by Tracy Kiser
Lana read the entry from the log book that had been hidden beneath the false bottom of the antique coffee table. She tried to imagine what this species looked like based on her father’s description, but the image she tried to create in her head never worked. It led her to the same question her father posed: what are these animals? With her bedroom door shut and the logbook on her lap, Lana waited for Aiden to arrive. She tried to distract herself from thinking about the earlier trip to the bank. When she considered how much money she had just obtained her head became dizzy and her palms went clammy. What would she do with all of that money? Her mom had suggested she save it for college, a new car, and other important, rational things of the like. Yet, Lana had the urge to buy something extravagant, like her own sailboat…a blue and white one just like the one she remembered her dad standing on. The sailboat that Sarah had painted in the memory piece.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Lana went back to reading the logbook. At least the logbook didn’t make her feel as if the world was spinning faster than she was. It allowed her to concentrate. All of the entries she had read thus far pertained to the new species. The entire book spanned nearly twenty years. She had no idea that her father had been studying these creatures for so long of a time period. Lana knew that her father didn’t like to rush things, but twenty years? Lana took a deep breath feeling like all of the pieces were laid out in front of her. She just had to complete the puzzle.
Chapter 9
Aiden had finally convinced Lana that they needed, and had earned a break from their detective work and had taken her to the beach. With their blue jeans rolled up to avoid the cool ocean water, they walked along the sand, holding hands, letting the water tickle their feet. The sun shone brightly, warming their skin, a stark contrast to the chilled water.
“I know we’re close Aiden. To figuring this whole thing out, I mean.” Lana turned her head to look at the horizon, where the dark blue of the sea met the breathtaking blue of the sky. She could see sailboats and ocean liners darting what looked like the end of the world.
“We’re definitely getting there, or somewhere at least,” Aiden agreed, keeping his stride in line with Lana’s. He squeezed Lana’s hand softly, so happy to enjoy this afternoon out here on the sand. A smile lit up his face as he watched his girlfriend take in the beauty of the slowly approaching evening.
“We know that my dad had been researching and studying this species for basically, his whole career. Now we just need to figure out where he had conducted this research. Then maybe we can find him.” The hope in Lana’s voice took Aiden aback. He mentally prayed that her entire theory was right. He didn’t want to see this become a fruitless attempt, a waste of time.
Aiden took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the smell of salt swimming through his throat. He squeezed Lana’s hand again, feeling her soft smooth skin beneath his.
“What is it, Aiden?” Lana stopped walking and looked at him, worry trembling in her eyes.
“It’s just that,” he began. “Well it’s been a ten years Lana. Ten years. That’s a long time to survive on some, some, wherever your dad might be.” He paused, not sure where to go from here. “That’s a really long time.” Aiden didn’t want to diminish her hopes of finding her father. But he also wanted to make sure that she knew there was more than one outcome to this adventure.
“What are you saying?” Lana’s voice demanded an honest answer. She gazed at Aiden, trying to see what he meant beneath the deep green color of his irises.
“I’m saying that I don’t want you to get hurt. If we don’t,” he paused, “if we don’t find him,” he finished in a whisper, hoping that his admission of doubt wouldn’t hurt her feelings.
“Aiden, I know my Dad’s out there somewhere. Everyone else thinks he’s dead. You have to be with me on this. You have to be on my side,” Lana pleaded.
“Lana, I am with you.” Aiden stared down at the white foam washing over his feet. “One hundred percent I’m with you. I’m just worried that if we can’t find him, you’ll never be able to get over it and let him go.” He tried to meet Lana’s line of sight, but couldn’t. He didn’t want to be the one who was full of doubt and weighing her down, but he had to be sure that she understood what they were up against. Ten years, a possible boat crash, and a man, a father, who might already be gone.
