Cade shook his head. “We’re taking some of this back with us,” he said. “As much as we can carry. Metal too. The going will be easier now that we’ve beaten a path.”

“Seriously?” Yoshi moaned.

Cade pursed his lips and lifted his chin. “I know you don’t all agree with me,” he said, trying to lace his words with confidence. “But I’m asking you to trust me. If we grab it all now, we can be back to Fort Caroline this evening, and we’ll sleep then.”

Cade stood and walked over to the ship, heading for the immense crack where the sulfur spilled out.

“I’m going inside,” he said. “See if there’s anything useful.”

As Cade eased himself into the fume-filled ship, he held his sleeve up to his nose and realized he would not be able to stay long. The acrid air burned his eyes and nose, and each breath felt hoarse and tight in his chest. The rotten-eggs scent coated his mouth and tongue, making him want to gag.

It was immediately obvious that hardly anything here was salvageable. In fact, it seemed the ship had spent many years underwater before being brought here, and it was only because the sulfur had been kept in an airtight tank that it had not all dissolved away. He could see the tank on his right, a section of it twisted aside in its crash onto Acies, letting the sulfur spill across the floor in yellow piles.

The rusted walls were caked with calcified limpets and coral, and many of the surfaces had been completely eaten through. Access to the living areas above was possible via a rusted ladder, but when Cade went to put his foot on the first rung, it dislodged, clanging to the ground.

He managed to struggle up the remaining rungs and poke his head to see what was above, but it was all much the same. Cade hauled himself up, panting as he lay on the floor. He was dead tired, and the effort had been surprisingly difficult.

He did not want to venture too far, for the rust had eaten through the metal beneath, leaving jagged holes. If his feet burst through the floor, he might slice his flesh open to the bone. Tetanus would be the least of his concerns then.

With some disappointment, he lowered himself back to the level below and returned to the crack, almost holding his breath in desperation to get out into the fresh air.

The others were waiting for him, and to Cade’s relief, they held up an outstretched amphora, perhaps the largest one they had—now empty after their long journey. They also each held a roll of sackcloth to use as a makeshift bag. They were ready to collect the sulfur.

“Thank you, guys,” Cade said, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. “I know I’ll figure it out.”

Scott walked past him and clapped Cade on the shoulder with a grin.

“You take first watch tonight,” he said.