Page 2 of Wet and Welder

worth of artifacts, she’s currently on course to hit my scavenger boat. In a matter of minutes, the

captain steps outside, yelling orders to brace ourselves for a sharp turn, and the men around me

rush into a frenzy. Some curse, some swear witchcraft, as the ghost ship seemed to appear out of

thin air. I simply smile at my good fortune and wrap my arms around the nearest pole. Unable to

stop staring at the wonder in front of me, even if I wanted to. It’s been lost to the sea for five

years. Crews with far more experience have come before me and failed, yet here it is. I know in

my bones that the spirits of my mother and father sent it straight to me from another moment in

time.

“Mallory!” Duncan yells from somewhere behind me.

“It’s her! It’s really her!” I reply.

Our much smaller boat makes a hasty turn, and water sprays as the deck dumps

equipment off the other side. Chaos erupts, and I continue to cling to the pole, where my feet are

swept behind me. The boat leans so hard that I worry about everyone’s safety. The iron siding of the ghost ship comes so close I can almost reach out and touch the paint that spells out Ocean

Stallion.

Seconds later, our boat levels out, and the captain rushes on deck, calling out each man’s

name to confirm a headcount and orders that force them into action. I’m already running to the

back not willing to let my ship out of sight.

Duncan, Gene, and Savannah all come running out, whooping and hollering as cheers

ring out among the deck crew.

Just as the celebration begins, I watch in horror as the back of the ship comes into view,

and my heart drops at the sight of the exposed hole currently taking in water. Soon, the ship

slows, along with the cheers from the crew.

I swing around to face the crew. “Everyone, back to your stations! We need to get that

camera back in the water!”

“We don’t know what damage it just took from that hit, Ms Montgomery. There is a

protocol to be upheld here,” Nelson replies. As the designated sub-camera expert, he has

legitimate concerns, but I’m here for only one reason…and it’s currently sinking.

“I’m sorry. Did you not just see what I did? Have you not been looking for the same ship

that is now right within reach? This needs to be documented, and the investors won’t want to

hear about your protocol.”

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