“Oh my God! This looks just like the treasure entrance in ‘Charlemagne’!”
“Looks like? Girl, this IS a treasure entrance!” Cairns boasted, “I checked the history books. This is a real treasure entrance! I bet even the palace guards don’t know about this location.”
“Are we still in the palace?”
“Of course! We’re about a kilometer west of Stanmann Palace.”
“How amazing,” William Mina marveled, “So, have you found the entrance?”
Cairns scratched his chestnut-colored hair, “It’s probably in the pool. See that statue in the middle? It should be underneath.”
William Mina looked skeptical, “So you’ve never actually been here?”
The challenge to his dignity made Cairns blush, “A wise man never adventures alone. He usually has an assistant.”
“Coward,” William Mina scoffed.
“If you’re not a coward, go check it out!” Cairns shouted. “There’s a small boat; you can paddle over.”
“I’ll go!” The childish pride couldn’t stand such provocation. “If I find the treasure, it’s all mine!”
She strode to the pond’s edge and jumped onto the boat, which was actually a children’s toy that Cairns had secretly dragged from home.
The lightweight children’s boat was very small, and Wilhelmina barely managed to sit steadily as it wobbled towards the center of the pond.
The cool evening breeze blew across the water’s surface, causing Wilhelmina to shiver. The silent surroundings were occasionally interrupted by birds’ calls.
Cairns watched the little boat approach the statue, revealing a mischievous smile. He cupped his hands and shouted, “Watch out! Snake!” Wilhelmina screamed and instinctively stood up, causing the boat to sway and her to fall into the water.
“Idiot! Fool!” Cairns laughed, but soon his amusement faded. Wilhelmina couldn’t swim; the cold lake water surrounded her, and it felt like a hand was pulling her down. She cried out, struggling, but slowly sank.
Cairns stood there, dazed and fearful. Just then, he was pushed aside as Hans Borg rushed towards the pond, his face ashen. He tore off his suit jacket, threw it on the grass, kicked off his shoes, and leaped into the water. Annabel followed with her attendants, seeing only a splash. She picked up the suit jacket on the ground, looking somewhat dazed.
