~* * *~
Megan went back to the kitchen and pulled out the notepad she had found earlier. She went outside to sit on a camp-chair. She glanced at the Dinki-Di a moment before she thumbed through the pages, until she found the letter that Bill wrote and dated eight months earlier.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dawson,
The young man I called you about is Seth Dawson, your missing heir. I’ve enclosed some photos so you can identify him yourselves. I’ve hired him for my boat. The silly fool doesn’t know how good he’s had it. All he wants to do is surf or go drinking. I’m working him hard, trying to make a man of him. I even loaned him out to a mate of mine who has a large trawler. He did the work cheerfully enough. I’ve gotten to know your boy, while I reckon Seth has a lot of potential in him, I also realize the problem is getting it out. When you feel he is ready, I can easily get your boy home since his visa has run out, but I will need the compensation we spoke of.
There were a lot of scratched out and rewritten places, but it was clearly a first draft of a letter he must have sent.
Megan placed a hand over her mouth as she blinked back angry tears. Damn it, Bill, Seth loved you. But you just thought of him as another money making scheme.
Twenty: Frogman
While Megan practiced her Tai Chi, she saw an interesting sight; Seth goose-stepping down to the slope in a surfer’s wet suit and flippers. Goggles perched on top of his head, and he carried the spear gun, along with a net like bag.
“Where are you off to, my frog prince?”
Seth grinned. “Spear fishing. And it’s frogman to you, luv.” He leaned over. “Give us a pash for luck.”
She kissed him. “Good luck.”
Seth took elaborate steps down to the water and waded in. He turned around when the water hit his waist to smile at her. Then put on the goggles and stuck the snorkel in his mouth. He gave a thumbs-up, then dove into the next wave.
“Just come back to me, you silly Aussie,” she said with a sigh.
Megan was relaxing on a chair, drinking her second cup of tea, when she saw Seth emerge from the teal water. His net bag was full.
She strolled down to meet him. “Any luck?”
“Yes, I reckon so.” He lifted the bag with several huge yellow shells in it. “Luv, do you know how to cook a conch?”
“We don’t have conches in California, so I can’t say that I have.” She took the heavy bag from him and looked the creatures over.
He carefully balanced on one foot, taking off a flipper. “I reckon I’ll have to drill a hole in the shells to get the meat out.”
“But they’re such pretty shells,” Megan complained, turning them over, admiring the pink underside.
He switched feet to remove the other flipper. “It’s just a wee hole, luv.” He tucked her under his arm as they walked back to the boat. “Hmm, I like a bird with a hint of lemon,” he said, sniffing her hair.
“I tried the red fruit juice with mixed results, so I’m going with your earlier suggestion, I’m going blond.”
“Blimey, I’ll feel like I’m rooting with a different bird each week.” He grinned.
Seth went into the helm and turned on the generator. He plugged in the drill and drilled a hole in the shell. Some careful maneuverings with a screwdriver got the meat out. “I didn’t muck that up too much.” He handed the meat to Megan.
She slipped a large bowl under it. “Too bad about the pretty shell, though.”
“Aw, Megz, it’s not that bad.” The next one busted. “Gawd darn it.” Something in the wreckage of the shell caught his gaze. He held up the end of the conch. “Look, Megz.
“Oh, it looks like a heart.” She smiled.
“I reckon with a bit of work, I can make you a pretty necklace out of it.”
“Okay.”
Soon he had the meat out of that one, too. Megan took both, heading into the kitchen to try her hand at cooking conch. She cleaned them out in the sink but found the creature left a sticky icky mess. In desperation, Megan dumped vinegar and squeezed a lemon over it, then watched it dissolve. “Well, what do you know?”
~* * *~
Seth peeled off his wet suit, then strutted naked into the cabin. He smelled the rich odor of the conch cooking. Megan didn’t notice him as she flipped the cut up pieces, and checked a pot with boiling water.
“You’re frying it?” He set his hand on her shoulders, peering over her at the stove.
“I’m making soup, too.” She pointed to the pot.
