“I’m counting on it,” I said.

I shut the wooden lid, snapped both latches closed, and carried the chest out to the utility truck.

I opened the heavy steel tool vault built into the side of the truck bed, put the wooden chest inside, and locked the steel deadbolt with my brass key.

Kenneth came around the back bumper, looking down at my feet.

“Forty-two bucks to resole those leather work boots last month, Master Chief, and you’re about to march them right into wet salt sand.”

“They’ll be dry by noon,” I said.