On the beach, the assembled group watched the outline of Simon Smith vanish beneath the gray water. Sam and Joel, fully clothed, charged into the sea and began diving repeatedly in the choppy surf, fighting a current that pulled them away from where Simon’s silver hair was last seen.

Martha, shaken, asked Nina where Simon had gone, and Nina could only shake her head, arms folded against the cold and wind. The onlookers stayed rooted for fifteen minutes, tracking the boys as they surfaced and dove again, until the women called Sam and Joel back for fear of hypothermia.

Emergency services had been called. An ambulance arrived as Sam and Joel staggered from the sea, and police, sea rescue, and a helicopter followed, transforming the quiet cove into a scene of lights and noise. The boys were given foil blankets and hot drinks.

Martha stood at the water’s edge, staring toward the horizon. Despite the search activity, there was still no sign of Simon—also known as Al, her husband—leaving the group with only uncertainty as the chapter closed.