“We’re going to find him Aiden. We can’t focus on what might happen. We need to stay positive. He’s alive. My dad is alive.” The tone in Lana’s voice warned Aiden not to go any further with this conversation. She was firm in her beliefs. Lana knew that with the kind of situation that she was facing, she had to be completely and whole-heartedly in it. If she doubted anything now, she would lose her way and let her father down.
“I love how stubborn you are. I just don’t want to see you get hurt. I can’t.” He pulled Lana to him, wrapping his arms around her. “I care too much about you to let anything upset you.” Aiden rested his chin on Lana’s head and took his turn to look out onto the horizon, wondering if her father was just past the line he saw.
Lana squeezed her arms around Aiden, feeling the warmth of his body combine with the heat from the sun and bring light into her. “I know,” she whispered, burying her head in Aiden’s chest.
* *
September 22, 1993
I’ve done a lot of research lately about the Devil’s Triangle. So many aircrafts and ships have disappeared there – it makes me nervous. All the studying that I’ve done leads me there. I wonder if that’s where the species is most common. I have seen them in and around the area on the brief trips I’ve made there. I guess it would make sense, with all of the myths surrounding the species. The whole area is shrouded in mystery, just like these sea creatures.
“What’s the Devil’s Triangle?” Lana asked Aiden. They had returned from the beach, only slightly sunburnt, and delved back into the hidden logbook with refreshed minds.
“I have no clue.” Aiden admitted. “Google it?”
Lana sat down in front of her computer and quickly navigated to the search engine. She carefully typed in “Devil’s Triangle.” The search results brought up map images and information on the Bermuda Triangle. She clicked the link and skimmed the webpage that appeared before her. It explained that the Bermuda Triangle is linked with paranormal beings, even aliens. Could that be the species her Dad referred to? An alien species that lived in the water of the Bermuda Triangle? Lana shook her head. That didn’t sound right. It seemed way to farfetched to be true. Aliens don’t live under the ocean.
“Looks like the Devil’s Triangle is another name for the Bermuda Triangle,” Lana said to Aiden, nodding her head to the screen and then shifting the fallen hair out of her face.
“Is that where your Dad was going?” Aiden asked, not sure why anyone would try to go to the Bermuda Triangle. He knew tidbits about the place, all of the disappearances of ships just sailing through it. Why anyone would put their life in that kind of danger he didn’t know. He internally hoped that this was not the place where Lana’s father had went. If it were, would Lana want to go there to look for him? Oh no.
“I don’t know,” Lana answered. “It could be I guess,” the uncertainty caking her voice.
“But your dad mentioned Puerto Rico, not the Bermuda Triangle,” Aiden quickly added before Lana got too far into this Bermuda Triangle idea.
“Where exactly is the Bermuda Triangle though?” Lana typed in a new search: “Bermuda Triangle location.” The results brought up images of maps with the triangle outlined. “According to this map one of the points of the triangle ends at Puerto Rico. Maybe that’s why he was going there?” Lana examined the three points of the triangle, taking in the map and trying to mentally align the information with her dad’s writing.
“I bet you’re right,” Aiden said, though he didn’t want to. “Wait, Lana, I just thought of something,” he exclaimed jumping up from the edge of the bed.
“Yea?” Lana didn’t know what Aiden could
have figured out just by her telling him that one of the points of the triangle ended at Puerto Rico, but whatever he had figured out seemed to be exciting. Lana turned the swivel chair toward Aiden, waiting for him to tell her what he had pieced together.
“Those numbers that were written in the other logbook. Maybe they have something to do with the triangle,” Aiden began, looking up toward the ceiling, weighing the possibilities.
“Like what?” Lana struggled to follow Aiden’s train of thought.
“Coordinates maybe?” Aiden answered, his hands moving up in the air in a shrugged position, his face twisted with inquiry.
“Oh my God. That’s got to be it.” Lana turned back to the computer to modify her search one last time and impatiently waited for the results to load. “Says here the coordinates are 25 degrees North, 71 degrees west. What were those numbers my Dad wrote down?” She swung the chair around to face Aiden once again.
