It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.
Sailing was perfect for the next few days. It was so perfect, there was difficulty in tracking the days.
Trace sat at the chart desk. He took the readings he had just made and listened for the exact time from the radio. He calculated his figures and made a small notation on the chart. He returned to the wheel and tacked 285 degrees.
Sage sat on the aft bench. Noticing the change in heading, he walked into the pilot house.
Trace turned to Sage. “We are making really good time. Four hundred more miles.”
“To…?” Sage said
“Suva,” Sage said.
“We’re not going to take a break at that island you mentioned a few days ago?” Sage asked.
“Vava’u,” Trace said.
“Yeah,” Sage said, “whatever.”
Trace smiled as if holding a secret. “We passed Vava’u about twenty hours ago. It’s about one hundred and twenty miles that way.” Trace heaved his thumb to the aft port side.
“Does Makani know?” Sage said.
“You guys were sleeping,” Trace said.
“Were you ever going to tell us?” Sage said.
“Nobody said anything,” Trace said and asked, “Disappointed?”
“No,” Sage said, “Makani and I were talking and we said it would be fine to skip a stopover and get back to Suva.”
“Great minds think alike,” Trace said.
“I hope we can find two more great minds,” Sage said.
“Can you think of any of our old buddies who ain’t married, in jail, or running from the law?” Trace said.
“Wouldn’t it be fun to have an all-Texas crew, except for Makani?” Sage said.
“No,” Trace said abruptly.
“Yeah,” Sage said, “bad idea. At least the guys we know. We’d be moutin’ longhorn horns on the bow.”
“Hey,” Trace said, “the thought has crossed my mind.”
Sage said, glancing sidewise at Trace, “Let’s do it.”
“It’s the only right thing to do,” Sage said. “I’ll send for some when we get to Suva.”
“What about a Lone Star flag?” Sage said.
“It would only seem appropriate,” Trace said.
“The ideas just keep flowing,” Sage smirked.
They laughed.
“Have you weighed the gold yet? Sage asked.
“Yeah,” Trace said, “yesterday. There’s one hundred and almost twenty-one pounds.”
“Forty each,?” Trace asked.
“Yeah,” Sage said. “I made an inquiry over the short wave on the price of gold in the US. It’s three thirty-three an ounce. Don’t think too hard on this. I already figured about two hundred and thirteen thousand each.”
“That’s enough to lose Makani over,” Sage said.
“Yeah,” Trace said, “I’d hate to lose him.”
“We probably can’t afford the keep him,” Sage said and joked. “We could always cheat him.”
“I hear that,” Makani’s voice came from the companionway. He climbed up wearing a wide grin.
“Too bad,” Sage said, “we'll go now, to plan B.”
“What plan B? Makani said.
“How far can you swim?” Sage quipped.
“No worry,” Makani said, “Me and Sage already have plan for you.”
They laughed.
“We have good time together,” Makani said. "It good. Like when boy with cousins. Much good time.”
“The same with Sage and me,” Trace said. “When we were growing up, much good times.”
“You know what, Makani,” Sage said, “back home you would fit right in with Trace and me.”
“I worry, like you worry,” Makani said. “We might get two not good deckhands. Sean and Chuck good but turn bad. I sorry for them.”
“Me too,” Trace said. “So did you hear how much your share will be?”
“No,” Makani said.
“You will get forty pounds of gold,” Trace said. “As close as we can figure, that will be two hundred and thirteen thousand in American dollars.”
“Does that make me a rich man?” Makani asked.
“Yeah,” Trace said, “you are a rich man.”
“But I feel same,” Makani said. “Same yesterday, same last month.”
“It means you have always been rich,” Trace said.
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