Fluke, or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN subdue to the HarborD give birth to the harbor they went past the condos, the rottere fields, the golf course, the Burger King, the Buddhistic cemetery with its great green Buddha blissed away by the sea, past the steak houses, the tourist traps, the old goof ride shoot shoot great deal Front Street on a girls bike with a macaw perched on his head prevail over to the harbor they went. They waved to the researchers at the fuel get into, nodded to the haglets at the use up booths, shakaed the divemasters and the captains, and schlepped science stuff calibrate the dock to first base their day.Tako composition stood in the spinal column of his ride eating a breakfast of rice and manta as the Maui Whale crew trunk, Quinn, Kona, and Amy passed by. He was a strong, wad Malayan with long hair and a thread a equal(p) soul-patch beard that, along with the b ace fishhooks he wore in his ears, gave him the distinct aspect of a pireat. He was one of the black-coral divers who lived in the harbor, and this morning, as always, he wore his tight suit.Hey, Tako, carcass state. The diver glanced up from his bowl. His eyes appe ared as if or soone had poured rays of blood into them. Kona noticed that the small octopus in the divers bowl was still moving, and he scampered checkmate the dock feeling a case of the creep fluttering to life in his spinal cord.Nightwalkers, decrepit ones, on your gravy holder last night. I seen them, give tongue to Tako spell. Not the first epoch.Good to know, tell form, condescending the diver and moving cut back the dock. You had to harbour placidity with anyone who lived in the harbor, especially the black-coral divers, who lived far all over the distinctness of what most large number would con placer normal life. They shot heroin, drank heavily, spent all day doing bounce dives to devil hundred feet look for the gemstone-valuable black coral, whence spent their money on wee klong parties that had, more than once, stop with one of them dead on the dock. They lived on their boats and ate rice and what invariably they could pull pop of the sea. Tako adult male had gotten his tender because on any given afternoon, after the divers came in for the day, youd see the grizzled Malaysian carrying a net bag full of tako (octopus) that he had spe ard on the reef for their supper.Hi, Amy utter sheepishly to Tako human as they passed. He glargond at her through his damn haze, and his head bobbed as he nigh nodded off into his breakfast. Amy quickened her pace and ran a Pelican case she was carrying into the natural covering of Quinns t naughty.Jeez, Amy, Quinn said, having almost lost his footing.Do those guys dive in that contain? Amy whispered, still sticking to Quinn like a shadow. worse than that. Would you back up a half-size?Hes scary. Youre supposititious to protect me, ya mook. How do they keep from situateting into publish?They lose one or two a year. Ironically, its usually an overdose that compresss them.Tough job.Theyre tough guys.Tako Man sh bulge by(p)ed, turnkey you, whale people Youll see. Fucking angleworm fuckers. Fucking fuck you, haole motherfuckers He tossed the remains of his breakfast at them. It landed overboard, and tiny fish skint the water fighting for the scraps.Rum, said Kona. Too untold hostility in dat buzz. Rum fill in from da cane, and cane come from slavin the people, and dat conquest all distilled in de bottle and come off a man mean as hurl shit on a day.Yeah, said remains to Quinn. Didnt you know that ab place(predicate) rum?W here(predicate)s your boat? anticipateed Quinn.My boat?Your boat, corpse, said Amy.No, said Clay. He stopped and dropped two cases of camera equipment on the dock. The Always Confused, the spiny and sizeable twenty-two-foot Grady White center-console fisherman, Clays pride and joy, was gone. A life jacket, a water bottle, and various other familiar f c rewsam bobbed gently in a rainbow slick of accelerator pedal where the boat had once been.Everyone thought someone else should assure something, simply for a full minute no one did. They on the well(p)ton stood in that location, staring at what should strike been Clays boat but kind of was a gargantuan, boatless mariner of tropical air.Poop, Amy finally said, enounceing it for all of them.We should total with the harbormaster, said Nate.My boat, said Clay, who stood over the empty fall back as if it were his recently run-over boyhood dog. He would take nuzzled it and stroked its little dead doggy ears if he could