“But I must say, your papa’s not going to be pleased when I read this to him. I can’t imagine he won’t insist that the Commonwealth is the rightful owner of the treasure. It doesn’t matter who Wheelin’ Bone stole it from. What right does North Carolina have to anything found in the Chesapeake Bay? What matters is that the treasure is here in Virginia and therefore belongs to Virginia, and therefore any trivets found should be given to the mansion. ”
Regina got up to take a closer look at what her mother was reading. Although Regina had always been a strong advocate for finders-keepers, she wasn’t so sure what she thought in this case. If the Islanders found the treasure and did whatever they wanted to with it, then the rest of the world would never have the pleasure of viewing old cannons and coins and jewels in the Virginia Museum.
“Those old cannons and jewels should be shared, ” Regina said as two sets of sneakers accompanied by slippered feet sounded behind them.
“What?” the governor posed his usual question as he caught the tail end of Regina and Mrs. Crimm’s conversation. “Go ahead and keep walking, ” he said to Trip, who was already going ahead and didn’t need to be told.
“Papa, I think he does better if you use fewer words, ” Regina tried to help.
“Okay, ” the governor considered, and the word okay released Trip from any commands and he came to a standstill near the First Lady’s black-lacquered, mother-of-pearl-inlaid desk. “I didn’t tell you to stop, but that’s what I wanted you to do, ” the governor chatted on to his minihorse and fondly rubbed his soft nose. “I think he understands far more than you might imagine, Regina. ”
“He might, ” she replied, “but what he understands and what you want him to do may be two different things. ”
“I see. What’s this about cannons and jewels that should be shared?” the governor inquired as he dipped into a robe pocket for his magnifying glass, because no matter how much help the guide horse might prove to be, it could not assist Crimm with reading.
Regina paraphrased Trooper Truth’s essay and again offered her opinion that the treasure should not be squandered by whoever finds it, but should be shared with the public.
“As long as certain pieces would come to the mansion, ” the First Lady was quick to add.
“Maybe a cannon or two in the garden and out front, ” the governor considered, and his spleen was acting up a bit at the thought of that damnable state of North Carolina. “As awful as that pirate Wheland was, he’s part of Virginia history, and I’ll be damned if those watermen are going to get the treasure first and sell it to some antique dealer or, worse, to North Carolina. ”
“Oh, Bedford, ” Mrs. Crimm pleaded, “you must do something right away, before it’s too late! Can’t you send in an aircraft carrier or something, so those Tangier people don’t haul all of the treasure away? They have no right to it!”
“No, they don’t, ” Regina agreed, and it was the first time she had not been in concert with what Trooper Truth had to say. “How weird, ” she added. “Whose side is Trooper Truth on, anyway? He’s always made sense in the past and been on the side of truth and justice. ”
“He could very well be in collusion with Tangier Island and is trying to influence me to let them have the treasure, ” said the governor, who was seeing matters far more clearly since he had stopped listening to Trader and eating his sweets. “I’ll issue a press release immediately that warns all treasure hunters to stay clear of that crab pot with the yellow buoy, ” the governor declared. “Let those fishermen just try to go near that sunken ship and think they’re going to”–he patted Trip’s neck–“load up. Right, little fella?”
Trip pulled away from his owner and headed toward the elevator and then took a right.
“Right!” Regina said, proud of her father’s power and decisiveness, while Trip made another right and stopped before his reflection in a gilt Chippendale mirror.