Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Once

When we returned, the beach was empty.Emma and Darren weren't there, our stuff was left there, and they didn't look at it.We picked up speed, so to speak, trotted along the narrow dirt road, all the way to the beach.I'd be more than happy to do it, because the rotten fish is still there, stank.We did a quick check and found nothing missing. "Where do you think they've gone?" Martin asked, glancing at the empty beach. "I think they went hiking, too." "No." I shook my head, amused at the thought of Emma being associated with exercise.Now I can think normally, so I know where they are when I think about it. "I think they went to bed."

I gestured to emphasize the word "sleep". "Ah!" Dodge let out an uncomfortable laugh, and then he called out, "Darren?" "What's the matter?" Darren's reply was a little vague, and there was a sharp laugh at the same time. "It's nothing. Just to make sure you're dead." "It's still far from death." There was another burst of laughter, this time the laughter stopped suddenly. I grimaced, and Dodge shook his head indulgently. "Lunch?" he asked Martin and me. "Lunch?" It appears that Darren's super-acute hearing isn't limited to booze-related topics.He steps out of the tent.Now, he was fully dressed, and I was relieved to see him.Emma followed him, a little shy and a little smug. "I think I heard someone say lunch?"

We ate cheese, cold deli meats, and biscuits, and the ice cubes and ice packs we had brought melted so quickly that at least the cheese would have spoiled if stored in this heat.We had walked so far, so I had a good appetite, and I stuffed food into my mouth like I hadn't eaten in days. "How was your hike?" Darren asked, his mouth full. "Exciting?" Emma snorted and took a sip of the juice. I knew they must have laughed at us before.But I don't care.In fact, I'm laughing inwardly at the red spots on Emma's knees, arms, and nose. She's sunburned, if she's not itchy yet, from lying out there.

"It was a really cool trip," Dodge replied, not offended by Darren's sarcasm. "We went to the ruins my dad said was actually a stone cairn. And, we found a very interesting thing." He took the disk out of his pocket and stroked it.Darren snatched it nimbly and twirled it in his hand. "What's so strange about this thing? I haven't watched as many "Archaeological Squad" as you." Dodge shrugged. "I don't know. It's probably a sacrifice. I'm going to wash it in the sea." "Go ahead then." Darren tossed the disc to Dodge, "I'm curious."

Dodge reached for the disk, but his fingers brushed past the edge, and the disk flew away from him and landed right on my lap.I looked down at it, and my fingers stroked the strange etched patterns on the surface. Under the cover of mud and rust, it was still difficult to see clearly.And, even though it was sitting in Dodge's pocket, the noon sun scorched us, the metal disc was cold to the touch.I felt a slight tingling in my fingertips, and I quickly took my hand away.Are some metals releasing toxic chemicals when corroded?I can't say for sure. "Give it to me," said Dodge, holding out his hand.

However, for some odd reason, I'm reluctant to hand it over.Like Darren, I'm curious to see what's lurking beneath the filth. "It doesn't matter." I smiled and said to him, "I'll go clean it." I walked towards the sea, besides the sound of my footsteps, there were soft footsteps coming from behind me.I turned around and saw Emma behind me.I was still angry at her and Darren for laughing at us like that before, I didn't say anything, I just turned around and continued walking towards the sea.The sand was compacted and wet just a few feet away, and I took off my sneakers and socks and walked barefoot for the last stretch into the water.

"It's so cold!" I couldn't help but shouted loudly. The word cold is not enough to describe it.The chill immediately penetrated my whole body, my feet were throbbing and throbbing, my skin was covered with goosebumps, and my whole body was shaking. "It's freezing to death." Emma came to me suddenly, agreeing with my words, "I can't believe Darren walked into the sea so deep last night." She sighed as she spoke, her admiration palpable.I rolled my eyes and leaned over to lower the disk into the water. Emma was wading through the water and went to a deeper place. It seemed that she wanted to imitate Darren and also come to a brave adventure.

"I wouldn't go into the water if I were you," I reminded her. "Why?" she asked, but she stopped when the water was halfway up her calves. "Sea water is salty, and the sunburn that washes on your body will be very painful." I replied, pointing to her reddened knee. "Ah, oh." Emma looked down at her sunburned skin, a little surprised, "God! Who would have thought that sunscreen is needed in Scotland!" "Yes." I echoed absent-mindedly.At the moment my attention is on the thing in my hand, and I'm a little worried about losing it in the little waves churning around.The dirt washed off in one go, but when I rubbed it, it also took off layers of bubbly rust iron, and I thought it would crumble into pieces in my hands.