have, but instead he fished the buttery life jacket out of the water and sat on the dock rocking it.He in truth want that boat, Amy said.Can I catch up with a duh for the sistah? exclaimed the dreaded blond tiddler.I stipendiary the insurance, Nate said as he move away, headed for the harbormaster.Tako Man had come down the dock from his own boat to st are at the empty water. Somber now. Amy indorse up into Kona for protection, but Kona had backed up into the following person comfortable him, which sprained out to be Captain Tarwater, resplendent in his navy whites and impertinently Kona-scuffed shoes.Irie, ice cream man.Youre on my shoes.What happened? asked falling off Hyland, coming down the dock behind the captain.Clays boats gone, said Amy. decrease moved up and put his hand on Clays shoulder. Maybe someone plainly borrowed it. Clay nodded, acknowledging that Cliff was arduous to comfort him, but comfort vanish like sandwiches on the recently bombed.By the time Quinn re move from the harbormasters office with a Maui swipe in tow, there were a half dozen biologists, three black-coral divers, and a couple from Minnesota who were taking pictures of the whole thing, persuasion that this would be something they would want to remember if they ever anchor out what was happening. As the cop approached, the black-coral di vers thinned to the edges of the crowd and away.Jon doubting Thomas replete(predicate), the scientist/entrepreneur who was accompanied by three of his cute female naturalists, stepped up beside Quinn. This is on the nose horrible, Nate. bonnie horrible. That boat represented a absorb apart capital investment for you guys, Im sure.Yeah, but mainly we liked to think of it as something that floated and moved us somewhat on the water. Nate rattling had a great substance for sarcasm, but he usually reserved it for those things and people he found truly irritating. Jon Thomas egg-filled was truly irritating.Going to be tough to replace it.Well manage. It was insured.You might want to get something bombasticger this time. I know theres a measure of safety work off of these sixty-five-footers we have, but also with the cabin you can set up computers, bow cameras, a lot of things that arent really possible on little speedboats. A good-size boat would add a lot of legitimacy to your operation.We sort of decided to go with the legitimacy we get from doing credible research, Jon Thomas.We didnt make those figures up. Fuller caught himself raising his voice. The cop interviewing Clay looked over his shoulder, and Fuller lowered his tone. That was honorable professional jealousy on the part of our detractors.Your detractors were the facts. What did you search when your paper concluded that humpbacks actually enjoyed being laid low(p) by Jet Skis?Some do. Fuller pushed back his pith helmet and ventured a smile of sincerity, which collapsed under its own weight.Whats your angle, Jon Thomas?Nate, I can get you a boat like ours, with all the trimmings, and an operating budget, and youd salutary have to do one little discover for me. One season of work, maximum. And your operation can keep the boat, sell it, do whatever you want.Unless Fuller was about to ask him to shove him off the dock into the oily water, Quinn pretty much knew he was going to turn down t he maintain, but he had to ask. Those were really slender boats. Make your proposal.I invite you to put your invoke on a study that submits that human-dolphin interaction facilities are not h build upful to the animals, and do a study that says that building one at La Perouse true laurel wouldnt have a negative impact on the environment. Then Id need you to stand up at the appropriate meetings and make the case.Im not your guy, Jon Thomas. First, Im not a dolphin guy, and you know that. Nate avoided adding what he wanted to say, which was Second, you are a feckless weasel out to make a buck without any consideration for science or the animals you study. Instead he said, There are scores of people doing studies on captive dolphins. Why dont you go to them?I have the animal study. You dont have to do the study. I fairish want your name on it.Wont the people who actually did the study have some objection to that?No. Theyll be fine with it. I need your name and your presence, Na te.I dont think so. I cant see myself testifying sooner impact committees and county planning boards.Okay, blank enough. Clay or Amy can do the stand-ups. Just put your name on the paper and do the environmental impact study. I need the believability of your name.Which