“Where’s that notebook?” Aiden hesitated, realizing that she wanted him to read off the numbers.
“In my nightstand.” Lana pointed, motioning for Aiden to hurry. She didn’t want to wait any longer to know if they were right.
Aiden opened the drawer of Lana’s night stand and pulled out the notebook.
“Got it. 2 – 6 – 1- 8 – 4 – 4 – 5 – blank. Negative 7 – 0- 2 – 3 or 8 – 4 – 9 – 6 – 8,” Aiden read aloud.
“So if we turn those into coordinates and type them in…” Lana paused. “You are amazing! Coordinates to a location within the triangle.” Lana clapped her hands together with delight. She couldn’t believe what she saw on the screen. There it was. Perfectly plotted within the three sides of the Bermuda Triangle.
“I think we just found out where your Dad went,” Aiden groaned, knowing what would soon be coming.
* *
The phone let out a soft beep for every number Lana pushed as she dialed her Uncle Danny. She waited nervously, listening to each trill of the ringing phone. Would he be willing to meet with her again? What would he do when she told him that she had figured out where her father went, where he still was?
“Yellow?” Daniel answered in his usual cheery voice.
“Hey, it’s Lana.” Lana looked down and moved her unutilized hand to the hem of her shirt, playing with a small string that had come loose.
“What’s up kiddo?” He asked, his voice also asking her if there was something wrong. The usual voice for an adult when a younger person calls out of the blue and doesn’t jump right in to any specific conversation.
“I need to talk to you. Erm, it’s important. What are you doing?” The string that Lana held between her two fingers was getting longer. She gave it a gentle pull.
“I was about to head to the store but it can wait. Is everything alright, Lana?” Uncle Daniel cut right to the point. However, he didn’t really know what he was asking. Besides being nervous about talking to Danny about everything that she and Aiden had figured out, Lana felt the whole world was right.
“Do you care if I come over there?” She asked, ignoring his question and jumping straight to her point.
“Not at all kid, come on over.” His voice falsely relaxed. Lana knew that he was trying to play it cool while wondering what kind of trouble Lana had gotten into that she wouldn’t talk about it over the phone.
“’Kay. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” she said hurriedly.
“Alright Lana, g’bye.”
“See you soon, Uncle Danny.” Lana took the phone away from her ear and clicked the ‘end’ button on her cell phone. She grabbed the logbook that had been hidden and shoved it in her satchel bag. With her keys jingling in her hand, Lana left for Daniel’s house, wondering how on earth she was going to convince Daniel to do what needed to be done.
* *
“I know where Dad is,” Lana said sitting on Daniel’s front porch, perched on his wooden swing. Her back was straight with confidence. She watched Daniel’s reaction as he sat across from Lana in an old wooden rocking chair that he had painted a bright red to match his front door.
Daniel looked at the ground and took a deep breath. “You do.” He shifted so that his elbows were resting on his knees and his hands were clasped together in a praying position.
“Yes, he’s in the Bermuda Triangle.” Lana’s voice was calm and even. She had to remain strong and firm in what she had discovered or else Daniel would never go for it. She had to make him believe her, and she knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“And how do you know that?” Daniel inquired, doubt resonating in his voice. He moved his hands around, playing with the wedding ring he wore on the wrong hand.
“I found my Dad’s hidden logbook. It explains everything that led up to him going on that last trip.” Lana moved slightly so that she could pull her satchel-bag onto her lap in order to retrieve the journal, if Daniel wanted to look at it.
“A hidden logbook?” Daniel met Lana’s gaze, sarcasm pouring off of each uttered word.
“I found it in the antique chest we use as a coffee table in the den. It was in a secret compartment underneath a false bottom,” Lana explained, wondering if she sounded as crazy as Daniel probably thought she was.
