Even to Maddock’s untrained eye, the skeleton was immediately recognizable. He’d seen enough fossils and images of its adult counterparts to know the distinctive long neck, serpentine head, and powerful flippers.
“It’s a baby,” Isla whispered.
“And it’s not fossilized,” Bones said. “There’s still some tissue on the carcass.” He trained the beam of his light on the skeletal remains of the tail, where a few bits of dark flesh clung stubbornly to bone.
“Do you think it’s a nest?” Isla asked.
“I’m not sure,” Grizzly said. “The current theory among scientists is the plesiosaur didn’t lay eggs, but gave birth to live young, usually one at a time, and probably didn’t spend much time on land. Maybe this little guy was sick and unable to swim?” The tone of genuine sympathy in the man’s voice struck a chord with Maddock. Grizzly might be a buffoon, but he had a heart.
“This is incredible!” Isla said, taking out her camera. “Even if we don’t find the treasure, this alone could make my career.”
“You know what this means, don’t you, Maddock?” Bones said. “We just proved that plesiosaurs not only live in this area but have survived undetected.”
Maddock nodded. This was the sort of thing he’d fantasized about as a kid, though he’d always wanted to see a live specimen. Now that he’d seen evidence of their ferocity, though, he wasn’t so sure.
Isla and Grizzly spent a few minutes taking photographs, Grizzly vowing to return with a camera crew.
“Jo Slater is going to freak when she finds out. Hell, they might give me her show.”
Bones turned a questioning look in his direction. “You know Slater?”
“Not really. She thinks she’s too good for the likes of me.” Grizzly frowned. “Do you know her?”
Bones coughed delicately, cleared his throat. “We’ve, um, hung out together.”
“That means he hooked up with her and she never called again,” Maddock explained.
“Hey, it’s not like that,” Bones said. “I mean, I didn’t call her either. At least, not after…” He gave his head a shake. “Screw you, Maddock.”
“When we release our findings,” Grizzly said, “she’ll be calling. And you and I can have the pleasure of telling her where to go.” He sat down and began unlacing his boots.
“What are you doing?” Maddock asked.
“I’m going to swim out there and check it out up close.” Grizzly inclined his head toward the islet.
“There will be time for that, later. Right now we’re going to keep searching for the treasure. Besides,” he paused for effect, “you never know. That thing’s mother might be out there somewhere, and she’s probably pissed.”
Grizzly pursed his lips, looked out at the dark water, and nodded. “Good point. I’ll wait.”
“You should have let him go,” Bones whispered, too soft for anyone but Maddock to hear.
A narrow shelf skirted the shore of the underground lake, and they followed it, careful not to slip. Maddock’s words had put everyone on high alert. It seemed the legend was true; a beastie did guard whatever lay hidden down here. The skeletons in the first chamber gave mute witness to the danger posed by the creatures that dwelled here.
Maddock rested his hand on the pistol in his pocket. Eight bullets in the magazine. Bones was similarly armed. Were they crazy? If they did, in fact, encounter a hostile creature, would that be enough firepower to hold it at bay until they made their escape?
“Everybody hold on.” He turned and held up a hand, stopping them in their tracks. “I just want to make sure everyone understands the danger.”
“Here we go,” Bones said, rolling his eyes. “Next he’ll offer to wipe our butts for us.”
“Look,” Maddock said. “If we encounter one of these monsters, I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to fight it off. I’m willing to take the risk, and I’m sure Bones is too, but we’re crazy like that. What about you two?”
“Cryptids are my life. I’m going on no matter what anyone else does,” Grizzly said.
“And I feel the same about the treasure,” Isla said. “It’s in my blood. It’s mine.”
“All right. We’ll go on.” Maddock wasn’t sure if he was relieved or not. He hadn’t missed the way Isla said, “It’s mine.” Was she coming down with treasure fever? Had she had it all along, and he’d missed the signs? A lifelong pursuit such as hers could have profound effects on one’s psyche. He’d have to keep an eye on her.
At the far end of the cavern, they moved into another passageway through which a deep channel flowed. Maddock shone his beam down into the water and saw movement, flashes of silver.
“Salmon,” Grizzly said. “I guess we know what the creatures eat.”
“Salmon and people who are stupid enough to get in their way,” Bones said.
“If it comes to that, we’re sacrificing you,” Maddock said. “You’ve got the most meat on your bones. Pun intended.”
Bones grinned. “Looks like I won’t be the first. Check that out.” He pointed out into the water.
Up ahead, the channel widened around another rocky islet. There, in the midst of fish and seal bones, a human skull grinned back at them.
“Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys,” Isla said. After a long pause, she threw up her hands. “Oh, come on! Lord of the Rings?”
“We got the reference,” Maddock said. “We’re just surprised you knew it.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know a little geek culture. The Vacation movies don’t qualify.”
“That’s debatable,” Bones said.
Isla turned to argue, but Maddock grabbed her by the arm.
“What is it?”
Slowly, he turned her around so she could see what he was looking at. Up ahead lay another underground lake. A series of stone steps led across the surface of the water to another islet. At the center stood the Goddess Danu, surrounded by four pedestals, and atop them…
Isla gasped. “The treasure!”
Chapter 30
A statue of the Goddess Danu, perfectly preserved, stood facing them. Several small chests lay broken at her feet, spilling gold and jewels. Carved into the stone floor, the swirling pattern of a Celtic triskele encircled her. At the edges of the islet stood four sturdy blocks of basalt, each supporting one of the treasures of the Tuatha de Dannan.
“It’s just like the shrine underneath Dunstaffnage,” Maddock said.
“Except this time, the treasure is actually here,” Grizzly said. “The gold and jewels must be the Urquhart Treasure. Moved here for safe keeping, I suppose.”
Isla took out her camera and began clicking away. “Go on,” she said to Maddock and Bones. “I’ll photograph you making your way out to the island. Just don’t touch anything until I get there.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Maddock said. He paused to inspect the stepping stones that led out to the island shrine. Each was about one-foot square and jutted up just above the surface. They appeared solid, carved from the native stone of the cavern. But would they support his weight? Only one way to find out.
Gingerly, he stepped onto the first stone, testing it before putting his weight on it. It held. He took the next step with similar care.
“Any day now, Grandma,” Bones said.
By the third stone, Maddock had gained enough confidence that he moved at a regular pace, counting them as he went. Ten, eleven, twelve… He froze.
“What is it?” Bones asked.
“The last stone is missing.” Where the thirteenth stone should have been lay a stretch of open water.
“So jump,” Grizzly suggested.
“You don’t know Maddock,” Bones said. “He’ll stand there for a half hour just to make sure everything’s cool. Finally, he’ll jump, and everything will be cool, but will he learn? Not a chance.”