Deep dive into spring with R.H. Macy IV!
The hero of the 2019 Flower Show returns,
sailing the seas in search of a missing family heirloom.

June 1969

All was quiet outside the Macy family estate. In Rowland Hussey Macy’s study, surrounded by a collection of old photographs, was his great-great-great grandson.

“Not one of my relatives know where to find it, Lucy,” R.H. IV said into the telephone. He picked up a photo, examining the two things all the images had in common – his great-great-great grandfather and a spectacular golden pocket watch.

“You just traveled to another planet and saved it from destruction,” replied Lucy Ryder, an old friend of R.H.’s and the Flight Director for the United States Space Program. “Don’t get too worked up. You’re supposed to be resting!”

R.H. said goodbye to Lucy and began stacking the photographs to put away. The pile toppled over the side of the desk, flipping up the corner of the rug to reveal a small handle nailed into the floor. R.H. wrenched it open to find a hollow floorboard containing a tiny box. It was empty except for an old, folded piece of paper.

R.H. unfurled the fragile parchment. It was a map of the seven seas with a red star symbol scrawled in the northernmost region in his great-great-great grandfather’s handwriting. R.H. grabbed the phone, redialing Lucy’s number.

“It’s me again,” R.H. said breathlessly. “Do you know anything about sailing?”

Seven years later...

R.H. and Lucy stood on a dock facing a massive sailing ship as the sun began to appear on the horizon. Elegant lettering on the vessel’s bow proclaimed its name – The Red Star.

“Today’s the day!” Lucy exclaimed as another woman approached them.
“R.H., I’d like you to meet my cousin, Kate Caspian. She’ll be your first mate and guide to the seas.” After completing the final arrangements for their voyage, R.H. and Kate stood on the deck of the Red Star, waving goodbye to Lucy as the ship set sail for the unknown.

Several weeks into their journey, R.H. and Kate awoke to dark clouds rumbling above them. As they tied down supplies to the deck in preparation for the storm, R.H. peered over the bow and spotted something in the waves. He pointed it out to Kate, but before she could say anything, an enormous tentacle shot out from the sea and took hold of the main mast.

A giant octopus emerged from the water, pulling the ship onto its side and sending the lifeboats overboard. “We’re going to have to jump!” shouted Kate.

They quickly ran below deck and geared up, with R.H. tucking the map safely inside his dive suit. Outside, R.H. and Kate found the octopus climbing up the stern, its weight dragging the boat underwater. They scrambled to the bow and leaped into the churning ocean.

“Queen Marella! It’s an honor to have you visit the Reef,” the turtle bellowed in a deep, rumbling voice.

“I’d like you to meet Kate Caspian and R.H. – the great-great-great grandson of Rowland Macy,” said Marella. “I believe you have something that belonged to his great-great-great grandfather.”

Sayward popped back inside his shell and when he emerged again, he held a large gold key engraved with R.H.’s initials. “I may have something for you, but only if you can solve my riddle first…

“My name is rather cosmic,
but I’m much more aquatic.
You won’t see me in the sky
and that’s the reason why
if you dive into the sea
on the ocean floor you might find me.”

“A starfish?” Kate exclaimed. Sayward smiled and nodded slowly.

Marella took the key from him and presented it to R.H. “Now to find the treasure,” she said.

“I have a map that belonged to my great-great-great grandfather, but I can’t take it out of my suit without ruining it,” R.H. replied. He began to draw the map from memory into the sand. “There was a star right about…here,” R.H. said, pointing to the upper corner of his drawing.

Marella studied the sand closely. “I’m almost certain that’s The Abyss,” she said, gesturing beyond the Reef. “Merfolk are forbidden from entering that region. I’m afraid you’ll have to proceed on your own.” Wishing them luck and pointing them in the right direction, Marella watched as R.H. and Kate swam towards an uncertain fate.

The farther R.H. and Kate got from the Reef, the darker and colder the water around them became. Marella’s directions led them to a chasm so deep they could not see the bottom, save for a faint glowing orb at what must have been the ocean floor.

As they approached the bottom of the Abyss, Kate spotted a wooden chest wedged between jagged rocks. “I think I can reach it!” she exclaimed, propelling herself in the direction of the treasure.

The glowing orb they had been following moved towards Kate. “I’m not so sure we’re alone –” R.H. began, when the light suddenly darted towards Kate, revealing itself to be the lure of an anglerfish.

“Hey! Look over here!” R.H yelled at the anglerfish as Kate took shelter behind the rocks. With the anglerfish distracted, Kate quickly freed the chest and frantically searched for a way to help R.H. However, just as the anglerfish opened its jaws to reveal its razor-sharp teeth, it stopped abruptly.

R.H. and Kate looked up to see Marella swimming towards them, using an enormous amount of magic to freeze the anglerfish in its tracks. R.H. and Kate each grabbed one of the chest’s handles and swam as fast as they could out of the Abyss.

A few moments later, they heard a low roar, but Marella soon emerged from the deep. She led the group back to her palace where at long last they could open the chest.

The lid opened to reveal only one item – the pocket watch, still ticking away. R.H. turned it over in his hand. “What’s that?” Marella asked, pointing at the watch. Upon closer inspection, R.H. saw a series of coordinates had been etched into the gold metal. He and Kate exchanged a knowing glance, realizing their adventure was far from over.

“Does anyone have a map?” asked R.H.

To be continued…

Immerse yourself in the seaworthy spectacle of
“Voyage to Oceanum” during this spring’s
Macy’s Flower Show.

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