LAST ASSAULT ON OAK ISLAND 41

Finale

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Monday morning the excavation crew took over. The weather cooperated with the effort, admitting cooler temperatures for the exhausting work.

By Tuesday, however, word of the new activity reached the mainland. By early that afternoon, reporters and cameramen in rented boats were floating around the Second Wind as it lay anchored outside the cave in Joudrey's Cove. Maruso only shook his head to the bombardment of questions thrown his way from the other boats. He finally closed the wheelhouse door and sat back, listening to the reports over the radio. He watched the boats bob near the Second Wind, reporters waving, cameras flashing.

Maruso was not alone in the publicity rush. Suddenly tours to the lighthouse increased fourfold. Rudy took his time, traveling the tower's winding stairs methodically, answering only the most obvious of questions from the flock of tourists behind him on the winding staircase.

Inside the small cottage, Carlos continued his translation of the Brielle diary. He worked in the parlor at the secretary, the woven curtains pulled against snooping tourists. Few reporters approached the cottage now; most were in Joudrey's Cove or anticipating Walt Brooks' appearance at the town hall Wednesday afternoon.

It was Lauren's job to arrange a press release for Brooks. She and Majel sat at Rudy's kitchen table editing and rewriting a condensed version of Brielle's venture. It was substantiated by Lauren's research, reports from Gallop, and lab tests run by the Yearbright operation. Although Lucy herself was still occupied with her own discovery and museum in Ottawa, she allowed a representative to furnish part of her notes to what was being called the Historical Society-Harrisburg excavation.

Miles had been released from the hospital Monday afternoon after being treated for a broken leg and a mild concussion. Two city policemen met him as he exited the hospital. He accompanied them without protest to meet Lauren and Carlos at the police station.