“Sounds like a good brekky.” He sniffed again as his mouth watered.
“More like lunch,” she told him. “I added some rice to the soup, but we have precious little vegetables left until the garden grows, so it’s pretty plain.”
“It’ll be alright. I’m going to have a quick shower. How soon will it be done?”
“Not much longer, conch seems to cook pretty fast.” She flipped another slice.
He turned to go, but felt a sting on his bare arse. Looking back, he caught Megan’s mischievous expression as she tossed her tea towel back over her shoulder. Still chuckling, he took a quick shower and came back, wearing just a pair of shorts.
Megan’s gaze swept over his body with an apprising lifted eyebrow, but then she frowned. “Just look at your hands. You’ve been in the water too long.”
“I reckon so,” he agreed, glancing at them. “It’s pretty down there, like another world. If I can dig up another pair of goggles, you should come with me.”
“I’ve never learned how to snorkel,” she told him, filling up two plates and two bowls.
He took the food from her, setting it on the table. “I can teach you at the swimming lagoon. What do you say, luv? It’ll be something we can do together.”
“Okay, maybe tomorrow,” she agreed as she got the silverware.
They sat down. Seth forked a bite, chewing it, his mouth filled with a delicious flavor. “Mmm, good conch.” He quickly took another bite closed his eyes, enjoying the rich taste of the meat.
“I’ve never had any before,” Megan said, taking a bite. “Hey, it’s not bad.”
Seth grinned. “I reckon we just improved our diet a bit.”
“Yeah, this is a lot better than the clams and mussels that we’ve been eating.”
“Don’t forget the bush pork.”
“How can I forget, we still need to eat it up, too.”
“We’ll have the pork for tea?”
“Sure.”
~* * *~
The next day started calm and clear. Seth found goggles and a snorkel for Megan. She reluctantly went with him to the lagoon for her lesson. “I know ya can swim. This part isn’t hard. Just breathe out of the mouth piece, like so.” He slipped his snorkel on, blew out loudly, then started to hum.
Megan tried to place the melody, it sounded familiar. Maybe one of those old songs I learned to sing at school? Dancing Matilda or something?
He took his mouth piece out. “Okay, try it now.”
“I don’t know about using something that’s been in someone else’s mouth.” Megan looked at the snorkel with suspicion as she rinsed it in the water again. It’s probably Bill’s. Yuck! Old man’s drool.
“Luv, you been doing that since we got here. I reckon its clean now,” he encouraged her.
She frowned at him, then at the mouth piece. Megan sighed and stuck it in her mouth, breathing through it. Okay, it’s like breathing from your mouth.
“Orright, now stick your face in the water,” he instructed her as he did so himself.
Megan stuck her head down, took a few breaths. She pulled her head up and took her mouth piece out. “Hey.”
Seth’s head came up as he took his snorkel out. “Oy, what, luv?”
“What happens when I get water in this thing? How will I breathe then?”
“Ya blow it out like a Dolphin does, then ya can take a breath.”
“Oh, okay, but what if I can’t get it all out. See, it’s got a bend in it like a sink
trap, not all the water drains out of a sink trap.”
“Fixed many sinks, have ya?” He smirked.
“Actually, I have,” she admitted.
“Luv, if you are that worried about it, then stay near the surface. There is still a lot you can see from up top.”
“Oh, good, I thought you would insist that I learn the whole thing all at once,” she said, relieved. Jonathan would have.
“You aren’t ready to learn it all at once,” he told her. “Just float on you tummy and watch the fishies.”
They floated side by side. The bright-colored tropical fish darted about, reminding her of an aquarium seen from above. Something puzzled her. What’s happened to the fish? There’s not as many as there was before.
She floated over the kelp, noting pieces of crab shells scattered about. With a start, she spotted a pair of eyes watching her. Megan grabbed Seth’s arm, pointing. Her heart hammered in her chest while her stomach clinched. What the hell is that thing? The urge to run hit her hard. Calm, calm, wait and see what Seth does.
Seth nodded and swam down.
