I stared at the pieces on the table thinking it all over for a long moment.
"Do you think they could still be there living out their utopia like setting?" I asked wonderingly.
Matt shrugged, "I suppose it's a possibility, but I'd say from the nature of this message that something ill willed befell them and then there is the matter of Captain Rogers escaping this island realm with the key to finding it in tow. He never made it public that he had a key to such a realm, which makes me think that he wouldn't have brought the key back with him if there hadn't been a good reason to remove it from the land below."
There was silence for a while, which Matt broke, "You know Eli, if they really are still there living their plantation dreams out there will be no treasure for you to salvage and you will be seen as no better than a slave."
Now there was a sobering thought.
"It wouldn't be the first time in my family I suppose." I commented reflectively.
"I suppose not. Which side of your family traces its roots back to slavery in the South?" Matt asked inquiringly.
"My mother's side." I said not really caring about the past.
I glanced up from the pieces of the Orlanis Star to Matt and was very honest for a moment, "My boat is paid out for three more months. I have only enough money to pay my crew for one month and I don't have any available salvage jobs other than this treasure quest. If I don't make some dough I'm done for and since Laura and the kids………" I looked away as emotion rose up to choke me.
Matt reached out and squeezed my shoulder. I looked back to him feeling ashamed of the tear sliding down my cheek, but Matt's eyes were equally watery.
"Look around you Eli. I'm at the end of my rope too. There's nothing left here for me, but empty memories. This expedition on my part would be a source of excitement to help me forget all this and for you it would be the ability to keep your free roaming love affair with the sea. Both of our needs can be answered by taking this plunge into the unknown. I say we go for it and live life a little on the wild side and maybe we'll both forget for a little while what once was."
I nodded and he patted me on the shoulder before saying, "Let me get my toothbrush."
He wandered off into the barren house and I proceeded to pack up the pieces of the device, while I waited for his return.