"What the hell is it?" asked Emma, ​​who stood looking at me.Seeing that I didn't answer, she looked down. "Hey, it's glowing!" indeed so.Without the several layers of material wrapped around it, at this moment, the piece of metal shone with brilliance.As more and more rust falls away, its shape is gradually revealed.Its edges are very rounded and its surface is as smooth as satin.Almost like new.I frowned and looked down at it, feeling bewildered.I'm no alchemist, but I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be the case. "It must be something modern," I told Emma, ​​standing up.The object glistened in my hand and looked perfect, as if it had just been bought from the store.After cleaning it, I could see what it was—a brooch.The thread in the center is the pin and is used to attach it to the fabric.

I've never seen anything like this before.It is not gold, but very delicate.Probably copper, not perfectly round, more like a horseshoe, just the ends joined together to make a circle.At this time, the etching pattern is clear at a glance, but I can't see why.There seem to be both symbols and creatures, but they're all exaggerated.Very artistic.I can't see anything.Perhaps Dodge could see that he had studied art. "Go show it to the boys," I suggested. Unfortunately, once I got back to the beach, I forgot about the mystery of the brooch.Obviously, something unpleasant must have happened before we got close enough to hear them.Darren and Martin stood facing each other a few meters apart, with Dodge standing between them, acting as peacemaker again.The two boys were not passing the ball, but scolding each other.It was Darren's voice that we heard first.

