Page 22 of Oceansong
“It’s late, I get it.” Luke nodded his head in agreement. “And yes, hewill. Or that dickhead Nick will.” His cheeks grew scarlet. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to curse in front of a lady.”
“Apology accepted.” Angie patted his shoulder, and caught him blushing under the dimmed cargo hold lights. “Where was the swell?”
“About five nautical miles southwest of here. Strange. I mean, we hit some choppy waters coming from the Aleutians, but this came out of nowhere. I heard,” Luke cleared his throat and started walking her back to the ship’s upper level, “that it’s merfolk doing it. A few sailors fell overboard, and we couldn’t save them. Had to turn around.”
Angie eyed Luke, choosing her next words carefully. Did she want to confirm the rumors and possibly jade him? The boy was young and innocent. Warning him would be the better idea. “That’s the rumor.” Her voice cracked. “But be careful, alright? Try not to hang around the coastline. I’ll talk to my bàba about getting you some more work inland.”
“I like being by the sea.” Luke folded his arms across his chest, tight enough to make his small pecs pop.
Stubborn, the way she was at his age. For his own good, she had to try to get through to him.
“I know, but just for now. You could have been thrown overboard. Please listen to me on this.”
Finally, Luke relented, dropping his shoulders and arms. “Okay, I guess that’s everything for today. I’ll see you tomorrow or the day after? Well, I mean, you know, if you’re going to the ferry, I’ll come with you.”
“Yeah, sure.” A gentle smile formed as she waited for Luke to grab his things. They walked to the ferry terminal, a short walk outside the docks, together, talking all the way there. Angie kept her conversation with Luke on point, but she couldn’t stop thinking of Kaden and whether she should look for him again.
If he was willing to talk, then other mer might be, too. She could try to coax information out of him. Why were they hoarding fish, how many, how were they doing it? Use him to find out who and where their leaders were.
Luke’s voice cut into her spiraling thoughts. “When I come back to work the day after tomorrow, can I talk to you a bit about marine biology? I think I want to major in that in college.”
“Oh yeah, sure. You decided on that already?” Angie thought back to how she had an undecided major for her first two years of undergrad.
“I want to own my own dock one day, be close to the water. I don’t care where. As long as I can hear the soothing crashes of waves on the shore, the seagulls circling the skies, and breathe in the salty breeze.” They reached the small ferry terminal’s waiting area, where two other dock workers waited. “Even though it was only for a short while, working with you inspired me to chase my dream.” He spoke such touching words.
“How about we meet for breakfast? I’ll bring some coffee and breakfast sandwiches?”
“Sounds delicious,” Luke replied. “I promise I’ll pay you back. I can’t wait.”
“Don’t worry about it, Luke.” Angie returned to her thoughts. The debate still raged when she boarded the ferry.
Eleven
Angie checked her phone twodays later, waiting at the spot that she and Luke had agreed to meet, in front of the employee break house.
He was nowhere to be found, and no text or call from him, either. They were supposed to meet fifteen minutes ago.
The coffee and egg and cheese bagels were getting cold.
She texted him, but no response.
This wasn’t like him. She and Bàba hadn’t known him long, but in the short time he was here, he was always punctual. It was a trait that Bàba praised.
Something wasn’t right, and she walked away from the break house, keeping her eyes and ears open for him.
She stepped onto the gangway, the coffee and bagel bags feeling heavier and heavier in her hand.
Overhead, smoky clouds loomed against an ashy backdrop and grazed the sea line, creating a gloomy, somber setting.
An amorphous lump lay on the gangway’s end, and when she reached it, she froze momentarily, her knees weak.
The bags slipped from her hand, and the drink carrier and disposable cups tumbled out, creating a coffee puddle around her feet. The bagels followed, one rolling off the gangway’s edge, tumbling into the sea below.
Her hunger dissipated, and food was the last thing she cared about now.
Luke lay before her on the gangway’s end, a jagged-tipped spear through his chest, pierced through with deadly accuracy.
“Luke? No, no, no! Oh, tian.”
