Chapter 6 S'mores

Chapter 6   S'mores    

“Good Morning Josh, are you hungry,” Says Maggie, “I’m making pancakes.”

“I can eat, if you have enough, hi Charlie.”

“Hey Josh, if we don’t have enough we can make some more, how do you like the presidential suite?”

“It’s ok, sure a lot more room than I have at home, I slept really well, I guess I was tired.”

“This place does that to you.”

“Do you have any plans for today?” asks Maggie, “we could drive around and check out the island, drive up to the top of Mt Constitution or something.

“Not really, except Sammie asked me to a beach fire.”

“When?” asks Maggie.

“I don’t know, I’ll ask her.”

Text message: I had fun yesterday, when do you want to do the fire.

Text from Sammie:  “Me too, I have to help Sandy today, sorry.”

Josh’s text reply: “Maybe later.”

“Well, I guess the beach fire is off, she has to help Sandy, so I’m ready whenever you want to go.”

“How about around lunchtime, I’ll make sandwiches and we can eat when we are hungry.”

     

Riding three across in the rattling old pickup, is no fun.  Maybe if they were his mother and father and he was ten years younger, it would be fun, but uncle Chuck and aunt Maggie filled the bench seat leaving little left over.  Luckily, he got shotgun and hung out the window.  The grand tour as Charley called it went pretty well and was mildly entertaining, but mostly he listened to Charley talk about when he and his dad were kids growing up.  He found out that Pearson Lodge is owned by his dad and Charley equally, which means, in a way it is half his.  Charley and Maggie are supposed to keep the place up and pay a small rent to his dad in exchange for living there. The house is ok, but everything else is falling apart.

The afternoon went by fast.  He didn’t think much about home, or his mom and dad.   Sammie was another thing, he thought about her a lot and how he almost kissed her on top of Rock Island.  He was making plans, hoping to have an evening campfire and hang with her.

“Can we stop by the store; I want to buy some marshmallows.” Says Josh, when they circle back through town.

“Of course,” says Maggie, “I think we have some at the house, but they are probably hard and stuck together.”

When they get home, Charlie spots the delivery on the porch right away. It’s hard not to recognize the distinctive shapes from across the yard.

“What the heck, someone left some oars by the door.” Prompting everyone to look towards the house.

“I saw the Anacortes delivery van on the road, he must have just dropped them off.” Says Maggie.

Josh is first to pick up one of the new oars.

“These are nice, feel how light and strong this is,” handing it to Charlie.

“Your right, the shipping label says Pearson boys, Pearson Cove, Orcas Island.”

“This one says the same thing,” adds Maggie. “I wonder where they came from.”

“Well they came from the Anacortes Chandlery, it’s their sticker, and it was their van we passed.

“I mean who sent them?”

“It was dad,” says Josh, “I texted him from Rock Island yesterday and mentioned I broke an oar, he must have ordered them.”

“That’s amazing,” says Charley, “there’s half a day’s time difference, it must have been the middle of the night when he got your text, and then he got a hold of the boat store when they opened this morning our time, in order to get them here now.”

“I didn’t think about the time, I probably woke him up.”

“I glued that broken oar last night,” says Charlie.  “Boy this baby is strong, you’re not going to break one of these Josh; the skiffs oar lock will break off first.”

“What time do you think it is over there where my dad is?” says Josh after he types out—“Thanks dad, the oars are perfect.”

“Oh, I suppose about midnight or so.” Says Charlie.

Josh pushes send, sorry dad, get used to it, you’re all I’ve got.  Next he types into his phone Sam, and Sammie appears before he gets the m entered, in the message area he enters, “What’s up, I got some marshmallows,” and pushes send.

Sammie texts back twenty seconds later, “I’ve got a fire pit, come over in about an hour.”

He enters, “Ok.” and hits send.  Oh my gosh, she’s inviting me over, I wonder if her mom and dad will be there, I better dress nice.  I wish she would’ve said let’s meet at the cove or out on the water.  I’ll wear long pants and shoes, but first get a shower.  I wonder why she said about an hour.

“I just told Josh Pearson to come over in an hour,” Sammie says to Sandy, “were going to burn marshmallows over the fire pit if that’s ok with you.”

“That’s fine, I want to meet him, there’s some guests coming in sometime later this afternoon, so they may join you around the fire.”

“Ok, but don’t interrogate him, he’s really nervous, I don’t want you to scare him away, there’s no one around here my age.”

“I don’t interrogate, why’s he so nervous?”

