American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 372 The Cave Labyrinth of Pirates and the Tainos

Raven and Mike fell silent, while Lin Yu'an remained as calm as a hunter.

Instead of looking at the ocean map, he picked up the magnifying glass again and focused his attention entirely on the miniature map itself and the mysterious set of coordinates.

“No,” he said slowly, his voice not loud, but it instantly drew their attention, “I think it’s not that the coordinates are wrong, but rather… we’re using the wrong ruler.”

"A ruler?" Mike and Raven looked at him, puzzled.

Lin Yu'an pointed to the gold coin, "The latitude and longitude coordinate system we use now is the 'Prime Meridian' with the Royal Observatory Greenwich in the UK as the 0-degree longitude line."

"This standard was only widely accepted internationally at the end of the 19th century. This gold coin and this map, however, may have originated in the early 18th century."

Looking at the two who suddenly understood, he continued, "In that Age of Exploration, there was no unified standard for longitude!"

“Every powerful maritime nation uses its own measuring stick. The French used the Paris Meridian, and the Spanish sometimes used the Madrid Meridian.”

"For a long time after Columbus, an unofficial standard widely used by European navigators was the El Hierro Meridian, the westernmost point of the Canary Islands."

"Many old nautical charts were drawn with that place as the 0-degree longitude line."

A glint of wisdom flashed in Lin Yu'an's eyes. "If we assume that this mysterious treasure hunter used the then-popular 'Hiero Island Meridian' as a reference..."

"Therefore, we need to translate this set of coordinates!"

He took out his laptop and opened the GIS (Geographic Information System) software.

"The longitude of Hiero Island is approximately 17°40'W. This means that its 0° line is offset westward by 17 degrees and 40 minutes from our current 0° line."

As he explained, he entered complex conversion formulas into the software.

"We now need to add this offset to the 51°30 longitude on the gold coin to get its true position in the modern Greenwich coordinate system..."

On the computer screen, data scrolled rapidly. Finally, a completely new set of coordinates appeared on the screen.

21°05 N, 69°10 W
“This is…” Raven immediately entered the new coordinates into her iPad’s nautical chart.

The next second, her breath caught in her throat!
The nautical chart automatically zoomed and panned, and a red cross mark finally landed on a huge green area in Samana Bay on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic!
“Los Heidiss National Park!” she and Mike exclaimed almost simultaneously!
“My God…” Mike stared at the location, his eyes filled with shock and awe. “It’s there… in the ‘Cave Labyrinth of Pirates and Tainos’!”

“That’s right…that’s right! It must be there!” He began to analyze at length, as if convincing himself or searching for evidence for this astonishing conclusion.

"Look! Los Heidisses is the most spectacular karst landscape in the Caribbean, dotted with hundreds of sea caves and inland caves, many of which are hidden under mangroves and cliffs!"

“For modern ships with GPS and satellite imagery, finding a specific hole is like finding a needle in a haystack.”

"Three hundred years ago, for pirates who could only rely on the tripartite and compass, this was the perfect natural hiding place!"

"Historically, this area was a paradise for pirates and smugglers to escape naval pursuit! Countless Spanish treasure ships passed through this area when crossing the Mona Strait, making it a high-risk area for shipwrecks!"

He pointed heavily at the red cross mark with his finger, giving his core analysis.

"So, for a pirate operating after the 1715 fleet, is there a more perfect treasure trove than this?"

Mike's eyes lit up. "He might not even need to bury the treasure! He just needs to find a dry, secluded, deep cave with an entrance that's hard to find, and that'll be safer than any fortress!"

"This labyrinthine coastline and cave system is itself the most perfect natural defense!"

This brilliant analysis instantly made the seemingly random answer "Los Hertica" seem incredibly reasonable and full of a sense of destiny.

"Kids, we might have really hit the jackpot this time," Captain Mike exclaimed with unprecedented excitement, "but we're also in deep trouble!"

Lin Yu'an keenly caught the shift in his words.

“Los Heitisis is a national park and marine protected area in the Dominican Republic.” Mike’s expression turned extremely serious.

"This means that, let alone treasure hunting, it's illegal for us to even anchor in non-restricted areas or drive a small boat into the mangroves!"

“Therefore,” he lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with the cunning of an old fox, “our plan must be a high-risk, covert operation.”