Floating in place, only occasionally moving his hand or foot, he and the critter seemed to take each other’s measure. A long moment passed, with Megan watching, still holding her breath. He swam back up to the surface.
Seth pulled his goggles and mouth piece off, setting them on top of his head. “It’s a giant octopus, luv. It blends right into the kelp, so we didn’t notice him before.”
Megan yanked out her mouth piece and sputtered, “What do you mean, giant octopus?”
“I reckon there isn’t so much seaweed as octopus. I think it’s been feeding on the fishies and the crabs here.”
“Well, that explains what happened to the fish.”
“You want to stay, or do you want give the ocean a burl?”
“The ocean. This little lagoon doesn’t feel so safe with a hungry giant octopus hanging around, pretending to be plant life.”
“Orright, let’s go. I’ll get a spear gun and collecting bag.” He headed toward the shore.
Megan swam slowly after until she felt something brush against her, going from crotch to foot. She put more speed into her stroke and soon passed Seth, hitting the beach at a dead run. Turning, she stared back at the innocent-seeming pool. For a brief moment, the water appeared crystal clear, and she could clearly see the giant octopus as it seemed to wink at her, before pulling itself back into the kelp. The breeze picked up, obscuring the surface.
“What’s the matter, luv?” Seth asked as he took off his goggles.
“I think. No, I know that thing touched me.” She pointed at the lagoon with a shaking finger.
“A touch or a grab?” he asked, looking back at the pool.
“A touch,” she admitted.
“They’re intelligent creatures, luv. It might have had a bit of fun with you.” He grinned.
“You’re a fisherman. Go get it—kill it,” she demanded, glaring back at the water. “How do you like that, huh? Tentacles, it’s what’s for dinner!”
“Let’s go, luv.” Seth slipped an arm around her. “Don’t let ‘em put the wind up ya, and let Mr. Octopus have his pond.”
“Fine by me,” she said, giving the lagoon a last disparaging glower before they headed back to the boat.
~* * *~
Seth pulled on his surfing wetsuit, zipping up the back with a long cord, while Megan had to make do with her bikini. They waded out into the surf, but it felt a lot different than the still warm water of the lagoon. Just past the breakers, the water smoothed out, with only the swells to deal with. Seth dove down, swimming to the bottom. The sandy ocean floor had a wavy appearance. A few fish swam just out of his reach, but he didn’t seem to be interested in any of them. He soon swam up to the surface, rejoining Megan.
“There’s a reef over that way. I reckon you’ll enjoy watching the fishies. I’ll have a go at catching us something for tea.”
“Okay,” she agreed. They headed towards the reef while the bottom dropped away, but rose up again at the colorful reef. Megan gazed, delighted, at the exotic fish. I wish I had the nerve to dive further down, but the view from here is still amazing.
A fish bumped against her goggles as she stared back at it, fascinated. When she touched its nose, it puffed out and spikes appeared all over it.
Oh, it’s a puffer fish.
Soon a large grouper came over to her and allowed her to pet it with a single finger. A tiger fish soon joined it, but she knew better than to try and touch it. The fish strutted for her anyway, as it fluttered its wing like fins. They all darted away when a sleek shape swam near. Megan held her breath, trying not to move.
Is it a shark?
It came right up to her peering into her goggles, turned to the side and appeared to smile.
Good heavens, it’s a spotted dolphin.
Megan touched its inner-tube textured side. It blew bubbles which reminded her of giggling underwater, then it swam away. Wow.
Seth soon joined her. He showed her his full collection bag and pointed toward shore. Time to go home.
They waded out of the surf, side by side. “You did good, luv, for your first time out,” Seth told her with a proud grin.
“Oh, Seth, I saw a dolphin! It let me touch it,” she said, still enraptured by what she saw. “Just think, that reef’s been there the whole time, and I didn’t know it.”
“Sure, luv, but you didn’t have goggles and a snorkel did ya, eh?”
“True. Nor did I have anyone to teach me either, until now.” She smiled up at him.