“See!” says Sammie, “he’s shy, just don’t ask him any questions.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll try to behave, but your dad should be back by then, he may ask him something, you know, like, how’s your day going Josh.”

“That’s ok, just don’t ask about his mother or dad or something nosey.”

“You like him don’t you,” says Sandy. “That’s why you want to protect him from the evil stepmom.”

“NO, I just don’t see any reason to be mean to him.  Yes, I do like him, I guess, or his marshmallows.

“What did you say.”

Laughing, “I told you, were roasting marshmallows and he’s bringing them, what did you think?”

“Nothing.” Says Sandy

“I’ll tell dad what you were thinking.”

“Go ahead, and I’ll tell Josh what you said, and he can talk to your dad about it, and then your dad will chase him away.”

“Ok, you win.  I’m going to go find the roasting forks and get them cleaned up.”

“Clean up all of them sweetie, if it’s not too much trouble, would you please.”

“Sure that’s what I’m here for.”

Josh stands in front of Maggie and Charlie. “Well, what do you think?”

“Wow you cleaned up really well, Sammie won’t recognize you,” says Maggie.

“You look good Josh, but what’s the occasion?” asks Charlie.

“No real occasion, were just going to sit around a fire and eat marshmallows, and I thought I should clean up.  What’s Sammie’s stepmom like?”

“Oh--now the truth comes out, you’re cleaning up because you’re meeting her parents. Don’t worry, they don’t bite, you will do just fine.”

 “Just be yourself, but don’t spit or swear.” Adds Charlie.

“Ok, I’ll try to remember, don’t spit or swear—thanks see ya later.”

“Have fun Josh,” says Charlie, “hey, why don’t you take a flashlight from the drawer by the fridge, that woods trail can get dark after sunset.”

Josh picks out a working led flashlight and goes out the side door.  He could take the gravel path straight ahead that disappears into the woods; instead, he turns down the flagstone path toward the dock and makes his way along the shore toward the Islander Resort.  Following the shoreline is longer, harder and uses up more time.  A glimmer of red in a flotsam pile catches his eye, so he stops to investigate and pulls out a perfectly good crabbing float, its tether still attached. The next pile offers up a perfectly good stick, so he ties the float on to it. In spite of dragging his feet, he ends up at Sammie’s.  Dawdling is not tiring but he takes a deep breath for courage, and then trudges forward.

Unlike Pearson Lodge, the Islander Resort is modern and much newer, not much over fifty if it’s a day.  Sammie’s stepmom Sandy runs the struggling business, employing locals to help with endless chores.  The open beamed main building has soaring two story, tinted windows facing the ocean. Overnight guests are treated to stunning views while protected from the bite of stormy weather.  The lodge sits on a craggy outcrop jutting out from the mostly flat shore.  The low-lying point interrupts flowing currents, forcing tidal waters into dangerous tiderips, and confused back eddies that push winter driftwood high onto the rocky shore.  Sandy’s oversized bed and breakfast is complete with paved parking areas, and small sleeping cabins dotting spacious manicured grounds. Guests enjoy upscale barbecue’s, buffet meals and rustic beach fires. 

He makes his way down the beach and scrambles over a big driftwood log below the lodge.   Sammie is on the upper terrace organizing the brick fire pit.

“Hey Sammie, I made it.”

“Hey Josh, I’m glad you thought of a marshmallow roast.”

“The fire was your idea, I just got the marshmallows.”

“I’ve got hot dog forks, firewood, matches, what else?”

“Can we have a fire down on the beach; we can sit on that log?”

“Sure, why don’t you drag some rocks into a circle, I’ll bring down the kindling.”

Josh quickly arranges a small circle of ten-inch round rocks and then picks out a scrappy looking piece of dry driftwood.  He opens up his pocketknife and using the blade sideways scrapes off a softball size pile of fuzz.  Sammie sets down an armload of kindling and then while holding some newspaper watches the knife flash in Josh’s hand.  In moments he hands her a healthy handful of dry tinder.  Next he picks a small piece of kindling the size of a hammer and sniffing the straight grain pronounces it to be cedar, he then slices long thin shavings around the stick until the entire end looks like a bristly scrub brush. He does the bristle brush treatment to several kindling pieces. 

“I’ve got some paper and matches to get it started.” Says Sammie being helpful.

“Oh good, I can use them; you can help me down here.” He crouches down next to the rock ring and places three pieces of wood next to a rock where it’s shielded from the slight breeze.

“Ok, put the ball of shavings on top of those pieces and squish it down with some of those sliced up sticks, leaving them on top.”

“Like this?” asks Sammie.

“That’s great, now move back a little and don’t freak on me,  it’s gonna be bright.”

