Playing dumb

From the point at which the property began, the chopper followed the rocky coast for half a mile, lots of lava promontories and little turquoise coves that frothed with the surge of surf. Good fishing and diving down there, Randy Makapu'u could tell.

The pilot slowed, hovered when they came upon a black sand beach that ran parallel to the coast, facing south, protected from the big waves that came rumbling out of the north in the winter.

"Eh, somebody's down there," Randy said, "on my property!"

"Technically, Mr. Makapu'u," Tokelani Green said, "it's still state land."

"Not for long. Eh, you can put 'um down over there?"

"Can do," the pilot said.

On the ground, international artifact hunter Barge Huntley was unloading a rented yellow Scupper kayak off the top of a rented Explorer.

"What the hay-yull?" the Texas native said, watching with growing irritation as the chopper dropped toward him. Best thing he had going for him in this business was secrecy.

Second best was playing dumb.

Barge set the kayak down, waved at the chopper as it dropped, reached inside the truck for the paddle and a spear gun, and a mesh bag that held fins, snorkel, disposable underwater camera and sunscreen. Just a regular guy out for a day of fun in the sun. He was hauling the kayak and gear down to the water's edge, the black sand surprisingly fine beneath his bare feet, when three people emerged from the chopper -- Caucasian male, local male and one of the finest female specimens he'd seen in quite a spell.

"Yo!" the local male called, waving for him to stop, jogging down the beach.

"Howzit, brah," Barge said with a big smile. He'd learned a little of the local lingo, and if he concentrated he could ease up on the Texas drawl.

"Watchu fishing for?" Randy said.

On second thought, the drawl might help him here. "Whatever they got that looks big enough to barbecue."

Randy had to laugh. Tokelani and the pilot joined them.

"You a tourist?" Randy said.

"Ever' place I go."

"So how you found this beach?"

"Asked around a bit."

"Well, enjoy it while you can. It's about to become private property."

"Zat right? Gonna be off-limits, is it?"

"Soon as I can sign the papers."

"When zat happenin'?"

"After we get back to Honolulu," Tokelani said.

"Well, good luck with it," Barge said, happy when they headed back to the chopper. He waved as they lifted off again. "Bub, you don't know what you're gettin'. Or missin'."