Ellie stayed in the back of the boat, looking wide-eyed at where we left the spaceship.
The fireworks display at the resort reached its climax then, and the sky to the south was filled with bursts, stars, and streamers right on top of one another so lavishly that I wondered what percent of everyone’s room bill went into it. Along the shore, various private cabin owners were lighting off their own rockets.
So when the one behind us took off, it didn’t really look all that different from everything else going on. Except it just kept going and going, up and over us and off through a hole in the clouds to the north. Kate cuddled up against my arm and whispered goodbye. Last we saw of it was a spark moving right by Polaris, maybe half as bright. Then it was gone.
“Wow,” Ellie said.
“Yeah, you don’t see that every day. I sure could use a cup of coffee for the trip back,” I hinted. Events had left me a bit drained, and I realized I was hungry too.
“I think I can manage that, and some granola bars. But why don’t we just anchor, stay here tonight, and head back first thing in the morning? We’ve got a couple of sleeping bags.”
“Yeah,” Ellie chimed. “I get to sleep in back, under the stars. Please?”
Kate giggled and snuggled against me more.
“Whatever,” I gave in. “You’ll have to throw in the anchor, though.”
Kate got Ellie settled and tucked in with a couple of granola bars, and we went below. Kate found the triangular piece that converted the bench beds on either side of the bow to one big, queen-sized, roughly heart-shaped platform.
“Uh, Kate. I’m kind of pooped and I suspect you’ve had about enough of you know what of the time being, and I wouldn’t—”
She put a finger to my lip. “No hurry.”
The last thing I remember was Kate snuggling up to me and saying “mmmm” or something like that. Then the sky was light in the east.
I found my bag, pulled on the work pants, went topside, and pulled in the anchor. It was a beautiful morning, but my thoughts had turned to more mundane things. I had a roofing bill of about three grand, another mouth to feed, and any promised payment from my erstwhile clients seemed beyond my powers to collect. I didn’t even have an address for the bill.
Ellie woke up and was out stretching in the rising Sun like some kind of Naiad. I frowned, but figured we were too early and too far from shore for it to bother anyone.
She caught my frown, and shrugged. “Grandpa, my clothes are still wet.”
I gave up and smiled at her. “Just be real careful about when and where you do that. Now it’s a little chilly and Kate ought to have a beach towel or something below to keep you warm.”
Kate came up just then wearing a big grin and carrying a couple of towels. She joined Ellie in the stretching and arm waving. Then they gave each other a high five and wrapped up in the towels. Some kind of female Sun ritual, I gathered. Could be worse.
“Ahem, I wasn’t frowning about you, Ellie. I was just worried about the uncollectable bill we acquired yesterday. I’ve got to pay Thor for all that roofing, and I don’t think I have the balance. Then we’ll have to pay Dick for the motor rental because Kate gave all her money away, and she won’t be able to pay us for fixing her engine, and I didn’t collect from our last customers yesterday because I was so embarrassed about being late back to the shop.”
Kate and Ellie nodded seriously, but blew it by giggling again. I shook my head and got the engine started after cranking a couple of times and playing with the choke. We’d need more gas, too; another thirty bucks. I left it on idle to warm up a bit. We’d asked a lot of it yesterday, and it was Dick’s engine. Maybe I could barter an overhaul. I shook my head.
“It all adds up, you know,” I groused. “Money situation could be better.”
There was a splash that sounded like a fish jumping, and a wet slap on the deck. I looked around.
“I’m sure something can be arranged,” Frog announced.
“Frog!” Ellie and Kate squealed.
I scratched my head. “Kinda surprised to see you, Frog, not unhappy, understand—just didn’t expect it. You sure you won’t be missed?”
“There’s little use for a robot of my unconventional configuration in space, and you do remember I mentioned that there are a few exceptions to the non-intervention policy? My talents might quietly increase the efficacy of your repair work, I should imagine. And a debt is a debt, is it not?”
“You bet. Welcome aboard then, Frog,” I said, just as if I had something to do with my own destiny. “You’ll start tomorrow morning. You too, Kate.”
Ellie cleared her throat.
I sighed. “Whatever.”
OK, I do have to admit Karl’s Marine Repair has been pretty prosperous ever since.