Next, Josh scrapes the back of his knife blade along the length of a three-inch flint. The single strike creates an eruption of fiery sparks; in one smooth practiced motion, he flicks the fire starter sparks into the ball of tinder igniting it, in short order the cedar is in flames, and Josh is carefully arranging some larger pieces of wood to grow the fire.  Until now, he has concentrated on doing the fire, and has not looked at Sammie, but he senses she is staring him and not the fire.

“You’re staring at me, I can tell.”

“No I’m not, you’re paranoid.”

“Now you’re the one lying.” Josh looks her in the face confidently for the first time since they have met. Sammie can’t hold herself, she breaks into her mile wide grin returning his look.  She is excited, she is seeing him in a new light.

“I’ll take that paper now,” extending his hand. He lays half the paper on the ground and kneels on it protecting his clean pants, with the other half he fans the flames, supercharging them into an inferno.

“That’s why you needed the paper, to kneel on it?”

“Well sure, and to fan the flames, what did you think I was going to do, read it?”

“You’re funny.” Says Sammie, and she kneels on the paper next to him, their knees touching, their arms and shoulders touching.  Josh smells her perfume it’s the same as she had on yesterday.

“You have the same perfume on.” Notice her perfume, that’s good.

“I know, I put it on every day. I like it, don’t you?”

“It’s ok I guess.”  I guess, oh jeez. “No, I mean I like it, it makes you smell good.  No wait, I didn’t mean that, I mean it makes you smell better.  I’m sorry, you don’t smell bad.”

“It’s ok Josh, I know what you mean.” She nudges his shoulder. “It looks like you are going to meet my parents.”

He looks up from the fire, a little relieved he won’t be botching another quick witted compliment, instead, maybe he can insult her mother and father.

 Sammie looks up too, Sam and Sandy have been watching quietly from the top of the stairs,  being acknowledged is an invitation to join in.

“Hey, that was quite a trick,” says Sandy, I’ve never seen anyone light a fire that way except on TV.   Sam heads down the steps followed by Sandy. Josh is very aware that he and Sammie are touching shoulders, or even leaning against one another.  He thinks he may be too near Sam’s daughter, so he suddenly stands causing Sammie to lose her balance almost falling over.  

“Oops, I’m sorry.” He moves towards her hand outstretched but then backs away and waits for her father.

“You must be Josh, this is Sandy and I’m Sammie’s dad, Sam. That was an impressive piece of fire building; it looks like you’ve done that before.”

Sadie charges down the steps barking and greets Josh by jumping on him leaving sand on his pants, and then she tears across the beach and back before sitting when Sammie tells her to sit.

Josh  faces the approaching parents, Sandy extends her hand first.

“Thank you,” says Josh, but it was Sammie that got together the dry cedar kindling. All I did was scrape up a little tinder.”

“Your being modest Josh, I saw how you threw the spark, the first time, that wasn’t beginners luck.”

”Well thanks; you noticed I threw it, most people don’t realize you can throw the spark right into the tinder, it’s about the only way to light a fire in the wind.” He hands the fire starter to Sam.

“This is magnesium,” says Sam hefting the fire starter and examining its mahogany trimmed edge, “and well used, you’ve done this a bunch, but you used shavings just now instead of magnesium scrapings, how come?”  Sam, turns the flint block over several times and reads the inscription on the side.  For my Eagle – Mom

“I don’t like dulling my knife shaving the magnesium, it’s super hot, but burns up in a hurry.  If it’s wet, sometimes you have no choice.  Mostly, all those cut marks are from when people borrow it for practice.  I don’t mind if they use their own knife.  I mostly just use the flint.”

“You’re a scout?” Josh looks at Sammie like his darkest secret was just discovered, and he is waiting for her reaction.

“Hi Dad—over here.”  She waves four fingers in the air getting his attention.”

“Hi Honey,” says Sam, “thanks Josh.” Sam turns giving Sammie his full attention, she is nearly as tall as her dad, when they embrace, she throws her arms around his neck and hangs from him like a little girl.  She leans her head on his shoulder, and lowers her long eyelashes after making sure Sandy is watching. 

“I brought the forks you set out on the table Sammie.” Says Sandy. “It’s nice to meet you Josh, please say hello to Maggie and Charlie.  Come on Sam, you can throw sparks some other time, and there’s only enough roasting forks for the two of them.”

Sammie hangs on about three seconds beyond comfortable, and then pecks her dad on the cheek before letting go. She takes the roasting forks from Sandy with a minimal thank you, and hands one to Josh.  Sam and Sandy crunch across the gravel beach and retreat back up the stairs, leaving the kids alone with their campfire and Sadie.