"Officially, our voyage plan is to go to Samana Bay in the Dominican Republic to film an eco-documentary about karst landforms and Taino rock paintings."

"This reason is sufficient to allow us to operate legally in that sea area."

"But in private, we need to sneak into that restricted area marked on the map like ghosts, find the cave treasure, and then leave without anyone noticing."

This conclusion shocked and excited both Lin Yu-an and Rui-wen like never before.

This means that what they are about to embark on is a truly secret adventure that requires them to contend with both the law and nature!
[Bahamas time, 9:30 PM, North Star Salon]

The newly discovered treasures, still carrying the warmth of history, made the night in Nassau incredibly enchanting.

After the initial excitement subsided, the three of them sat back down around the large teak dining table in the salon.

The joy of discovering the treasure was temporarily set aside, replaced by a focused and serious attitude as they prepared to embark on a new battle.

Captain Mike lit a cigar that Lin Yu-an had given him. "Now, let's talk about the real issue—navigation itself."

He spread out the huge paper chart table, which covered the entire northern Caribbean Sea, picked up the professional parallel ruler and dividers, and officially entered his territory.

“From Nassau to Los Hertica, and then to Havana…” He marked this long distance on the nautical chart with compasses, “This is a V-shaped expedition of more than a thousand nautical miles!”

“We must plan every step to the extreme.” He began the oldest and most reliable “map operation.”

“Our first leg of the voyage will begin here,” he said, pointing to Nassau, “southward, along the western edge of the Exuma Islands chain.”

“There is a shallow area here called Huang’an, where the water is only 3 to 5 meters deep and the seabed is full of coral reefs.”

“When sailing during the day, we need someone to keep an eye out at the bow and ‘read’ the water by observing the changes in the color of the seawater to avoid those damn coral heads.”

Raven then took out her iPad, pulled up the latest Navionics electronic charts and satellite images, and modernized Mike's traditional planning.

“Dad, look here,” she zoomed in on the screen, pointing to a small area in Huang’an.

"Satellite images show that the sandbar in this area has shifted since last year's hurricane, moving about half a nautical mile west from where it was marked on the paper chart. We have to go around it from the west."

“Received.” Mike immediately made corrections and markings on the paper chart.

“After crossing the Yellow Shore,” he continued, pointing south on the nautical chart.

"We will be entering the deep waters of the Exuma Strait. The water here is over a thousand meters deep, and when the sea is calm, it is one of the most beautiful waterways in the world, where we can increase our speed to the maximum."

"Then we'll pass by here—Da Mak Reef, where the legendary Pig Island is located. If time allows, we should really go see those swimming pigs."

This nautical plan, completed by the father and daughter in succession, perfectly combined decades of experience with modern technology, allowing Lin Yu'an to absorb invaluable knowledge that could never be learned from books, like a sponge.

While Mike and Raven were excited about the treasure hunt route full of challenges and adventures, Lin Yu'an remained silent.

His gaze remained fixed on the laptop connected to the Starlink network in front of him, his brow furrowed.

"The plan is good, but we may... have a more urgent and critical problem to deal with first."

Mike and Raven both looked at him in surprise.

Lin Yu'an turned his laptop screen toward the two of them; on the screen were weather maps that he had just paid to download and cross-referenced.

These are ultra-high-precision weather forecast models for the next ten days, developed by two of the world's top meteorological centers: the European Centre for Meteorological Research and the U.S. Global Forecasting System.

In the waters southeast of the Bahamas, near the Turks and Caicos Islands, a spiral cloud pattern representing a low-pressure system is clearly marked by a constantly flashing red circle. Its shape is clearer and more regular than when Lin Yu'an first discovered it a few hours ago.

"Do you remember that potential tropical disturbance we mentioned in the voyage plan before we set sail?" Lin Yu'an's voice became serious.

"Just this afternoon, while we were diving, both the European and American models simultaneously upgraded the probability of it developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 96 hours, from 30% to 70%."

He switched to another sea surface temperature map, where the area appeared a glaring deep red.

"Look at the sea surface temperature here, 29.5 degrees Celsius, far exceeding the 26.5-degree Celsius threshold for storm formation. It's like a boiling boiler, providing a continuous source of fuel for this 'little monster'."

"Looking at the upper-level wind shear, both models show that the upper-level wind shear in this region will be very weak in the next 72 hours."

