“I’ll pass,” she said.
Sam was glad to see her laughing. It seemed her time with Denéa had done a world of good. Thankfully, the water calmed once they were through the narrow channel and rounded the south of the island, past Skull Rock and Thief’s Bay. The rest of the trip was unremarkable, and fifteen minutes later, they were navigating around the north of the island toward the small cement dock in Agios Nikolaos. Other than the blue-domed church overlooking the water, and a few cottages used by the fishermen in the summer, that side of the island was mostly a barren, uninhabited stretch of rocks, low shrubs, and dry grass.
The five of them disembarked, then followed Zoe past the church, picking their way up the hill along a path of limestone rocks jutting out between tufts of dried grass. Goat bells jangled in the distance. Sam looked up, seeing a small herd at the top of the hill. The animals watched warily, then ran off as they neared. At the crest, Zoe stopped to take stock of her surroundings.
“Anything look familiar?” Dimitris asked her.
“Give me a moment to get my bearings.”
Sam moved next to Nikos, noticing his attention on the Lazy Krab moored far below them. The small boat swept back and forth in the restless waters. Beyond it, the whitecaps rippled across the Aegean, and, to the north, a dark band of clouds hovered low on the horizon.
“This way,” Zoe said. “I think we’re getting close.”
“You’re sure?” Dimitris asked.
“Positive. It was just on the other side of this ridge.” She turned her back to the wind, her dark hair blowing about her face. “Definitely to the south.”
Fifteen minutes later, that dark stretch of clouds was almost overhead. Scattered raindrops fell as they followed Zoe farther along the ridge. Nikos looked up at the sky, his eyes narrowing at the roiling clouds. “It might be best if we left now. The wind seems to be picking up.”
“It’s not far,” Zoe called.
The wind whipped around them. Remi moved in next to Sam, reaching down, putting her hand in his. “I think we should go back.”
Sam, agreeing, was just about to suggest it when Zoe suddenly pointed. “There it is. The carving.”
She ran down the hill, then crouched before a massive boulder, brushing her hands across the surface. “I knew it was here.”
“Where’s the cave?” Dimitris asked, picking his way down the hill toward her.
“Just on the other side. I’m sure of it.” Zoe looked back at them, her face filled with excitement. “I knew this was the right place.”
They followed her, eventually reaching the rock she’d pointed out. There was definitely a face carved on the surface. Admittedly, it wasn’t angry like the one Tassos had sketched, but there was no doubt what it was supposed to be.
Zoe continued past the boulder, then down the steep hill, excited. Suddenly she stopped. “Over here! I found it!”
As she turned to look at them, a gust of wind hit her. She stepped back, lost her balance on the steep hill. The limestone disintegrated beneath her feet, and down she went, desperately grasping at the dry brush. One second she was there, the next she was gone.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Sam and Dimitris raced down the hill.
“Zoe!” There was no answer. Dimitris dropped his gear bag, then started for the edge of the bluff. The ground started crumbling beneath his feet.
Sam grabbed his arm, pulling him back onto solid ground.
“I need to get down there,” Dimitris said, his voice filled with panic.
“We’ll get to her,” Sam said as Remi and Nikos ran up behind them. Sam held out his arm, stopping Remi from getting closer. One more step and she’d hit the same patch of limestone and dried weeds that had sent Zoe tumbling. “We’ll need rope.” He turned around, examining the area, nodding at the rock with the sun carving. “We can anchor off there.”
Dimitris reached for his bag. “I’ll go down first.”
“Let Sam,” Nikos said. “You’re too upset.”
Dimitris didn’t answer. Nikos placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Think of Zoe. You want someone with a clear head going down to look for her.”
The young man nodded, then pulled out the gear. Sam and Nikos checked over each piece, then anchored off the line. When Sam was ready to start his descent, he moved to the edge, kicking at the crumbling limestone where Zoe fell. It slid down toward the cave, gathering speed and gravel like a mini avalanche, some of it disappearing beneath a large boulder that jutted out to the right of the cavern mouth.
Remi watched as he lowered himself over the edge, her green eyes filled with worry.