The two of them sit on the big log, it blocks the wind and makes a place to set things and sit.

“You dad seems nice,” says Josh, “too bad he couldn’t stay; he acted like he wanted to hang-out.”

“He’s just a big older kid, you impressed him lighting the fire, and you impressed me.”  Sammie stares at the fire, Josh is staring at Sammie, both are silent for a moment and a little uncomfortable in their mutual admiration.  Sammie breaks the spell, and looks at Josh, for a few moments their eyes meet, but his confidence wanes and he looks away at the fire.

“Lighting a fire is easy,” he says, “but only if you have the right materials, and don’t rush the steps.  I try to test myself and not use paper so I stay in practice. You never know when it may come in handy, plus it’s a way to show off and impress people.” He sneaks a peek at her.

“Well it worked.”

Josh rearranges the fire exposing cooking coals for the marshmallows.  Sammie pokes at the fire with her fork causing more sparks to erupt.

“Do you like smores?” says, Sammie.

“Who doesn’t like chocolate and graham crackers?” Finally something right, and perfect timing too. He hands her the paper bag he has been lugging around.  “Maggie sent this for you.”

Sammie unfolds the crisply folded sack and looks inside. 

“Oh, I don’t believe it, smores, she is so sweet.”

 Chapter Seven - Pepper

Chapter 7 - Pepper

 Chapter 7 - Pepper

Sammie is first spearing a marshmallow, and she sticks it right into the flames so it catches fire, but Josh blows it out in seconds.

“Hey!—what did you do that for?” yells Sammie.

“It was on fire.”

“I lit it on fire on purpose.” Says Sammie patiently, as if her knight in shining armor has just saved her, except she didn’t want saving, but he’s still her knight after all.

“Why do you want it to burn?”

“So I can pull the outside off, eat it, and then do it again.”

“But it’s burned, and charcoal is bad for you—here, let me make you one.”  He carefully works his roasting fork over the hot coals staying clear of the flames.  Deftly, he rotates the marshmallow turning it a light brown, the surface begins to swell with bubbly soft insides. It takes about 30 seconds before he presents Sammie with a perfectly toasted marshmallow.

“Pull that off,” he says, “I’ll have the next layer ready in  sec.”  This is so cool, I’m cooking for her.

“Thank you,” says Sammie, before stuffing the sugary treat into her mouth.  She watches Josh repeat the toasting, but she is looking at him, not the fire.  He intently watches the next layer turn brown, but he’s fully aware that Sammie is looking at him.

“You’re staring at me again.” He says without glancing up. “If you think you can distract me into burning this, it won’t work.” Oh man I’m going to burn this.

“I am not staring, but I can distract you if I want.” She slides over until their legs touch, she leans toward him and lightly blows in his ear.  The marshmallow bursts into flames, but he lets it burn awhile before putting it out.  “See,” I made you burn it.” 

He scoots over enough to turn to her and says, “No you didn’t, I made it your way.” He holds up the charred ember on a fork. “Hungry?”

Sadie is lying next to the log, dog napping, but she raises her head and barks her standard all in one, woof woof announcement, and hello greeting.

“Be quiet Sadie, these aren’t for you, and I don’t want to be cleaning marshmallow out of your fur.”  She lays her head on her paws, and whimpers, her eyes focused offshore.

“Woof, woof.” Sadie stands and takes a step toward the water. “Woof woof.”

“What is it Sadie, what do you see?” says Sammie. She and Josh scan the water, but don’t see anything. Sadie keeps barking and Sammie moves over to stand behind her trying to see where her dog is looking.

 “There’s nothing out there Sadie, it’s your doggy imagination.”  Sadie quiets, and sits in the gravel watching anyway.  Josh has tossed the ruined marshmallow in the fire and started a new one; soon he has a perfectly toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two grammys with a piece of Hershey bar.

“Look, this one is perfection, no wrinkles, and it has a non sticky cover, plus a hidden surprise.”  He hands her a smore, “Compliments of Maggie.”

Sadie barks again, only this time, she lets out a long string of woofs, and jumps to her feet.  Sammie and Josh both look in time to see the spout.

“It’s an orca,” says Sammie, pointing.  “You were right Sadie.” She bends down to pet Sadie and reassure her that everything is okay.

“What’s it doing here, I thought you said they stay out of the inside waters.

“Well they do, most of the time, but we’re right on the edge, and they don‘t have rules or anything.  Maybe it’s following some yummy school of fish.  Look its spouting again, you can see its moving left to right, its coming this way, probably just to clear the point here.”

