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anything.”
    Sam gave Remi a sad smile. “You don’t need to explain it to us. Save it for the crocs.”
    They trooped into the building, which was as primitive as the exterior promised. The emergency room lounge was a squalid rectangle with poor ventilation and a dozen sick or injured waiting on a row of shabby benches. Ricky had claimed an empty area on the far end and was staring off into space. They moved to the bench and sat beside him as the overhead fans orbited in a futile attempt to cool the stifling interior. After a few minutes of sweating, Remi stood again. “I’ll wait outside.”
    Sam rose and Leonid followed suit. “We’ll keep you company.”
    Remi turned to Ricky. “Will you come get us when you hear something?”
    â€œYes.” Ricky looked unfazed by the heat. “Dr. Vanya’s the best we have, so he’s in good hands.”
    â€œThat’s a little bit of luck, at any rate,” Remi said, wiping her brow.
    An old man sitting nearby coughed with a wet, thick sound, and Sam took Remi’s hand and led her to the exit. Outside, the temperature was baking, but, even so, it felt refreshing after the hotbox that was the hospital’s waiting room. They found a shaded area near the side of the building, and Sam inspected his shirt.
    â€œProbably not a bad idea to get back to the hotel to change.” He looked at Remi, who also had dried blood on her. “Want to make a quick run?”
    Remi glanced at the Land Rover. “If we pass a car wash, you’ve got my vote.”
    Leonid nodded. “I’ll give you a lift. No point standing here cooking.”
    They piled into the SUV, and Leonid took the wheel. After the breakneck ride from the bay, the Russian’s conservative driving felt like they were standing still. Leonid’s face looked like he’d been drinking vinegar as he navigated the busy streets, surprisingly clogged with cars.
    â€œWe’re pretty much shut down now,” he said. “There’s no way that crew’s going to want to return to the bay after this.”
    â€œHave you talked to them?”
    â€œOnly two indicated any willingness to go back tomorrow.”
    â€œWhat about boats?”
    â€œNone of the captains want anything to do with us now. Bad luck, that.”
    â€œEspecially for the uncle,” Remi said, eyeing her shirt. “I can’t even imagine what he’s going through.”
    â€œHe’s lucky you two were there. If we’d had to wait for the others to do something, he’d be dead,” Leonid stated flatly.
    â€œRicky said that’s cultural. Nothing moves fast on the island.”
    â€œExcept the crocodiles,” Leonid said.
    They got to the hotel and, ignoring the horrified looks of staff and the few other guests, went directly to their room. After quick showers and a change of clothes, they were ready to return to the hospital. Leonid was waiting for them in the cool lobby, where he was studying the photographs he’d salvaged in the chaos. Sam and Remi took seats on either side of him, enjoying the slight chill of the air-conditioning.
    â€œIf you look at this one, you can see another structure in the background. The head of the dive team said he thought there were at least six of these, maybe more,” Leonid said, holding up a photo.
    â€œIf he’s right, it’s an incredible find. Not only an ancient ruin but one that’s been lost for long enough that nobody remembers it. Never mind that its location presents an intriguing mystery,” Remi said.
    â€œObviously, some sort of natural disaster,” Sam speculated. “This area has a history of earthquakes. That’s got to be how it wound up underwater.”
    â€œYes, but more interesting to me is the construction. Stone. There’s no history of stone building here. This is an important clue to a past we never imagined,” Leonid said.
    â€œIt is