Page 10 of Lagoon

“Well, it has been a long time since we’ve introduced him to someone new, I suppose,” said Dr. Greyson.

Riley lowered her shirt. “Maybe I did something to provoke him?”

“No, no, it wasn’t your fault,” said Dr. Greyson. “He’s dangerous, and we can’t have him out here. He’s got to go into the tank.”

“Yes, of course, you’re right,” said Dr. White. “Well, I’ll go up and contact the lieutenant to have them move him.”

Dr. Greyson scratched the back of his head, looking hesitant. “You don’t think there’s any way we could move him ourselves? If we get the wagon, maybe?”

Dr. White raised his eyebrows.

“It’s only I don’t want to deal with the guards about it. They’ll be frightened if they think he’s dangerous. You know the sorts of rumors that run rampant about Bub’s brother, and… well, we need to protect him. The last thing we need is frightened, less-than-intelligent men with guns making rash decisions.”

Dr. White considered. “I see what you’re saying.”

“You think they might hurt him?” said Riley. “Well, maybe we should simply leave him here and—”

“No, I’m not leaving all this to chance,” said Dr. Greyson. “We can’t know what he’ll do now that we’ve tranqed him. He might want to retaliate. We may have made him very angry.”

“I can’t think he’ll be pleased to awaken in the tank,” said Dr. White.

“True,” said Dr. Greyson. “But if he did hurt anyone, and I left him free, it would be my fault. I’ll go for the wagon.”

“All right, I’ll stay here with him,” said Dr. White. “You get Dr. Stine back to the lab, wrapped in towels with a hot drink in her hand.”

“I’m not cold,” said Riley with a shaky laugh. She was soaking wet, yes, but it was warm and muggy outside.

“No, he’s right,” said Dr. Greyson. “Come with me.” He started to walk up the bank.

She came after him. She stepped on a loose rock and lost her balance.

He backtracked immediately and caught her. He put a hand on her back, steadying her.

She looked up at him, registering the warmth of his hand through the wetness of her clothes in a way that made her remember she’d thought he was attractive. He didn’t look better without his glasses—she liked glasses on men—but he looked more vulnerable in some way, and when their gazes met, something went through her.

“Careful,” he said, and his voice was very deep.

“I’m fine,” she said.

He helped her up the bank, though, and she didn’t stop him from helping her. She should have, she thought, but she tried to tell herself he was just helping her out, and that it didn’tmean anything, that there wasn’t any vaguely romantic tension growing here.

But even as they climbed up the hill, she couldn’t help but spin some possible future in her head, the two of them working together, studying Bub together, falling in love, having a life out here together. It seemed, well, nice.

At the top of the hill, he stopped touching her.

They walked together to the lab, where Dr. Greyson hit his hand against the door in disgust. “Fuck, I don’t have my keycard,” he groaned.

“So, we can’t get in?” said Riley.

He backed away from the door, hands up. “I’m going back to get Dr. White’s. Or to stay with Bub and send him to you, I don’t know. You stay here?”

She might as well, she supposed. “All right.”

He sighed heavily, muttering that he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of that, and then he trudged back in the direction of the lagoon.

She watched him.

Time passed.

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