"...Pretend to be Mr. Qing Gao. You can't even do a thing unless your parents say yes. Why don't you grow up? You are a big boy now." "Grow up? You mean the same as you? To be a big man with hard fists and no brains? Have the steroids melted what little sanity you have?" Martin countered forcefully.He didn't stand in a fighting stance like Darren, arms outstretched, fists clenched, but his mouth was pursed and his eyes gleamed with anger. "Guys—" Dodge tried to mediate, but Darren and Martin didn't even look at him. "You don't know how to have fun, that's your problem!" Darren said angrily. "Having fun?" Martin laughed dryly, very unfriendly. "Getting sweaty and making yourself a big fool? I don't think it's any fun." We stopped some distance away and paced back and forth, their words clearly audible.I really didn't want to go any further, and unfortunately Dodge turned around at this point and saw us both out of the corner of his eye.He was visibly relieved.I immediately felt that it was my duty to help him out, but I was unwilling and subconsciously licked my lips that suddenly felt very dry. "What happened?" I asked as I walked forward. "Nothing, it's fine," Dodge said. "Yeah, it was great," Darren said sharply, "it's just that there's a spoiler trying to ruin the party." "Darren—" Dodge gave him a warning look. "What? He's only here because he wants to—" "Shut up!" Martin snapped, startling me. Darren smiled treacherously, satisfied that he had pissed him off. "What's the matter, don't you dare to say it?" "Forget it, Darren." Dodge was angry now, too, and this time, with his back to us, glaring at him. "You're not much better, man. You two are so pathetic." Darren ignored the two of them, bumped Dodge with the shoulder as he walked past him, and gave Martin a nasty look.When he was about to reach the boys' tent, he turned his head. "Emma, ​​are you coming?" After an awkward silence, Emma trots coyly after Darren.She ran to him and looked back at us guiltily, but now Darren was walking towards the beer cooler and she followed like metal attracted by a magnet. Once they were too far away to hear us, Dodge let out a sigh of relief.His shoulders slumped and he made a face. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "It's not your fault," Martin admitted, though he still looked annoyed. "What is this for?" I asked hesitantly. "What do you think?" Martin glared at Darren as he pulled the tab off the beer can and I got my answer. Dodge waved his hands back and forth, looking around uncomfortably.I bit my lip and stared at him.It's such a bummer that Martin and Darren are always at odds with each other.If this continues, Dodge will definitely not want to recall such a birthday in the future. "How about going for a swim?" he suggested, keeping his eyes on the sea. "The water helps us calm down." I laughed nervously twice, and he smiled nervously too. Martin pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I think I'd better go for a walk and get out of here for a while. Heather, is there anything you want to do?" Both boys looked at me.Martin looked expectant, and I realized he wanted me to go with him, probably to complain to me about Darren.I might be able to calm him down, I thought.Convince him to ignore Darren's sarcastic and condescending attitude and his constant drinking. On the other hand, this time it came out for Dodge's birthday.It didn't seem right to leave him alone.Besides, if I had to choose, I'd rather stay with him. "I want to go swimming with Dodge," I muttered, too guilty to say it out loud. "Alright then." Martin's expression didn't change, but I could feel his disappointment.I almost changed my mind, but Dodge gave me a grateful smile, and I decided to keep my mouth shut. Martin walked in the opposite direction of the path we had taken that morning, and walked around the sand so as not to walk past Darren and Emma, ​​who were now sitting in folding chairs.Dodge and I watched him go farther and farther, and finally turned over the rock and disappeared from our sight.Looking at the suddenly empty beach, I felt a sense of guilt, but it was too late to change my mind now. "Do you really want to go swimming?" I asked Qi as we walked back to the tent one after another. "It's very cold in the sea." "Are you scared?" he asked. "yes." He laughed like I expected him to laugh. "Come on, you brought a swimsuit, so you can't use it. That's very unlucky!" swimsuit.My face was hot, but my body was freezing cold.This weekend, I'm not going to be exposed, and I don't want to be exposed to Dodge for the rest of my life.It can be said that he is unwilling to expose it in public.In private, I have a lot of unrealistic fantasies, but I have always controlled myself not to think about it, after all, it will never happen. "It's unlucky—you're making that up," I accused him, stalling for time while trying not to undress.Last night Emma was so lightly dressed and he was looking at her so hard that it must have been worse if I had been in a bathing suit.I'm pretty self-aware: I don't have that big body. Dodge raised an eyebrow at me. "Would you like to try it?" he asked. "Be haunted by the ghost of Speedo for the rest of your life?" I couldn't help it, and was amused by him, but my teeth kept chattering. "Never." I went into the tent to change into my bathing suit.At least one thing I'm relieved is that my bathing suit covers up more than Emma's tie bikini.My bathing suit is a practical one, with shorts that wrap around my thighs and have a neckline that only opens to about two inches below my throat, and only the straps on the sides are blue, the rest are black.I joined the local swimming club, and the coach reminded us to choose swimsuits that would allow us to swim faster. After all, we are not trying to win fashion awards with swimsuits. At least I know that when I'm in the water, I won't make myself a fool. "Ready?" Dodge's voice sounded outside the tent, and I was startled. "Now." I yelled. I shivered a bit, then picked up a rubber band and tied my hair into a ponytail.I didn't wear goggles or a swimming cap because I'm sure we were just playing in the water and not actually swimming.Then, taking a deep, steady breath, I stepped out into the blazing sunlight. I went out, the sun was shining brightly, I blinked and saw Dodge with his back to me.I'm glad I didn't wrap myself in the big beach towel I brought because he was only wearing a pair of shorts style swim trunks.I looked at his broad shoulders for three seconds, then he turned and I had to look at his face. "I asked Darren and Emma