Silence held the room after she finished. Mrs. Wren lowered her eyes first. Maggie reached for Nora’s hand. A few villagers still looked stubbornly unconvinced, but most seemed less offended by losing a legend than stunned by how ordinary the buried truth really was.
In the weeks that followed, warning markers went up around the reef. Men from the district came to inspect the hidden chamber and seal what remained below. Boats gave the area a wide berth. If not exactly cheerful, the cove became quieter and steadier.