Idris watched in amazement as the wall of the mausoleum slid open. Trap doors to him were meant to be things of books but here he was staring at one. He and Providence approached it and he peered inside.

"You just push against it to close it," Providence said. "You'll see a door in the floor on the opposite side. It's very dark though."

"I came prepared," Idris said taking the bulging lantern out of his messenger bag. He stepped inside the tomb and lit it, casting everything in an orange glow. Suddenly he felt someone bump into him and turned around to see Providence.

"I heard someone coming," she whispered.

Idris rushed over to the door and pushed his weight against it. As Providence said it slid back into place with a thud. "Let's hope they didn't see or hear anything," he said.

"But how shall I get out?" Providence asked.

Idris smiled. "It looks like you're with me for the long haul," he said going over to the hole in the floor.

Providence looked around the room. Spiders covered much of the niches with their webs but she could still see the wooden coffins tucked neatly into them. One had a rotted hole in it and she feared any minute something was going to crawl out. She rushed over to the hole in the floor where Idris was already disappearing.

Once he was down he helped her and they stood against the wall. He held the lantern up and looked down the long dark tunnel.

"What do we do?" Providence asked. "Ottaline and I only made it to the Richmonds' house."

Idris pointed ahead. "We follow the tunnels," he said. "Do you think you can remember which one leads to the Richmonds' home?"

Providence nodded as she watched him take out a note book. "What's that for?"

"We are here to map the tunnels," Idris said. "We will begin with the one leading to the Richmonds' house." He nodded and gave her the lantern. "Lead the way." As they walked Idris traced the main tunnel and made marks of others that deviated from the course.

When they reached what he marked as Richmond house tunnel they stopped and turned around.

"Judging by the direction of the other tunnels one must go toward town and the other toward the sea. We'll have to take a look still."

They walked back the way they had come until they reached another tunnel off the side of the first. Providence raised the lantern and the light flickered in a soft breeze coming up the shaft. "Do you feel that?"

"I do," Idris said. He had to stoop down to get through the mouth of the tunnel but once in he could stand to his full height. "Come along now, Providence," he said. "We have yet to find another way out."

Providence shuttered and followed Idris into the tunnel. As they walked on a strange wet smell began to surround them and the dirt that made up the walls of the tunnel changed.

When Idris felt his foot bump something he stopped and squatted down.

"What is it?" Providence asked holding the lantern further his way.

"Timber," Idris answered. "Burnt timber." He stood up and looked up the tunnel. Just ahead it rose higher and ended. At its end were stacks of branches bundled up against the wall. He went over to the bundles and rumbled through them. "Dry enough for kindling, that's for sure," he said over his shoulder.

Providence looked around the tunnel. "Look at all these stones." she said examining the gray rocks on the floor.

"Those are ballast stones," Idris said from where he was. "They were used to keep ships from capsizing in the wind when they didn't have any cargo. They are also used on railway ties."

Providence continued to look around. When she noticed a different texture in the wall she held the lantern closer. In the flickering light she could easily see a metal door with a wheel. "Mr. Idris, look!" she called to him and he came back down the tunnel. "A door."

Idris smeared at the dirt that covered the door. He took a step back and studied the wall. "It's part of a bulkhead," he said.

"You mean from a ship?" Providence questioned.

Idris nodded and ran his hand along the wall. "Shhh, do you hear that?"

Providence listened and was surprised she didn't hear the familiar coastal sounds before. The crashing waves and the cries of seagulls sounded like they were coming from the other side of the door. "It's the sea."

Idris returned to her side and read a sign on the door. "Hm, do not open this door," he read. "Well that just makes me want to open it all the more."

"Maybe we should listen to the sign," Providence said stepping back.

"I have a hunch I can't ignore," Idris said grabbing a hold of the wheel firmly. "Stand to the other side of me." Once Providence was well out of the way he turned the wheel. The metal groaned as he turned it. He then pushed against the heavy door swinging it open and letting in the angry sea.

Providence screamed as they were washed from their feet as the waves surged into the tunnel. She staggered to her feet, keeping the lantern above water. Panting she closed her eyes against the bright light of the day.

Idris joined her spitting out water. "Do you recognize this view?" He asked over the roaring ocean.

Providence stepped up to the ledge and looked out. The tide was in but straight ahead through a lightly tinted mist she could see the crown of the Heritage's island. "But this doesn't make any sense," she said. "If I understand correctly we'd have to be standing on the ocean side of—"

"False Light Peak," Idris said. He poked his head out and looked at the outer wall. "You can't tell it's a bulkhead from the outside because it's covered with barnacles." He stepped back in. "It's a clever disguise." He leaned against the wall and used the sunlight to mark his paper.

Providence went over to the wood. It was high enough so the tides wouldn't reach it and it would remain dry. "Fit for kindling," she said to herself. "Mr. Idris, do you know where this timber might have come from?"

"It's eucalyptus which is highly flammable because of the oil in the leaves." Idris said joining her.

"How do you—" Providence paused and smiled. "Oh yes, I forgot you were a planter.

Idris took a twig and twirled it between his fingers. "It would be easy to say I haven't seen any around here but...Esau Richmond toured me in his infamous wood. I never saw the plant but one can never mistake that smell." He snapped the twig and handed it over to Providence.

"Eugh, it smells like salve," she said with a frown. "But why would Mr. Richmond want you to cut down his wood if he was using it for special purposes?" she asked. "He won't have any more trees."

Idris smiled. "You just answered your own question, Providence," he said. "He has a large enough stock here to last him some time so he can suffer the forest." Idris drummed a crate. "But they are not the type to sacrifice without guarantee..."

Providence looked at the timber. "So he has all he will need already..." She thought. "Which means...which means..." She smacked her head. "If I were Ottaline I would have figured it out by now!"