“A slight wind shear provides it with a stable, vertically growing ‘chimney,’ preventing its structure from being blown apart.”

Lin Yu-an's analysis was calm, objective, and full of scientific rigor. Every piece of data was like a nail, driven into Mike and Raven's hearts.

"The conclusion is that there is a greater than 70% probability that a tropical storm will officially form in four to five days, along our inevitable route to Los Heitis. And its initial predicted path..."

He dragged the timeline, and on the screen, a dotted line symbolizing the path to the future stretched out.

Like a scythe of death, it almost swept straight across the red cross they had just marked on the nautical chart, the location of the Los Heidi Sis treasure!
This ironic scene, reminiscent of a movie, instantly wiped the smiles off Mike and Raven's faces. The treasure map, which had been crystal clear just moments before, was now shrouded in the shadow of an unknown storm.

“We now have two choices.” Lin Yu’an drew two completely different directions on the nautical chart with his finger, presenting the two with a cruel decision.

“Choose A, the conservative option.” He pointed northwest, towards the route back to Florida.

"We're abandoning this treasure hunt and our trip to Cuba. We'll fly back from Nassau first thing tomorrow morning, spend two days getting back to Fort Lauderdale, and completely avoid this storm. We'll make further plans after the storm season is over."

“Option B, the risky option.” His finger returned to the alluring route. “We’ll head south as planned. But this is no longer a leisurely adventure; we’re racing against the storm.”

"We need to work day and night to complete the treasure hunt before the storm reaches Los Heitis, then immediately turn southwest and head at full speed towards the northern coast of Cuba for shelter. The port of Havana is a top-notch safe haven."

“But,” he said, his tone becoming more serious, “this means that we have to conduct extremely dangerous shallow-water navigation and diving operations in the outer areas affected by the storm.”

“If we are not fast enough, or if the storm’s path is slightly westward… we will be stuck in the ‘ship graveyard’ of Los Heidiss, just like those Spanish galleons three hundred years ago.”

A deathly silence fell over the salon. Only the faint hum of the air conditioning system could be heard.

This was an extremely difficult choice. On one side was absolute safety, but that meant giving it all up. On the other side was immense wealth and glory, but that came with potentially fatal risks.

Captain Mike, the seasoned sea wolf who had weathered countless storms, was the first to speak. He stubbed out his expensive cigar, his gaze becoming incredibly solemn.

“When I was young,” he began slowly, his voice hoarse, “I encountered a similar situation in the Gulf of Mexico.”

"The weather forecast at the time said it was just a small tropical depression, and my partner and I didn't think much of it. But within six hours, it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane."

A lingering fear flickered in his eyes: "Our ship's mast was broken, and we drifted at sea for three days and three nights, almost dying there."

“From then on, I made a rule for myself—never gamble with the weather. The ocean will make you pay for your arrogance in ways you can’t even imagine.”

He looked at Lin Yu'an and stated his position: "I suggest choosing option A, safety first. The treasure has been lying there for three hundred years, a few more months won't make a difference."

Raven pursed her lips tightly, looking at the royal gold coin she had placed on the table, then at the shimmering red cross on the nautical chart, her eyes filled with resentment.

“But…” she finally couldn’t help but speak, “Are we just going to give up like this? Not only are we giving up on the treasure, but our planned trip to Havana is going to be completely ruined? Just because of a… storm that hasn’t even fully formed yet?”

She possessed the adventurous spirit of youth and absolute confidence in her navigation skills.

“Dad, we’re not gambling! We’re undertaking a planned and controlled adventure! I believe we can get this done before the storm hits!”

The father and daughter had a serious disagreement. One represented absolute experience and conservatism, while the other represented fearless passion and adventure.

The final decision rested with Captain Lin Yu'an.

He looked at the nautical chart, then at the spinning "ghost" on the computer screen, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Lin Yu'an raised his head, his eyes clear and firm, without the slightest hesitation.

"I just thought about it, and it seems there's a compromise, Option C." His words stunned both of them.

“Mike is right. We will never gamble and we cannot put the ship and crew in uncontrollable danger.”

“Raven is right. We are explorers, not cowards. Giving up on the exploration itself would betray the original purpose of our voyage.”

He stood up, walked to the nautical chart, picked up a red marker, and drew the third route.

"We will execute Plan C."

