The passengers waited.
Brandy returned to the wheelhouse, emphatically nodding yes.
I closed my eyes, the migraine teasing at my right eye, the ghosts of Loch Ness at my spine.
"It's a simple question, Dr. Wallace. Yes or no?"
"No."
Moans of disappointment.
"Then you lied to us earlier?"
"I didn't lie. What I should've said, what I meant to say was there could be something large down there, but whatever it is, it's nothing to do with the Nessie lore as we know it."
"All right then, if you actually believe that, then why not investigate the Loch yourself? Whether you realize it or not, the Sargasso incident, combined with everything that's happened to your father, has drawn huge interest from our sponsors. I'd say the timing couldn't be more perfect for a well-financed investigation of Loch Ness, headed by Dr. Zachary Wallace himself."
The passengers clapped enthusiastically.
"Is that what brought you on this boat, Mr. Oldham?"
His smile revealed his intentions. "Let's just say, we try to deliver what our viewers want to see. The Werner Herzog movie was tongue- in-cheek, the public prefers something more scientific. Just say the word, Dr. Wallace, and I can have a film crew, research vessel, and sonar equipment at your disposal in less than a week."
My heart beat like a race horse's as Brandy cut the Nessie III's engine, maneuvering us into an open berth in the Fort Augustus marina. "Dr. Wallace, could ye grab the bow line for me? Hello? Zachary… the bow line?"
I refused to move, the pressure in my head continuing to build, the NOVA producer refusing to back down. "The public trusts you, Dr. Wallace. Why not end the controversy here and now?"
Frustrated, Brandy grabbed the line herself and jumped onto the dock. "I think Dr. Wallace would like to mull this over and discuss it on oor return trip, ain't that right, Dr. Wallace?"
Return trip? Was she insane?
"And everyone who prepays now will save an extra two pounds—"
"No," I said, interrupting her commercial. "Look, Mr. Oldham, I appreciate your offer, but I'm not a cryptozoologist, and I don't want the world to perceive me as one. All this nonsense about monsters creates an impossible environment to conduct a serious study. Fakes, phony sightings, doctored photos, childish pranks, tongue-in-cheek movies… is it any wonder so many reputable scientists avoid Loch Ness like the plague? You want to know if there's a large water creature inhabiting these waters? My answer is maybe, but I'm not interested in risking my reputation as a marine biologist to find out."
"That's where you and I disagree," Oldham said. "Settling the debate once and for all would actually enhance your status as a scientist."
"Tell that to Denys Tucker," I mumbled.
"Maybe he's just afraid?" Bibi surmised.
The migraine moved into its next stage as the Nessie III settled into an open berth.
'Are you afraid, Dr. Wallace?" Oldham accused.
"It's okay to be afraid," offered the younger Jordan boy. "I'd be afraid to go down there, too."
My insides gurgling, I patted the four-year-old on the head, then stood, pushing my way through the wall of passengers.
"Zachary, wait!"
Ignoring Brandy's calls, I jumped onto the dock, my eyeball throbbing as I frantically searched for a public bathroom in which to be sick.
Chapter 11
It was about 3 PM on an overcast day when I saw it. Its head and neck rose from the calm surface of the Loch and moved along quite near the shore. The head was small in comparison to the thickness of the creature's neck. After about five minutes, a passing steamer sounded its siren and the creature, after turning its head in an agitated manner, plunged out of sight.
Loch Ness was calm the day my first mate (Rich) and I took the (steam tug) Arrow on her maiden voyage from Leith to Manchester. Suddenly, we noticed a huge black animal, like a humpbacked whale, emerge on the surface and keep pace with the ship. At first we saw two distinct humps, one after the other, but after a brief disappearance, the beast reappeared with seven humps or coils, before tearing past the tug at a terrific speed, leaving large waves.
Nearly two hours after docking in Fort Augustus, I emerged from the men's public bathroom, drained and pale, the effects of the migraine still lingering like a bad morning hangover. I was in no shape, physically or mentally, to manage a return trip up the Loch, and yet I knew I was in deep shit with Brandy.
Honesty's the best policy, Zack. Tell her about your phobia, and she'll have to forgive you.
Rehearsing my speech, I walked slowly back to the Nessie III. Brandy was out on deck, cleaning. Before I could get in a word edgewise, she launched her attack from the starboard rail.
"Well, look who decided tae come home. First, ye blow me off last night, then ye ruin my bloody tour."
"Ruined?"
"Do ye see anyone besides us standin' here? Ye dumb bastard, ye chased them all away! Never tell payin' customers there's no Nessie. What the hell were ye thinkin'?"
"Wait, I didn't say that."
"Tae hell ye didnae. No, Miss Kate, that's a wave. No, Mister James, that's a duck. No, Mr. Nova-Producer, I'd never risk my bloody Albert Einstein reputation by investigatin' a ridiculous Highland legend like Nessie. Twenty-three tourists, my best load all season, an' ye sent every one o' them off tae ride home wi' my competition."
"Brandy, I'm sorry, but see, ever since the Sargasso thing I …"
"Fuck yersel', Zachary Wallace! I never want tae see ye again, dae ye hear? Far as I'm concerned, ye can crawl back tae Inverness an' hang wi' yer no good faither."
Having worked herself into a good lather, she proceeded to toss things at me. First it was her bucket and sponge, then her shoes, one of which caught me across the shoulder. Still not satisfied, she hustled down to the galley, emerging moments later with a cast-iron frying pan, which barely missed my head.
When she went for the anchor, I took off running.
I left the waterfront and hailed a taxi. Forty minutes later, the driver dropped me off at the Clansman Hotel, where I picked up my motorcycle and rode back to Drumnadrochit.
True was gone, probably fishing somewhere. I considered waiting for him, but the thought of being alone at the lodge while Crabbit stalked the mountainside in his thirteenth-century pajamas and sword was clearly not an option. So I left True a note, included my contact information in Inverness, then drove off, convinced this would be my last appearance in the village of my birth.
There was a note waiting for me at my hotel when I returned.
Dearest Half Brar:
Monday's an important day for us. After being locked up for nearly four months, Angus is anxious to have his square-go at it. He thanks our Creator in heaven that his own flesh and blood will be in court to help him in this, his time of need, and requests you wear a nice suit and clean keks (boxers) so as not to put off the jury. (Ha) See you at 8:30 AM sharp.
— Maxie
The thought of my father, isolated from society, alone in his cell, sober and grateful to have me by his side after so many years brought tears to my eyes.
Had I known then what Angus had in store for me, I'd have been on the next plane home to Miami.