Biff held out his hand. He thrust it under Derek’s eyes. The hand held a black pearl.
The next morning, convinced they had located Brom Zook’s fabulous pearl fishery, camp was broken. Gear was stored in the cabin cruiser. The tent was struck. By noon the four pearl searchers were back in La Trinité.
The party’s happiness was mingled with sadness. One adventure was over. Derek’s father’s claim was safe. The quest had been successful. But Brom Zook, Derek’s father, was still missing.
“I can’t ask you to stay with me any longer,” Derek said. “You’ve done more than enough for me.”
“I’ll stick with you as long as you want me to, Derek,” Charlie Keene said.
“That goes for me, too, Derek,” Biff added, hoping his uncle would not mention school. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to stay on in Martinique for a while. I’m going to every town and village on the island until I make as certain as possible my father isn’t here. Then—then—” Derek stopped.
Biff knew what his friend was thinking. He knew that Derek would then have to come to the conclusion that his father had been lost at sea.
“What about you, Crunch? Where are you going?”
“Crunch go back up mountains. Stay with little brother for while.”