I said, “You and Violet Russell and olallieberry pie for breakfast? Romantic.”
He didn't respond to that. I figured he blushed. I figured he deserved a happy morning.
And then we heard Dr. Russell, in the background, “We'll have the pie now, Doug. Your people can collect the specimens and I'll get to them this afternoon. More will probably be coming in. No need to dash off right now.” There was the clink of dishes being set down, and then Russell, once more, “We're in it for the long haul.”
I wondered if she was referring to herself and Tolliver — the romantic breakfast being just the start.
I feared she was referring to the sea. To the changes, where the ecosystem is flipping. To the new normal out there, where jellyfish are on the rise.
As for me, I wondered if Oscar Flynn's big bad boys were going to stay put in our patch of ocean, for the long haul. Sure, they were chipped and could be tracked. But then what? According to Russell, if they're threatened as they die, they release billions of reproductive seeds which produce more polyps, and grow into more big boys.
I shivered.
Walter and I moved up to the dry sand and sank down, wriggling our toes into the warmth. Keeping an eye on the people drawn to the little saucers coming in on the tide. Waiting for Tolliver's people to come collect them.
Looked like we weren't going to be getting on the road any time soon.
After a time baking in the sun, I asked, “No wisdom from the ancient mariner?”
Walter took his own sun-warmed time to reply. “Best not commit a crime against nature.”
I nodded. “Food for thought.”
We fell silent.
After another pensive pause, he said, “Here's more food for thought. We could pick up an olallieberry pie, for the road.”
I nodded.
Now that gave me a measure of comfort. Some things just never change.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”
I had some help identifying the wrong words:
I want to thank the following science experts in their fields for information, education, reading the book, giving me terrific suggestions and support: Guy Cochrane, G. Nelson Eby, Raymond C. Murray, Jenny Purcell.
Thanks to Russell Dwiggins for the diving tutorial.
If there are factual or technical errors in Skeleton Sea, they are mine alone.
Thanks to the following for reading and commenting on the book: Wanda Sue Downs, Don Dwiggins, Russell Dwiggins, Quinn Richardson, Catherine Thomas-Nobles, Emily Williams, J.T. Yeager.
An added note of appreciation goes to Emily Williams for consulting on beer, teenage slang, and professorial style;)
To Chuck Williams, for the support, reality checks, patience, wisdom — thank you. Seven houses full.
A big thanks and a margarita toast go to the Cayucos gang.
I have one final thank you, to an amazing man who wanted to read this book, who died before I completed the manuscript.
I first met him as a reader who wrote to tell me how much he enjoyed my series. From there, we struck up a friendship, talking about writing and music (he was a talented musician) and travel and family and the odds and ends that find their way into correspondence. We talked about his illness and — I hope and believe — that gave him a small measure of support. We exchanged some laughs. I smile now, remembering him.
To a smart, funny, talented, deeply kind man: Michael D. MacDonald.
MAPS