I wont have as soon as I let you use me. Im sorry, but my name is all I really have to instal for twenty-five years of work. I cant sell it out, dismantle for a really nice boat.Oh, right, the nobility of starvation. Fuck that, Nate, and fuck your high judgmentls. Im doing more for these animals by exposing the familiar to them than youll do in a lifetime of graphing out songs and recording behavior. And before you retire to your ivory reign on the ethical high ground, youd die command a good look at your people. That kid is a common thief, and no one has ever perceive of your precious new assistant. Fuller turned and signaled to his chorus line of whalettes that they were going to their boat.Quinn looked fo r Amy, power saw her on the other side of the cop who was talking to Clay, parcel him fill in details. He ran up behind Fuller, grabbed the smaller mans arm, and spun him around. What are you talking about? Amy study at Woods old salt, with Tyack and Loughten.That right? Well, maybe youd better give them a call and ask them. Because theyve never heard of her. Despite what you think, I do my research, Nate. Do you? Now, get back to your one-boat operation, would you.If I find out you had anything to do with thisFuller wrenched his arm out of Quinns manage and grinned. well(p), youll what? Become more irrelevant? Screw you, Nate.What did you say?But Fuller ignored him and boarded his million-dollar research vessel, musical composition Quinn skulked back down the dock to his friends. Oily flotsam seemed to be losing its allure, however, and the crowd had dispersed somewhat, leaving lonesome(prenominal) Amy, Clay, the cop, and the couple from Minnesota.You. Youre somebody arent you? asked the woman as Nate walked up. Honey, this guy is someone. I remember seeing him on the uncovering Channel. Get my picture with him.Who is he? said lovemaking as his wife took Nate by the arm and represent like hed middling handed her a tone down.I dont know, one of those ocean guys, she said through a grin, acting as if she were posing with one of the mould statues that decorated doorways around Lahaina. Just take the picture. atomic number 18 you one of those Cousteau fellas? Oui, said Nate. Now I muckle speak with my good fren Sylvia Earle, he continued in his French-by-way-of-British-Columbia-and-Northern-California fake accent as he went over to Amy. I need to talk to you.Sylvia Earle Shes a subject Geographic person. Get their picture together, honey.Hes lying, Nathan, Amy said. You can check if you want. It was all on the resume I gave to Clay. She didnt await angry, just hurt, betrayed perhaps. Her eyes were huge and teary, and she was starting to look vag uely like one of those creepy Keane sad-eyed-kid pictures. Quinn matte like hed just smacked a bag of kittens against a truck bumper.I know, he said. Im sorry. I just well, Jon Thomas is an asshole. I let him get to me.Its okay, Amy sniffed. Its just just Ive worked so hard.I dont need to check, Amy. You do good work. My fault for doubting you. Lets get Clay squared away and get to work.He tentatively put his arm around her and walked her back to where Clay was finishing up his interview with the cop. Clay saw the tear tracks down Amys face and immediately took her in his arms and pressed her head to his shoulder. I know, honey. I know. It was a great boat, but it was just a boat. Well get another one.Wheres Kona? Nate asked.He was around here a second ago, said Clay.Just then Nates cell phone rang. He worked it out of his habilitate pocket and answered it. Nathan, its me, said the antiquated Broad. Nate covered the mouthpiece. Its the honest-to-god Broad, Nate said to Clay.Amy, you go round up Kona charm I finish up with the officer, okay? Clay said.Amy nodded and was off down the dock. Clay turned back to the officer.The Old Broad went on, Nathan, I spoke to that big male again today, and he definitely wants you to take a hot pastrami on rye with you when you go out. He said its very important.Im sure it is, Elizabeth, but Im not sure were even going out today. Somethings happened to Clays boat. Its gone.Oh, my, he must be distraught. Ill come down and look after him, but you have to get out in the channel today. I just feel its very important.I dont think youll need to come down, Elizabeth. Clay will manage.Well, if you say so, but you have to promise me youll go out today.I promise.And youll take a pastrami on rye for that big male.Ill try, Elizabeth. I have to go now, Clay necessarily me for something.With Swiss cheese and hot mustard the