Chapters 41-46 Summary

Neidelman is working in the pit when he hears the sound of approaching boats. He learns from Streeter that two dozen boats led by Woody Clay have surrounded the Cerberus. Neidelman decides to come up to the surface. They are eight feet from the treasure chamber and he is worried about Malin and what he might do. They have been sending all non-essential personnel off the island in anticipation of reaching the treasure. They plan to remove it from the island before Hatch can obtain an injunction. He tells Streeter to find out what Hatch's plan is.

Chapter Forty-Two finds Hatch watching the flotilla from his house. A Fedex truck delivers a package to him containing the results of an analysis performed at the Smithsonian. Malin had sent them bone samples. All the pirates died of different diseases. The only common...