“How do you know it’s an orca, aren’t there other whales out there.”

“Well, I can’t be sure unless it gets close enough to see it, or it breaches, but we have orca’s that live here year around, and its spout looks like an orca   spout. Other species are supposed to look different, but I’ve never seen any whales except orca’s and the ones on Nat. TV.”

“We could jump in a kayak a paddle out there.” Says Josh.

“Are you serious, I thought you were afraid of them.”

“I am, but you said they don’t eat people.”

“Well it’s a bad idea, they don’t have to eat you, they can squish or drown you, besides, it’s against the law.”

“I was just kidding, look there’s two spouts,  this is so cool, we have  killer whales in our back yard.”

Ever since Sadie first barked bringing attention to the orca’s, she has been whimpering and watching, now she is pacing back and forth along the water’s edge, looking out at the whales, whimpering and barking. Every so often, she barks and then jumps up to see better.  The whales are at least a quarter mile away, and if they hear her barking, they will stay away.  It doesn’t take very long for them to make their way around the point. Sadie stays alert and on guard, watching and listening.

“We still have light for a few more hours, do you want to hike down the shore trail,” asks Josh.

“Sure, which way do you want to go?” Sammie was hoping to hang with Josh, going Inside with Sandy and her dad is boring.

“I would kind of like to go back towards the cove, and maybe see the orca’s again, that’s the way they went, we can hike as far as we want and then come back on the road.”

At the foot of the stairs is a red painted bucket hanging from a rusty hook.  Josh fills it half full of seawater from a tide-pool and then dribbles it on the burning logs. Steam rises from the fire pit making a mini cloud enveloping them. Hissing and popping sounds come from the rocks as the water boils cooling them. Suddenly a loud bang precedes breaking rocks as thermal shock rips apart one of the smaller stones that was under the fire.

“Let’s go Sadie, this isn’t safe.” Sammie stands and Sadie charges off the way the orca’s went.

“Don’t you want to tell Sandy or your dad.” Asks Josh

“I don’t need to ask permission for everything I do.”

‘I don’t mean ask permission, I mean let someone know where you are, you know in case something comes up.”

“Like what?”

“You know, like an earthquake or tsunami or something.” Sammie rolls her eyes and exhales loudly, but agrees with Josh, and then dashes up the stairs with Sadie bounding behind her.  She’s back in about one minute, and with two water bottles.

“That was quick.” Says Josh.

“I met Sandy on the path, she was on the way down with these,” she toss’s Josh a water bottle, “let’s go.”

Sadie leads the way, running down the beach, and then sprinting back to see what the slow down is.  Sammie and Josh take their time; they carefully make their way, talking and picking at things.  The beach trail winds its way into the forest with drops back to the beach, but mostly stays above the high water mark left by storms.  Josh digs around in a driftwood pile he passed by earlier and pulls out a strong lightweight stick to use poking at stuff and as a hiking staff. He uses the new stick like an extra hand. Helping Sammie, he braces himself in a good spot and holds the stick for her to hang from, lowering her down a steep section. With four real legs and boundless energy, Sadie runs up and down the steep banks as if they are her personal stairs. She discovers a perfect stick and drops it at Sammie’s feet, using her nose she shoves it against Sammie’s toes until she throws it.

Last winter’s storms have turned, churned and washed up flotsam to checkout.   Sammie reaches into a shallow pool and moves a flat rock to see what’s under it.  Tiny little fish and hermit crabs scatter as she sorts through some small rocks, and then she brings up several agates. She holds the translucent gemstones up to the sun looking for interesting inclusions, and then shows them to Josh before slipping them into her pocket.  Josh pokes his stick into a curious suspect pile of seaweed, plastic, and wads of fishing line, and then he uncovers a broken piece of Styrofoam.

“Probably part of an ice chest someone tossed overboard or left on a beach,” says Sammie, “people are such asses, fish and whales and seals eat all this crap, beer cans too.  I’ve seen sport fisherman toss sacks of garbage over the side of their beautiful spotless million dollar boats.  This stuff doesn’t go away, what doesn’t sink collects in tangled messes and floats around forever. I’ve read that out in the middle of the Pacific are drifting islands of floating garbage that stretch hundreds of miles.”

Sadie has momentarily left her stick on the beach,  and is wading in two inches of water,  watching and whining, staring out beyond the point.

“Look at how concerned Sadie is,” says Josh, “I bet she hears something we can’t hear.”

“Or smells something,” says Sammie.