“So what does it say?” Daniel tried not to sound sarcastic. This was beginning to sound a little unbelievable, not to mention insane. A hidden logbook? Come on, there’s no way. But Daniel sat perfectly still, entertaining Lana and truly listening to what she had to say.
“It explains where my dad went and why.” Lana blinked, waiting for Daniel to say something.
“And why exactly did Tom go the Bermuda Triangle?” Daniel’s head was now shaking back and forth; he couldn’t believe he was engaging this notion.
“He had been studying a new species that he’d discovered for nearly twenty years. With all of his findings he determined the location of the species to be in the Bermuda Triangle.”
“You’re saying that’s where he is now?” Daniel’s eyebrows rose with the question.
“Yes. I actually have the exact coordinates to where he is,” Lana pointed to her satchel-bag, indicating that she had the coordinates with her.
Daniel couldn’t take this anymore. “Lana, listen to yourself. You think your Dad has been in the Bermuda Triangle for the last ten years?” He tried to keep his voice low and even but it rose beyond his control.
“Uncle Danny, I know he’s there.” Lana was becoming irritated and her voice was pleading with him to understand.
“This whole thing sounds like the ramblings of some insane person. I know you miss your dad, we all do. But it’s been ten years and you have to let him go Lana.” Daniel’s voice was a firm growl. This was the last thing he wanted to do. Discuss impossibilities with a little girl who didn’t know how to accept what had happened to her father. Not that it was her fault, Daniel knew that, but he didn’t know how to convince Lana that it was time that she moved on with her life. She had been determined lately to live in the past and Daniel had done enough of that to know it wasn’t healthy.
“But he’s out there. Alive. How come I’m the only one that hasn’t given up on him? You and Mom both just gave up. I know he’s alive and we have to go find him. He sent me this logbook to give me proof that he’s out still there.” Lana defended, her voice rising to meet Daniel’s.
“Wait, what? You want me to go get him? You expect me to sail into the Bermuda Triangle and look for a goddamn ghost? I know he was your father but he was my best friend. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about him, but we have to accept what happened. He’s dead Lana, has been for ten years. I’ll be damned if I put my life in danger to satisfy your impossible theory.”
“Wow, Uncle Danny,” Lana sighed, her mouth hanging open, and her eyes brimming with hot tears. “My dad would go to the ends of the earth for you. Good to know that you wouldn’t do the same.” Lana stood up and turned away from her Uncle Danny.
“Lana, I shouldn’t have…” Daniel started, standing up, realizing ex
actly what he had just said. How had he let himself become this worked up? Why had he said that? His mind searched for a way to backtrack, a way to make up for all the harsh words he had let escape his mouth. This was Lana, the girl who had become a daughter to him. How could he have said all of those cruel things to her? A girl who just wanted to find her dad. His heart immediately hurt, the way everyone’s does after they say something to hurt someone else. Guilt swept over him and Daniel accepted it. He knew what he had said was wrong.
“Stop. Don’t say another word. I should have known not to ask you. If it hadn’t been for you refusing to go on that trip with my dad, he’d probably still be here. I don’t know what I was thinking trying to rely on you. Like father, like daughter, right?”
Lana turned to watch the tears collect in Daniel’s eyes. Her eyes were stinging as she blinked back her own tears. The swing she had been sitting on gently tapped against the backs of her legs. Her eyes fell to the wooden floor of the porch and she walked over to the porch steps. The tears blurred her vision as she stepped down.
When she reached her Toyota and had left Daniel’s house, she let the tears fall. She drove the outer roads of town trying to calm down. How had the conversation turned into a fight, each of them armed with double edged words? That wasn’t what Lana had been expecting when she went to visit her Uncle.
“I guess I’ll have to do this on my own,” Lana said to the rearview mirror. The fight she had just had with Uncle Danny replayed through her mind over and over. A movie without sound running on and on in her mind. What if Uncle Danny were right? What if she was just chasing a ghost?