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the woman's eyes and believed her。 〃No。 Two people；〃 she said； she lifted the bones again； rolled them； let them fall。
〃What the hell are we doing here？〃 one of the sailors asked。
The woman looked into Moore's face。 〃There is a great distance to be traveled yet；〃 she said； wet lips glistening。 〃I can't see where they are。 But they will not leave until you find them。〃
〃Who are they？〃 Moore asked； and as soon as he spoke the men were quiet。
〃A woman。 Tall。 Very beautiful。 A man。 No。 A boy child。 They are very confused； and they don't understand why you can't hear。〃
〃I。。。〃 Moore began； but then stopped himself。 〃Is there anything else？〃
She rolled the bones； dropped them； and probed as if looking for a particular one。 Then she shook her head。 〃No。 Fate reserves the rest。〃 She held out her hand for her money。 〃Anyone else？〃 she asked。
The freighter's lights had vanished； the horizon was black again and above it hung the separate； fiery dots of stars。 Moore crushed out his cigarette。 It was hard not to believe； but it was equally hard to believe。 He wanted to believe； though； he desperately needed to； perhaps because of his persistent； unnerving feeling about Coquina。 That it was the end of his journey。 And the questions still to be answered； the ones that had plagued him day and night and sometimes made him cry out because he couldn't understand。 Why had he not died with Beth and Brian？ Why had he been saved？ Why had he been sent on a path that led。。。 here？ To Coquina？ To find what？ Fate reserves the rest； the old woman had told him。
〃Do you mind if I join you？〃
Moore turned his head； his reflexes slowed by the effects of the rum。 Jana was standing behind him on the porch； wearing a tight white blouse and jeans。 He had no idea how long she'd been there。 〃Sure；〃 he said； and motioned toward another chair beside him。
She sat down and put her legs up on the porch railing。 Her hair was exactly as he'd imagined it： she wore it loose and it touched her shoulders； softly blond and very attractive。 〃It's quiet；〃 she said after a moment of silence。
〃Yes； the bars closed early tonight。 Usually there's a lot of noise on a Saturday。〃 He glanced over at her； his eyes tracing the fine line of her profile。 〃Is your room all right？〃
〃It's fine； thanks。〃 She sensed that he wanted to be alone； but she wasn't about to leave him。 〃It's a shame you don't have more visitors。 I think your island has a lot of potential。〃
He grunted。 〃For what？ Another tourist haven； where they destroy the jungle for a Hilton and a shopping center？ It would mean more money ing into Coquina； but there are only a few natural places like this left in the Caribbean。 That's why I bought the hotel and decided to stay on for a while。 I wouldn't have it any other way。〃
〃Are you against progress？〃
〃Progress； no。 Spoilage； yes。 A few years ago some businessmen had a plan to build a hotel and marina over on the island's north point。 They dredged out a harbor and started blasting the jungle away with dynamite。 They never finished it； and they ruined a perfectly good natural cove。〃
〃What made them stop？〃
Moore shrugged。 〃Money； I suppose。 And problems with the Carib Indians； who kicked their night watchmen around and stole their supplies； those people claim that part of Coquina； and they guard it jealously。 But I'm glad they didn't finish。 You can keep your Jamaicas and Haitis； Coquina's better off being left alone。〃
There was a pause； and then Jana said； 〃I didn't know I'd touched a nerve。〃
Moore glanced over at her； he hadn't meant to e across that strongly； and he knew it was partly the rum talking。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he apologized。 〃I suppose it's only a matter of time before the tourists move in； but I'm attached to this place。 I don't want it to change。〃
〃I can understand your feelings。〃
〃Well；〃 he said； dismissing the subject with a wave of his hand； 〃enough about Coquina。 I'm forgetting my manners。 Would you like a drink？〃
Jana shook her head。 〃I don't drink； but thank you all the same。〃
Moore sipped from his glass； listening for a moment to the sound of the ocean rolling across Kiss Bottom。 The waves were harsher than usual； and that could mean a storm was building somewhere； chopping up the sea。 〃How long have you been with the Foundation？〃 he asked her finally。
〃A little over a year；〃 she said。 〃I worked in research for the British Museum after I finished school； and I had the opportunity to dive with Cousteau on the Britannic。 That was mostly luck； but it helped me win a position in Kingston。〃
〃What exactly does the Foundation do？〃
She smiled faintly and nodded toward the open sea。 〃That's my laboratory。 Out there are perhaps thousands of sunken wrecks。 Some are charted； some aren't； more are being discovered all the time。 We document and study the ones that haven't been identified。 There are perhaps more wrecks in the Caribbean than any one place on earth； so that's why I tried my damnedest to get the position。 Pirate's galleons； men…o'…war； sailing merchants； steamers； warships； the bottom's a marine archaeologist's paradise。 What we're doing is just as much for shipping safety as for the sake of history。〃
〃You're very young to have e so far in your field。〃
Jana smiled openly； it was a warm smile； filled with a charm Moore had not seen until now。 〃I've heard that one before。 Believe me； I worked my ass off to get where I am。 It's never been easy…it still isn't…but I think the work is worth it。〃
〃So what are you planning about the submarine？〃
Jana's smile faded at once。 She stood up and leaned against the railing； staring out into the night； when she turned back to him he could see the fierce determination in her eyes。 〃I'm not going to let that man sink it； if that's what you mean。 He doesn't seem to realize how valuable it could be。 To be perfectly honest； grants to the Foundation from Great Britain haven't been pouring in for some time； the British Museum seems to be losing interest in our work。 Something like this could spark a fire throughout the entire scientific munity！ No。 I'm not going to return to Kingston and tell them I had a risen U…boat in my grasp； in remarkable condition； and let it be sunk right under my nose！〃
〃Wait here a second；〃 Moore said suddenly； standing up。 〃I want to show you something。〃 He went to his study； found the scorpion paperweight； and brought it out to her。 〃Look at this；〃 he said。
She stared at the glass object； holding it up to the dim porch light。 Her expression was troubled and she seemed agitated。 〃Where did you find this？〃 she asked quietly； glancing at him and then back to the paperweight。
〃Inside the boat； there was a cabin just forward of the control room。〃
Jana nodded。 〃The mander's quarters。〃 She turned it； examining the letters。 Moore saw the color suddenly drain from her face。 〃Korrin；〃 she said。
〃What？〃
〃It's the name here。 Korrin。 Wilhelm Korrin。 Do you see？〃 Her eyes were bright with excitement。
〃I suppose it could say that； yes。〃
〃I know that name；〃 she said with finality。
Moore took it from her； held it into the light。
〃And now I