1976

They located the base camp beside a mountain stream and had a commanding view of the pine barrens below. Things went slowly. Days went by and they found nothing, even with the magnetometer they had little success.

Dago went back to town twice during those first days and they soon turned to weeks and he withdrew. He told the others he was upset with the slow progress, or concerned for their safety, and things like that. His mood worsened, especially after he came back to camp, and he would argue often with the guides, who felt they shouldn't do any work. He once returned with a dirt bike. He said that it would cut travel time to almost nothing.

Still, they settled in, and this became their new home. As seasoned veterans of the dig, they learned to live on little comfort.

On warm days, they would bathe in the stream. Nancy felt uncomfortable doing that with so many men around and preferred to bathe in the main tent, which was roomier and private.

One day, Harry returned from canvassing and walked in on her. She was naked, covered with soap, and standing in the tub. He blushed and turned to leave. "Harry wait."

He stopped and went back inside and raised his eyes to meet hers. She was beautiful and soft and pale and tanned on her arms and legs, and yet she could hold her own when it came to doing the heavy work. She faced him with her arms at her side.

He scanned her body, slowly savoring each inch. Her breasts were small, but neatly cupped and her hips were wide and smooth. Her freckled skin, scratched from the digging they had done, blushed under his scrutiny, but she stood still, luring him closer. He watched as bubbles slid down her stomach and came to a stop. Her hair was red. And she called to him, like a nymph calling a sailor to the shore of her tiny island.

He swallowed hard with a dry mouth. He blushed and smiled, and she smiled back. He walked over to her until he could feel her breath. "You, uh," he said slowly feeling the thumping of his heart, the blood rushing through his body, "you need something?"

"My back," she said, and she turned and waited.

He took the sponge out of her hand and gently washed her back, slowly up and down. "There," he whispered, and she turned back around and pressed her lips to his. The sponge fell to the ground.