put in place 260 years ago. He was not intimidated in the least and was still looking forward to the dig on the island.
5
Over coffee, Bruce told Steven that he had a new legal strategy.
“And since when did you start giving legal advice?” Steven asked.
“Oh, I advise on many subjects. Here’s the idea: Withdraw your lawsuit, give Tidal Breeze the green light, and let them invade the island. That’ll piss off Lovely and her spirits and they’ll take out a few surveyors and architects. Once Tidal Breeze starts losing people, then they’ll tuck tail and run. The island will be saved.”
“I’ve actually thought about that. But what if it’s all a crock? Do you really believe there’s an old African curse on the island?”
“No. But I ain’t going over there. You?”
“I’m a lawyer, not an archaeologist. I’ll stay behind. Diane, though, can’t wait to jump in the middle of it.”
“What if Lovely says no?”
“We’ll still go to trial. DNA is a long shot anyway. It’s hard to believe they could find some old bones after all these years, and especially after Leo.”
“What are your chances without DNA?”
“Fifty-fifty. Our biggest problem has not changed. Lovely admits she left the island sixty-five years ago.”
6
Miss Naomi called late at night. Diane was house-sitting Mercer’s cottage, something she was doing more and more. “Well, hello Miss Naomi.”
“Lovely wants to talk in the morning on her porch. Just the three of us.”
“I’ll be there. What time?”
“Ten. And if you bring some of those coconut cookies, that’d be nice.”
“Will do.”
The porch was so narrow their toes almost touched. They sipped coffee and nibbled on cookies and talked about the weather until Lovely said, “If I go, things will be okay.”
Diane waited for more, and when nothing came she said, “You want to go to the island?”
“That’s right. If I go I can release the curse. And they can’t find the cemetery without me.”
“So, let me get this straight. It’s okay for the team to go onto the island, all of them, including us white people? But only if you go too?”
“Yes. I must go.”
“And I can go too?”
“I want you to go. The spirits are with me and they know that good people are trying to help.”
“Okay. How soon can we go?”
“Wednesday of next week is a full moon. We go at midnight.”
“Midnight?”
“Yes.”
7
The large pontoon boat was used for sunset excursions, booze cruises, private parties, and sightseeing around Camino Island. Steven wrangled a one-week lease from its owner for $2,500, supposedly at a discount. The team arrived at the island’s main harbor late in the afternoon of April 22 and began loading gear and supplies onto the boat.
The team consisted of two men and a woman affiliated with the African Burial Project. All three were black, thanks to Marlo Wagner’s charm and salesmanship, and they were led by Dr. Sargent, chair of the Department of Anthropology at Howard University in Washington. The truth was that once word of the expedition spread through the network, Marlo was flooded with requests from volunteers. With good nature and a dose of humor, she explained that black gravediggers were preferred for reasons to be discussed later. The dig might be too dangerous for white folks. Most of the archaeologists, black and white, knew each other and many had worked together.
The white team was led by Dr. Gilfoy, who years earlier had studied with Dr. Sargent at Cornell. All six had doctoral degrees and worked in both the classroom and the field. Dr. Sargent had published two books on lost African burial grounds and was considered the leading expert.
After dark, Bruce Cable arrived with Claude the Cajun Caterer and a case of wine. Dinner was served under the pontoon’s canopy and the team dined on gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish étouffée. The wine and beer flowed along with the stories. There were plenty of them, told by seasoned raconteurs who’d had amazing experiences digging in jungles, mountains, and deserts the world over. As the evening wore on, it slowly became apparent that Dr. Sargent had the best stories and the most experience with African burial sites, and, without seeming pushy or ambitious, he gradually took charge. There were plenty of egos around the table, but they were accustomed to teamwork in difficult places.
At 10:00 p.m., on schedule, Diane and Mercer arrived with Lovely Jackson, who had ditched the colorful robes and turbans and wore instead old jeans, boots, and a khaki shirt that was three sizes too big. The party belonged to her and she took her time meeting the team, all of whom were delighted to meet her.
Mercer had taken a one-week leave of absence from the classroom, something her dean wasn’t exactly thrilled about but he really had no choice. She had a big book contract, something the other professors could only dream of.
They gathered around a table and looked at large maps and aerials of Dark Isle, both before and after Hurricane Leo. Lovely had never seen the island from the air and it took her a while to get oriented. She pointed to a small cove where the boats were kept at a dock. It was on the eastern edge of the island, facing Santa Rosa, and had been obliterated by Leo. It was a short walk from the dock to the village. The cemetery was on the western edge of the island, on a ridge that was the highest point.
The archaeologists had platted every square foot of the island, or as much as could be seen from the air. The density of the forests and the damage from Leo made it impossible to see any remains from the settlement. They pointed here and there on various maps, quizzed Lovely, scratched their heads, and slowly put together a plan.
At eleven o’clock, Ronnie, the boat captain, started the engines. Bruce and Steven helped shove the pontoon away from the pier, then said their goodbyes. Bruce called out, “If we don’t see you again we will not attempt a rescue.” Everyone laughed.
Inching across the still water under a full moon, the mood quieted as Santa Rosa faded behind them and Dark Isle loomed ahead. Twenty minutes after leaving the harbor, Ronnie throttled down, then killed the engines. “We’re in five feet of water here. This is okay?”
“Okay,” replied Diane.
A small dinghy was starboard and Ronnie unhooked it from the pontoon. Diane stepped into it first and found her balance. Mercer went second. “Watch your step,” she said to Lovely as Ronnie held her arm and guided her down. The dinghy rocked and Lovely tilted before Diane caught her and eased her onto the bench. Ronnie handed Diane three large canvas bags and said, “The surf will take you in but there is a paddle if you need it.”