“Maybe those killer whales are still out there somewhere, let’s work our way out, and take a look.”

The falling tide has exposed a shelf that extends out hundreds of feet from the high water shoreline.  Walking is easy but they slip and slide on the green seaweed with every step they take.  Josh probes suspicious spots with his stick looking for hidden pools, Sammie forges ahead and steps in hole after hole, sometimes up to her knees. Sadie seems to be able to spot high spots and runs over the entire area. 

“Sometimes our guests get a real surprise out here,” says Sammie, they come out at low tide in their long pants and $200 running shoes, and don’t realize how fast the water comes back in.  They get busy looking in a pool full of sea life, and the water comes in behind them cutting them off from shore. They end up wading through a foot of water and then falling in the pools we are avoiding.  Laughing. When they get back to the lodge they are soaked, sometimes totally head to toe.  The great part is that they are thrilled that they survived a dangerous ordeal.”

“Dangerous,” says Josh, “give me a break.  What’s dangerous is being one of these little animals we are stepping on as we walk around out here.  If they don’t get squished by people at low tide they eat each other at high tide. Urchins, anemones, barnacles, and a whole bunch of crawly little things make this their homes.

“You’re compassionate for tidelands,” says Sammie.

“It was my mother’s passion; I just think we should give little things a break.”

Stopped by deep water at the furthest point out, they can see the mouth of Pearson’s Cove about a quarter mile or less further on.   While they watch, a whale spouts off the coves entrance.  Sadie barks several times, and lowers her head onto her outstretched front legs like she is pulling back a slingshot ready to fire.  She whines and carry’s on like the whale is stealing her stick or refusing to throw it as fast as she brings it back.  Her bark is not fearful, or like her territory is being invaded.  She’s not growling that low snarly growl dogs do when a strange dog trespasses.  Her bark is more of a welcome to my yard, let’s play kind of bark.  Pearson’s Cove is clearly part of her yard and she needs to get over there asap.

Sammie gives her permission saying, “Go Sadie.” She takes off on a mission; she bounds back across the drying seaweed beds, and streaks up the crumbly scree slope leading into the woods and the trail.

“Wow, look at her go, we better get over there,” says Josh, “You don’t think she would go out on the dock and jump in do you.”

“I don’t know, she’s just barely not a puppy anymore, and more eager than smart.  She’s not stupid, but she likes the water, she’ll jump in to get a stick.  We need to hurry, I should have told her to stay with us.”

It only takes them five minutes to get back to the beach and climb the bank, and then another two or three for them to jog the trail to Pearson Cove.  They don’t pause where the trail forks up to Josh’s house and head straight out the dilapidated gangplank and on to the dock.  Sadie is pacing and barking out on the very end of the floating walkway .  She doesn’t quiet down until Sammie rubs her neck assuring her that it’s okay.  The three of them watch out in the water, only fifty feet from them hovers motionless a full size Killer Whale.  An orca.  Beside it is a juvenile orca, only one-third its length and a fraction the weight.

“Oh my god,” says Sammie, “look at that,” she rubs Sadie’s neck more for her own reassurance than Sadie’s.  “Look at the black and white markings, look how clean and bright they are.”

“This is absolutely fantastic, that’s a momma and her baby,” says Josh —“right?”

“Yeah, I think so,” says Sammie, “they’re supposed to stay together for several years, the babies are eight feet long at birth.  That one looks close to ten feet.”

“But they live in family pods and stay around here their entire lives, so that means there are more nearby.”

“Maybe, but nearby may mean on the other side of the island, or. . .”

Without any warning, both whales spout, causing Josh to nearly jump off the dock, first the mom, lets out an explosive exhale, followed a second later by the little one.  The juveniles little spout is over before the mom’s giant exhale really gets going. A big cloud of moist momma killer whale breath shoots up and hangs in the air, and then dissipates into droplets that drift over the float and rains on them.

“Oh jeez,” says Josh, “I just about jumped out of my skin, and—oh crap—we just got sneezed on—that’s whale snot falling on us.”  Sadie barks her approval.

“Ewe,” says Sammie, “stinky bad breath too, of course you like it, don’t you Sadie.”  Sadie lays down on the dock, her head resting on her paws, she whimpers and whines, never taking her eyes off the orca’s.

Up in the main house, Charley and Maggie have been watching from the big picture window in the old lodges great room.  Sadies arrival and barking  caught their attention.  They watched the whales spout and saw the spray drift over the kids. Maggie grabs her camera, she and Charley head out the door for the dock.