"You can do it."

"He can lose the wood because he no longer needs it." Providence said. "He no longer needs it because..." She looked up at Idris. "Because he already has what he wants?"

Idris nodded. "Or is about to get it."

Providence gasped. "A ship is coming!" She covered her mouth at how loud she spoke.

"That's what I conclude," Idris said. "And by the looks of it this one must be the winner."

"But they must have known about it before they invited you here." Providence said. "They've been planning this for a long time, which means we are far behind them."

"We'll just have to play catch up," Idris said.

"But how?" Providence worried. "If we sabotage their stash they'll know someone has been down here."

"We won't sabotage their stash," Idris said. "We'll sabotage something else." He tucked his note pad into his messenger bag. "I'll have to try harder to get that list of ships. One of them is our golden goose." He turned to the door and pulled it closed latching it tight. "We had better map that last tunnel while we still have day light."

Providence nodded and followed him now filled with more confidence and determination.

/

Granville was at the piano and Ottaline was seated on the sofa exercising her legs when they heard Idris and Providence come through the door laughing. They soon stepped into the room; their arms filled with little containers.

"You two are back later than I expected," Granville said. "Providence, I hope you were able to finish all you lessons."

"I'll get on them immediately, sir," Providence said.

Ottaline sniffed the air. "What is that scent?"

"It' smells like talcum," Granville pointed out. "Idris, what is that on your clothes?"

Idris smiled. "Well since we don't smell like the underground I'd say our plan worked, eh, Providence?"

Providence laughed and nodded.

Ottaline sat up. "What plan, what happened?"

Idris sat down the containers he had been carrying on an end table. "We successfully mapped the tunnels," he said. "There are three going in all directions. One to the Richmonds' house, one to the seaside and the other far down the railroad line."

"Definitely sounds suspicious," Granville said, stroking the piano keys. "But what does it have to do with the powder?"

Idris held up his finger. "After we got out of the tunnels I stopped by the post to see if my brother had tried to contact me. While we were there Jude Richmond came in and made straight for me

Providence spoke. "We didn't want him to smell the dirt on us," she said.

"So I pushed a box of floral scented powders from the counter," Idris said. "The whole room was filled with it." He dusted his clothes. "Jude asked me about the wood but that's it. Naturally I had to reimburse the general store for the powders. Some of them might not be broken."

Providence raised a bottle that was perfectly fine. "At least we smell nice," she said.

Ottaline leaned forward and picked up a bottle. "This one is lavender," she said. "Mr. Idris these usually cost ladies a good amount of money at the general store, maybe we could give them away to those who couldn't normally afford it."

Idris nodded. "Well I certainly have no use for a box load of ladies' powder," he said. "I'll hand them out in Laurie."

Ottaline looked at her sister. "You've had a wonderful adventure for today," she said. "I wish I could have gone."

"In due time," Granville said from the piano.

"Well I'm off to get cleaned up," Idris announced, taking up the box. "It won't do to smell like a woman."

Providence dusted her hands. "I'd better scrub too," she said. "The scent is over powering."

As the two left, Ottaline leaned back in the chair again as Granville returned to playing. They barley heard the faint knock at the door that came. Granville stopped playing and listened again to the tapping. Providence's wayward walk echoed in the hall as she came down.

"I'll get it!" She announced as she passed the room.

Granville heard the door open too soon for Providence to have gotten there. He heard the muffle of voices then slow feet making their way toward them. Providence appeared in the doorway first followed by a tall pale redheaded man with cold blue eyes.

"Forgive my intrusion," Esau said. "I was just passing in my carriage on the lane and heard you playing." He removed his hat. "I forget how talented you are, Granville." He strolled into the room and looked down at Ottaline. "Little Sabbath girl," he said with the thin smile. "It's good to see you well." With a sigh he invited himself to sit. "I remember stopping by here with my father when I was young," he went on to say. "You used to play piano all the time. And Brigit used to be there on the harp." He pointed to a vacant space at the other end of the room.

Granville forced his shoulders to relax. "How may I help you, Esau?"

Esau smiled broadly. "I just came to see how you were, and to hear you play. So by all means, play something. It gets too quiet at home sometimes and I remember always being welcome to come listen to you play. I don't see why that should change now." He glanced at Ottaline and Providence who now stood at her side.

Granville glanced down at his piano keys. "You said you took the carriage?" he asked and Esau gave a deep nod. Granville fidgeted. "Why...is the motorcar broken?"

Esau waved his hand. "Ishmael is always using it."

Granville swallowed. "Well he'd better be careful with his speed," he said. "He might run over something...or someone." He raised his blue eyes to Esau who sat very still. "What song would he like to hear?"

Esau's lips tightened but he quickly straightened up. It was out of orbit for Granville to speak so accusingly of his brother. Had the universe been turned upside down? "Chopin," he finally said. "Funeral March."

Granville placed his fingers over the keys. He knew Esau was giving him that look. He remembered the very last time he had heard the piece. It wasn't at a funeral but a close to call dying day. In that moment he could have sworn he felt his left arm. He played the sonata less than half way through before Esau stood and applauded.

His solo applause resonated through the room. He looked around at the other faces who were looking at him almost unblinkingly. "Did you not think he did well?" He addressed the sisters. "Yes, very well for a one armed son of a squaw."

Granville turned around on the bench. "No need for praise, Esau." he said. "I always enjoy playing your theme song."

Esau slowed his applause until it ebbed entirely.

Granville turned his back and started playing the piece again. By the time he was part way through he turned around and found Esau gone. There was no trace of him side from the whinny of a carriage horse trotting away. He smiled at the girls. Proud they had suppressed their fears. He then looked down at his own trembling hand.