"Tomorrow morning, we will depart as planned, but instead of heading directly to Los Heidiss, we will sail south at full speed along the westernmost edge of the Exuma Islands."

He explained, "Although this route cannot penetrate deep into the island chain, it is close to the deep waters of the Exuma Strait, giving us maximum maneuverability."

“We’ll give ourselves 48 hours.” His voice was filled with unwavering resolve.

"During those 48 hours, the three of us took turns working, keeping the boat running at maximum speed even when we were resting."

"At the same time, I will download the latest weather model data every six hours to track the storm's path and intensity changes in real time."

“In 48 hours, we will arrive at this location—the central part of Great Exuma.” He drew a circle. “This will be the decision point for our fate.”

"At that time, we will make a final decision based on the latest weather forecast."

He looked at Raven and first spoke of the best-case scenario: "If the storm's path shifts eastward as currently predicted, or if its development slows down, then we'll have a sufficient window of time."

"We will immediately turn southeast and head straight for Los Heitis. After completing the treasure hunt, we can sail directly southwest from Los Heitis."

"May you travel smoothly to Havana, Cuba, to celebrate our victory and visit your Aunt Margaret."

Then, turning his gaze to Mike, he described the worst-case scenario: "However, if, after 48 hours, the data shows that the storm's path has shifted westward, or its intensity has exceeded our expectations..."

"We will not hesitate to abandon all illusions about Los Herticis. We will immediately turn southwest, take advantage of the open, deep waters here, and rush at full speed toward the northern coast of Cuba."

"Havana will become our safe haven. We will wait there safely for the storm to pass before deciding on our next course."

He looked at his two crew members and concluded, "So, we will definitely go to Cuba."

"The only difference is whether we go there as victors returning with a bountiful harvest to hold a celebration, or as cautious navigators seeking shelter from the storm."

He concluded by saying, "We don't gamble on the weather, but we don't give up easily either."

"We use 48 hours of time and speed to obtain a judgment that is closest to the truth, and then make the most rational choice."

This "Plan C," which was neither reckless nor conservative, was like a lightning bolt, instantly illuminating the fog in Mike and Raven's minds.

It perfectly showcases Lin Yu'an's wisdom, courage, and sense of responsibility as captain.

No objective was abandoned; instead, they were transformed into a dynamic operational plan that could be adjusted in real time based on the actual situation.

“I agree!” Raven was the first to speak, her eyes filled with admiration and respect for Lin Yu’an.

Mike looked at Lin Yu'an and a genuine smile appeared on his face: "Lin, you were born to be the captain!"

"Very good." Seeing that the team had reached a consensus, Lin Yu'an immediately switched back to captain mode.

“Now that the plan is set, let’s split up and get to work.” His voice was full of urgency.

He looked at Mike, “Captain Mike, we need to complete all the resupply by sunrise tomorrow. We need an extra 50 gallons of diesel, just in case.”

"Also, check all safety equipment, especially our storm sails and emergency rudder systems."

“No problem, leave it to me.” Mike immediately stood up.

“Raven,” he turned to Raven, “you are in charge of food and fresh water, and you will resupply us according to the highest standards for the next five days of uninterrupted sailing.”

"Also, contact the port office in Nassau and submit our sailing plan to Georgetown. Remember, our official destination remains Exuma."

"Understood." Raven immediately got to work.

Lin Yu-an was responsible for replanning the precise route and shift schedule for the next 48 hours, intending to squeeze the ship's performance to its limit.

The night in Nassau instantly shifted from the leisurely atmosphere of a vacation to the tension and busyness before the battle.

The three acted like a highly efficient combat team, quickly getting to work.

[The next day, 5:00 AM]

Before dawn, Nassau Yacht Harbour remained serene. Most yachts still had their dew-proof canvas covers on, except for the North Star, whose deck was brightly lit.

The pungent smell of diesel fuel filled the air as Mike supervised the dockworkers filling the spare fuel drums.

Raven stuffed the last case of bottled water and fresh vegetables into the storage compartment. Meanwhile, Lin Yu'an was already standing behind the helm, inputting the new route parameters into the navigator.

"All preparations are complete!"

"Flight route set!"

"Weigh anchor!"

At Lin Yu'an's command, the huge anchor chain, glistening with the morning dew, slowly rose from the sea.

Guided by the morning star, the North Star silently glided out of the quiet harbor.

(End of this chapter)