Free Without a Grave by Marcia Talley

North Carolina, British citizens who had played for the losing side during the Revolutionary War. Two hundred years later, in 1976, when the Islands of the Bahamas sued for independence from Great Britain, Abaconians picked up their machetes and their pitchforks and protested. They appealed to the Queen, reminding her of their sacrifice and unflagging loyalty to the crown in 1776. But alas, the Queen and her Parliament were unmoved.
    â€˜So why?’ I wondered.
    The park ranger rubbed his fingers briskly together.
    â€˜Bribes?’ Paul asked.
    â€˜Oh, you bet. I can’t prove it – yet – but if you have some time, there’s a videotape I want to show you.’
    â€˜Goody. I love home movies.’
    Henry didn’t return my smile. ‘You know where the park headquarters are, right? On Little Hawksbill?’
    When Paul and I nodded, Henry continued. ‘We’re the first cove on the Sea of Abaco side. The channel tends to silt up, so keep well to the left of the green marks. Come during the week, any time. We monitor 16 and 68, so give us a call so we know when to expect you.’
    Al brought Henry’s dinner, and we tucked in, chewing in appreciative silence as the restaurant filled up around us. I waited until Henry finished his slaw before asking, ‘What’s on the agenda for the Hope Town meeting?’
    â€˜We’ve got some experts coming in. They all agree that run-off from the fertilizer El Mirador’s going to use on the golf course will kill the reef within three years, and the livelihood of our fishermen along with it.’
    â€˜So I heard. And the sewage from all those houses and condos isn’t going to help the reef much, either.’
    Henry pushed his empty plate aside. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly through his mouth. ‘And the destruction’s already started. Over the past several months, Mueller’s workers have bulldozed acres and acres of mangrove.’
    I nearly choked on the last of my plantain. ‘But don’t they know how important the mangroves are? When Cyclone Nargis roared through Myanmar last spring . . .’
    Henry raised a hand, cutting me off. ‘I know, I know. More than eighty percent of that country’s mangrove forests had been destroyed, so the cyclone had an easy ride into the delta. An impressive loss of life, and much of it completely avoidable.’
    â€˜If there’s another storm as bad as hurricane Floyd . . .’ I paused, shook my head. ‘Doesn’t the Bahamian government get it?’
    Henry scowled. ‘I guess they have other priorities.’
    â€˜We can certainly come to the meeting,’ Paul said, ‘but we won’t be able to vote on anything.’
    â€˜Doesn’t matter. What we’re looking for is a strong turnout, a show of force.’
    â€˜I can help with that.’ I smiled at the park ranger. ‘Pattie Toler’s talked me into running the Cruisers’ Net starting next Monday, so I’ll plug the meeting in community announcements.’
    Henry brightened at last. ‘Sounds like our Pattie! Mention that Albury’s running extra ferries out of Man-O-War and Marsh Harbour. No reason why folks can’t make the meeting.’ He laid both hands flat on the table. ‘I really appreciate your help getting the word out, Hannah.’
    â€˜Do you have a website, Henry?’
    â€˜Yup. It’s www.savehawksbillcayreef.com . We’re a coalition of islanders and second-home owners. We can’t dictate what Mueller builds on his own land, unfortunately, but where that impinges on our land, and our reef, then we have to speak up.’
    I thought Henry had wound down, but he was just getting started.
    â€˜Guana Cay is on firmer legal ground, many believe, because the Prime Minister at the time gave away, actually gave away crown land to a foreigner. Crown land is supposed to be reserved for the