The big whale is resting, still and motionless on the surface, but the little one is in constant motion, swinging its long flipper fins like a swimmer treading water.  It sinks below the surface and then with one stroke, it brings itself back up.

“Look,” says Sammie pointing, “there’s something hanging under the little one, look there,” kneeling down, “see it? Oh my god, there’s a rope wrapped over her back, its dug into her skin, see it?  It’s black like her back, but you can see it where it crosses the white on her side.”

“I see it, I see it,” says Josh, and then, “how do you know it’s a her?”

“Cause Sadie says so,” Sammie’s weird glance at him suggests he has more to learn.

“That must be why she keeps swimming for the surface, she’s all tangled up in some weighted net. If she quits swimming she will drown.”

“Who will drown,” says Charley, when he and Maggie reach the end of the float.

“The little one,” says Sammie, it’s wrapped in a net and has to swim just to breathe.”

“I see it,” says Charley, “that looks like part of a drift net, under water they are darn near invisible, poor baby just swam right into it.  They outlawed them in our waters, but outside our territory anything goes.  Dishonest or unscrupulous fisherman will cut loose damaged pieces they don’t want, or entire nets to keep from getting caught. Then they drift around for years trapping and killing.  That baby is lucky he’s still alive, thousands of seals, dolphins, and porpoises die every year.

“Well not this one,” says Josh matter-of-factly, “I’m going out there and cut it off.” He abruptly turns and walks down the dock towards the gear shed. 

“You can’t go out there,” says Maggie, “do something Charlie, do something right now.”

“Wait a sec Josh, that’s crazy talk,” says Charley, catching up to Josh.

“The only thing crazy, is not helping her.”

“Okay, think about it first, what are you going to do?” says Charlie.

“I don’t know, just paddle out there and if she will let me get close, I’ll just start cutting, and go from there.”

“That’s exactly what your crazy dad would say and do if he was here, and I would be helping him, just like I’m going to help you.

“Thanks Uncle Charlie, any ideas?”

“Yeah, we need life vests, sharp knives, some rope, and a long boat hook.”

“What’s the rope for?”

“Don’t know yet, but you always need rope around water and boats, right?”

“Yeah, dumb question, I guess. Do you think this is safe, I mean really?”

“I think it’s scary, I don’t know if it’s safe. You don’t have to do this Josh.”

“Yes I do.”  Mom would want me to try.

Maggie, Sammie and Sadie maintain their vigil at the end of the dock; the orca’s slowly drift with the current inside the cove, the little one treading water, its mother a flipper fin width away.  Josh and Charlie shove off in the aluminum skiff; Josh has tossed his hiking stick in with the new oars, ropes and a long pole with a bent blunt hook on the end. Josh rows, Charley looks at the orca’s, and avoids Maggie’s icy stare, but he still hears her voicing her displeasure.

“You were supposed to talk him out of it, are you crazy too?” says Maggie.  “Turn around right now, you don’t know what you’re doing.  You can call somebody; it’s not your job.”

“Just take a picture and relax, we’ll be fine,” says Charley quietly across fifty feet of cold killer whale filled water.

“Josh—” whispers Charley, “I think you should row over to their left so both of them can see us approach and go slow, we don’t want to spook them.”

  The mother orca   doesn’t scare Josh, extra deep concern, a definite yes.   Her all encompassing, yet calm relaxed presence fills the cove

 The water is calm, the normal seagull racket has taken a break.  Sammie sits cross-legged on the dock with Sadie’s head in her lap. They watch in silence.  The world outside Pearson Cove is on hold. 

                                                            

Chapter 8 – Orca Hoist

present time

After cutting away the loose net and weights from Pepper, Josh is still faced with wire cable imbedded in her flesh.

Chapter 8 Orca Hoist

Chapter 8 – Orca Hoist

present time

After cutting away the loose net and weights from Pepper, Josh is still faced with wire cable imbedded in her flesh.

 “She’s not sinking anymore,” says Charley, “but that wire has to be cut.  If Pepper and her mommy will let us move her over to the hoist slip, we can try to get at it with a cable cutter. That is—If they will let us.”

“We have to do something; it’s worth a try, any ideas how to get Pepper over there?”

“Use the rope,” says Charley, “toss one end to Sammie and have her tie it fast to the floating dock.” 

Josh’s intuition tells him to ask big momma for permission, but all he has at his disposal is a long skinny stick, two oars, a hunk of rope, and a little aluminum boat.  So far, he has been touching, scratching and talking to the big orca   occasionally, now he does it in earnest.