Old Broad said as Nate disconnected.Clay thanked the patrolman, who nodded to Quinn as he walked off. Even the couple from Minnesota had moved on, and only Clay and Quinn were left on the dock. Where are the kids? asked Nate, cringing at the whole idea he and Clay, the middle-aged couple being responsible and muffled while the kids went off to play and have adventures.I asked Amy to find Kona. They could be anywhere.Clay, I need to ask you something before they get back.Shoot.Did you check any of Amys references before you hired her? I mean, did you call anyone? Woods Hole? Her undergrad school what was it?Cornell. Nope. She was smart, she was cute, she seemed to know what she was talking about, and she said shed work for free. The bona fides looked good on paper. Gift horse, Nate.Jon Thomas Fuller said that he checked and that no one at Woods Hole has heard of her.Fullers an asshole. Look, I dont really care if she finished high school. The kid has proven herself. Shes got balls.Still, maybe I should call Tyack. Just in case.If you need to. Call him this afternoon when you get back in.I m sure Fuller was just yanking my chain. He tried to offer us a boat like his if we backed his dolphin-park project.And you turned him down?Of course.But those are really nice boats. Our armada has been cut by fifty percent. Our nautical resources have declined by more than one-half. Our boatage is deficient by point five.Whats up? Amy said. Shed come back down the dock and seemed to have shaken off her earlier melancholy.Clays being scientific. Fuller offered us a sixty-foot research vessel like his, with operating budget, if we back his dolphin project.Do I have to sleep with him?We havent put that on the table, Clay said, but Ill bet we could get a asdic array if youre enthusiastic.Hell, Nate, take it, Amy said.It would mean selling out my credibility, said Quinn, appalled at what total whores his colleagues had become. Wed be going over to the dark side.Amy shrugged. Those are really nice boats. The corner of her mouth twitched as if she was trying not to grin, and Nate realiz ed that she was probably goofing on him.Yeah, said Clay. Nice. Clay was goofing, too. Hed be all right. Nate shook his head, looking as if he were fighting disbelief, but actually he was trying to shake the memory of his pipe dream of driving a big cabin patrol car through the streets of Seattle with Amy displayed as the bikinied figurehead. If youre okay, Clay, we really should get out before the wind comes up.Go, Clay said. Ill get the police report for the insurance company. To Amy he said, You find Kona?Hes down there with that Tako guy.Whats he doing down there?It looked like he was building a saxophone. I didnt go close.Quinn strode down the dock and looked to where Kona was talking with Tako Man. No, thats his bong. It breaks down for easy portage.Whats a bong?Cute, Amy. Help me get the equipment in the boat.Suddenly Kona started shouting and running down the dock toward them. Bwanas I found the boatClay perked up. Where?Right there. Tako Man says its right there. He dove do wn there this morning.Kona was pointing to a patch of murky fall apart green water in the center of the harbor. break green because of all the waste flushed from the live-aboards, as well as the bait, fish guts, seasickness, and bird skunk that went into the water faster than the scavengers could clean it out, and so it caused a perpetual algae bloom.My boat, said Clay, looking forlornly at the empty water.Amy stepped up and put her arm around Clays shoulders to resume stage-two comfort. He dove in that water?The nightwalkers sank it, Bwana Clay. Tako Man saw them. Skinny blue-gray guys. He called them nightwalkers. I think aliens.Aliens are always gray, arent they? inquired Quinn.Thats what I say to him, said Kona. But he say no, not with the lightbulb head. He say they overblown and froggy.Youre high, said Clay.Tako Man got dank mystical buds, brah. Was a spiritual duty.Hes not criticizing you, Kona, Quinn explained. We just assume that youre high. Clays just doubting the cred ibility of your story.You dont believe I? declare a man a mask, Ill dive down and get a ting off da boat for proof.Hepatitis, thats what youll bring up, said Amy.Im going to work, said Nate.My boat, said Clay.Nate decided that perhaps he should offer a measure of solace. Look at the burnished side, Clay. At least whales are big.How is that the bright side?We could be studying viruses. You have any idea what it costs to replace a scanning negatron microscope?My boat, said Clay.