Ilhabela 2 〈2027〉

“Don’t open it, Marina. It’s not treasure. It’s a trap.”

“We dive at dawn,” Marina announced. The water was a cold, green cathedral. Marina’s dive light cut through the murk like a knife, revealing the Ilhabela 2 in terrible glory. Her brass fittings were verdigris-green, her wooden hull encrusted with feather stars. She lay on her side, as if sleeping.

“Evidence,” Marina said, though she didn’t know of what. She unlatched the tiny gold clasp. Ilhabela 2

“For the captain who listens to the deep. The second disaster is always the diver, not the wreck.”

“They said she hit a submerged peak,” Leo said, reading her silence. “Don’t open it, Marina

Leo was pale. “We’re leaving that thing at the bottom. Now.”

The Ilhabela 2 .

She reached for it. Her glove touched the cold jade.