The Legacy Of the Pirates
Sheryl kicked her fins gently, keeping her distance so she wouldn’t scare the pod, while the dive boat continued its steady path directly above them. The dolphin swam with a proud, bouncy rhythm, entirely unbothered by the object resting against its fin. Every time the mammal tilted its body, the golden item flashed a deep, rich amber color. It looked like a thin sheet of gold, or perhaps a fragment of a royal crown.
The area they were swimming through was famous for maritime mysteries. For generations, local divers had shared tales of lost bullion and jewelry scattered across the seabed after a fierce storm destroyed a pirate fleet in the seventeenth century. Sheryl had always been a bit skeptical about those legends, viewing them as fun stories for tourists. But seeing this incredible glow right before her eyes changed everything.
She checked her oxygen gauge; she had plenty of time left. Her focus was entirely locked on the glistening object. It didn’t look like marine debris, nor like trash. It possessed a warm luster that only precious metals seemed to hold under the ocean. The dolphin seemed to be showing it off, leading her further along the reef.