to go with us just now," he said, "but Darren said that even if he was shot, stabbed to death, or run over by a car, he would not want to go back to the sea. gone." "But you still want to get in the water, because?" I raised an eyebrow, looking at him with suspicion and interest. "Because I'm crazy?" His voice rises at the end, turning the words into a question. "I don't want to argue with you about this," I said, but I found myself walking after him. As soon as my toes touched the cold, wet sand, I stopped, knowing that even colder waters were waiting for me.Dodge went on, stepping into the water without hesitation.He didn't stop until he was knee-deep in the sea, and then he glanced back hurriedly and found that I was still standing there.I hurried forward a few feet into the water, or he would have seen me as a coward. The sea is still so cold.The biting cold made me breathless, and my hairs stood on end.Moreover, the sea water only reached my ankles at this time.How cold would it be if the sea water covered my waist?What about chest depth?I imagined diving my head into the dark water, and I couldn't help but get a jolt. "Maybe Darren's right." I walked over to Dodge, and he said, "You only have the courage to go to sea if you drink." I chuckled lightly, my body was trembling badly, and my laughter seemed very strange. "I hope he stops being such a nuisance," he sarcastically said. I didn't say a word, just nodded, and I didn't have any hope for it.Every time I see Darren, he's like that. Dodge sighed. "Martin is ready to fight him. Let's hope he doesn't, or Darren's gonna break his nose." "Martin will calm down," I reassure him. "I'll let Emma dominate Darren and keep him from doing other things. She can ask him to take stock of her makeup so he'll have it for at least two days." I'm busy." Dodge smiled sarcastically and winked at me.I should have blushed, but all my blood was busy keeping my internal organs running.Right now, I can't feel my feet. "Then shall we still swim?" Dodge looked at me questioningly. "For the sake of your birthday, I will listen to you." I told him. "Come on then." He grinned, "Run into chest-high water now!" Before I could object, he ran into the depths and splashed the icy water on me.I screamed in protest, but to do so was a mouthful of disgusting, salty water.I spit out the water, retched a few times, then closed my mouth tightly and followed behind him. To be honest, once you get used to it, it doesn't feel so bad.By the time I worked up the courage to stick my head under the surface, it felt even better.The salty sea is dirty though, wish I were in the pool, it's germ free, chlorinated and warm.We weren't actually swimming, but we were in deep water, and if I stood on tiptoes, the water would slap my throat.Dodge was taller than me and the water only came up to his shoulders.He stood there without moving while I stepped on the water to keep him warm. "You're not swimming," I said, and my arms and legs paddled rhythmically, just floating on the surface of the sea. "I reckon my limbs are going to freeze," he admitted, grinning sheepishly at me. "Probably not a good idea." "Oh, come on," I said, "we're all down anyway. Just think of this as the center of Acre." “There are no kids peeing in the pool!” he laughs, “and lifeguards who are always angry and world-weary.” "There's no granny clamoring to keep you from splashing water and messing with their pretty hairdos," I chimed in. "So, it's really nice here." "Yeah——" Then, he showed a strange expression of horror, and then fell back into the sea and disappeared under the surface of the water. "Dodge?" I stared at the water, waiting for him to surface.But he didn't. "Dodge?" I swam forward, groping with outstretched hands.Nothing was touched.I was right where he fell in the water just now, and I stretched out my fingers and opened my eyes to look for him under the dark and deep waves. "Dodge?" I was a little panicked, and I could clearly feel the passing of every second.Is it a minute now?Or is it more than a minute?I turned sideways and was about to call for help from Emma and Darren on the shore when water splashed in front of me. Dodge jumped out of the water and splashed me with the cold sea water. Being scared by him, my life was shortened by at least ten years. "You...you idiot!" I yelled.He was panting and laughing, a very bright smile. "I thought you were drowned!" "I'm sorry." But he wasn't apologetic at all.He wiped the water from around his eyes and gave me a look like a urchin. "My father and I used to do this to see who could stay underwater the longest. I always win." "Then you should have told me earlier!" I said angrily, and at the moment, I felt like a big fool, "This is not fun at all." "indeed so." I opened my mouth, intending to teach him a lesson, to tell him that this is no joke... At that moment, something slipped past my leg. "What's that?" I held my breath, my limbs tensed, and I forgot about Dodge's odd behavior and just stared at the water around me.At this moment, a soft thing rubbed against my waist. "Something touched me!" I screamed. "Is it a jellyfish?" Dodge asked, and the boy suppressed a smile. I guess my expression must be panicked at this time. "Are there any jellyfish here?" My voice was a squeal that only dogs could hear. "Maybe." Another "something" brushed past my forearm and seemed to wrap around my elbow.Under this light touch, I was so scared that I immediately moved.I flapped my arms frantically and swam towards Dodge.I seemed to feel tentacles crawling up my waist, and I quickly reached out to him, grabbed his shoulders tightly, and pinned my legs to his waist.I didn't even realize I was screaming in his ear.After a while, he looked away and avoided my cry, and I came back to my senses. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I said repeatedly, but I didn't let go of my hand, "Take me away, stay away from those things." I begged. Dodge was amused, and I could feel his chest heaving violently, but he started wading toward the shore, still holding me, because I didn't want to let him go.The fear of the monsters of the deep sea made me forget even my shyness.Fortunately Dodge didn't dislike my cowardice.In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it a little bit, and he smiled so brightly when he saw my almond-eyed widening. "A few jellyfish can get you into my arms," ​​he joked, as he put me on the sand, still holding my waist. "If a spider gets into your tent, I save you, you What will happen?" "Marry you!" I blurted out.He threw back his head and laughed.