~* * *~
Back on the boat, they took off their gear. Seth stripped off his wet suit and tossed it over the side of the Dinki-Di to dry. “What yer doing, luv?” He stepped into a clean pair of shorts.
“I’m trying to sketch some of the fish I just saw,” she said, still drawing. “I wish I had some colored pencils or water colors. They were so pretty.”
“Do you reckon you can make do with fruit juice?” He nodded to the fruit basket.
“That’s a good idea.” She grabbed a star-shaped fruit, tearing a corner off, then stuck a finger in it. She looked at the purplish-pink juice on the tip, then rubbed it on the drawing.
“Megz.”
“Hmm,” she said, still working.
“I’m going to clean the fish now.”
“Okay,” she said, but didn’t look up.
Seth removed a sharp knife from a drawer, then went out to clean the fish. He brought the meat back in on a large bowl. He looked at Megan, still working. “Oy, luv, what should we do about the fish?”
“Huh?” She glanced up at him. “Oh, sorry, do you want it fried or baked?”
“Baked fish?” He blinked, surprised. “Don’t sound too appealing, eh?”
Megan had several pieces of fruit in front of her. She took a small bit of paper for each color and carefully added it to her picture. “Barbequed?” she asked with a distracted air.
“I reckon I can handle it.” He set the fish down and walked off the boat to start a fire at Megan’s old campsite. He didn’t want to worry Megz, but their petrol was getting low, so he was only using the lights and the fridge. When he came back inside for the fish, he leaned over her shoulder as he studied her picture. “Megz, that’s brilliant.”
“Oh, thank you.” She glanced up at him. “I don’t usually draw much. But the fish were so beautiful, and I wanted to get down what I saw.”
“I reckon you got it,” he said. I wish I could get her some proper paper and water colors. “I’m off to barbie the fish now.”
“Okay, do you want me to make some rice?”
“Just don’t scorch it while you're working on your picture.” He kissed her on top of the head, then took the fish and went out.
When he came back, Megan stood at the stove, stirring the rice. “Almost done,” she cheerfully told him.
“How’s your picture?”
“I’m finished, and I did several.” S
he tapped the spoon against the edge of the pot, securing the lid before she turned off the stove. “They look like a child’s painting, though.”
As Seth set down the plate, he gazed at the drawing. “Naw, Megz, this is a fine picture,” holding the picture closer, he sniffed, “It smells good too. Fruity.”
Megan grinned. “Thank you, I did have fun doing it.”
“Then you should make some more.” He took out the plates and set the table, carefully moving her paintings out of the way.
“I wish I had art supplies,” she said with a shrug.
“Maybe something will turn up for ya.”
“Perhaps,” she said with a sigh. “Oh, I had an idea while I worked on this project.”
“What’s that, luv?”
“That drill you used on the conch, can I use it for another project?” She filled up their plates with rice, then added the fish.
“Orright,” he agreed. “It’s with Bill’s other tools in the tackle box. There is even a hand-crank one, also some saws. I was going to use it on the piece of conch to make a necklace for ya.”
“Well, I’ve been collecting shells along the beach for a while now. I thought it would be a nice project for us to do together, if we could make wind chimes, to hang them off the boat and from the trees. Also, I would like to make a drift wood fence to keep the pigs from trying to get on the Dinki-Di again.”
“I reckon that kept you distracted. Yer mind was going like a lizard drinking.” The lights flickered and went out.
“Seth, what happened to the power? Are we running low on fuel?”
“We’ve got enough petrol for a while, yet. I’ll handle it.” Seth went into the helm and flipped the generator switch on the dash. It started running and the lights flickered back on.
“That did it.” He came back and picked up the pad, flipping through the nearly dried paintings.
“Um, Seth, don’t do that they’re not dried yet.”
“No worries, luv. I’m not hurting ‘em.” He stopped at a letter, his frown deepened when he caught sight of the names Mr. and Mrs. Dawson. He glanced over at Megan biting her lip. Then he read more. “Megz, where did ya get this pad?”
“From Bill’s drawer.”
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