“Hey momma, please don’t get upset, if you can read my mind, now would be a good time.  Use your esp. you people have esp. right? How about a good rubbing on these barnacles here.  You would rather not have them right?”   Josh is sure that Pepper enjoyed being scratched in front of her dorsal fin but big momma is so big, he can’t reach the middle of her back without shoving Pepper away or climbing out of the boat and standing on her. Still soaking wet, the thought causes him to shudder and then he shivers for the first time since falling in.

 “I’m gonna give these barnacles some rough scraping, let me know if it hurts?  You’re listening right?  You got your esp on?”  He spends five minutes giving momma whale personal attention.  Charley uses the boat hook, and holds them steady and strokes Pepper while Josh reaches over her and scratches momma.  Pepper continues soothing whistle sounds, but momma is quiet. Suddenly she lifts her tail out of the water causing them to freeze, no one moves or speaks.  A small wave rocks them as it rolls across the cove.  From deep inside momma orca, they feel and hear her exhale and sigh.  She slowly lowers her tail leaving only a feint ripple.  Josh and Charley breath again, Sadie whimpers.

The orca’s deep breaths are regular and stink. Thankfully, there have not been any more explosive spouts. Josh is running on adrenalin, he trembles and his voice quivers, but his instinct to help overcomes his fear.

“Okay big momma, it’s time to give it a try,” and he raps her extra hard. “Wake up and pay attention, we don’t want any sudden surprises, like you knocking me into the water again.”  Josh gently pulls on the rope Sammie tied to the dock, moving the boat.  Using the boat hook pole Charley hangs onto a piece of net that’s still attached to Pepper and holds tight.  Pepper weighs nearly half a ton, but she is easy to pull slowly through the water.  Josh keeps steady tension on the line, Charley hangs on to Pepper and they all move away from big momma.

“It’s okay, momma, don’t do anything crazy.  Read my mind, use that esp. we’re just moving over here a little bit.  You can come too if you want, just keep calm, ok momma, chill. Do you use that term?”

Handling the rope and the stick together, Josh manages to give Pepper a few more dorsal fin scratches when they are about halfway to the dock, and is rewarded with an immediate  drawn out whistle, a pleasure sound she has repeated many times. Hearing the whistle reassures Josh and Charlie but, as Charley was so thoughtful to point out earlier, separating a mother from her child, whether it is a bear cub, or killer whale, goes against nature.   

“So far so good,” says Charley, “I think we should turn her around and pull her tail first into the lift slip, she may panic if it looks like a cage, which it does. Your grandpa built this lift to raise rental boats for making easy bottom repairs; I’ll bet he never figured an orca   would use it one day.”

Charley climbs out of the dinghy onto the floating dock and loosely ties the rope letting the boat with Josh in it, and Pepper, float free.   Momma drifted or swam, no one noticed, but she is further away near the mouth of the cove.  Josh looks over at the adult killer whale and notices she has turned around. Her other side is badly scarred. On her side, behind her white eye-patch, is a row of sharply curved scars, evidence of her being cut by a boats slashing propellers.

“Look at momma,” says Josh, “she’s all cut up.”  Maggie snaps some images, zooming in on the scars.  As the rowboat, and Pepper came near them, Maggie, Sammie and Sadie moved further down the dock keeping a comfortable distance so as not to alarm Pepper.  Sadie’s barking may be enough to cause her to suddenly thrash around, warned Charley.  Sammie has her by the collar, but Sadie only whimpers her concern. Charley cranks the old winch handle lowering the cradle until it is about three feet below the surface.

“Okay Josh, it’s up to you now.” Charley stands back to watch.

It’s been an amazing experience for everyone.  Josh is making it up as he goes and so far, he’s got it right. He is still wet from the earlier dunking so it’s not surprising when he climbs out of the boat and stands waist deep on the submerged cradle. With his stick, he pushes Pepper, turning her around. The excess weight is gone so she floats like a space walking astronaut, except in her world, she breathes the air.  Josh has poked, prodded, and scratched Pepper so much that she is okay with him pulling on her tail and dorsal fin.  He very carefully guides her into the lift slip next to him. Pepper is facing out toward where momma was last seen, but her mother has slipped beneath the surface.

“Okay Charley, raise it up just a little bit at a time.” Says Josh.

With each crank of the handle, the boat cradle rises a little, it pushes upward on Peppers belly lifting her partially out of the water;  with each ratchet click her blubbery sides squeeze out a little more,  until  a section the wire cable is exposed in front of one fin.

“That’s it, perfect—hold it right there,” Says Josh, “hand me the cable cutter.” He hooks the curved jaw and pulls the handles together.  The sharp jaws, and long handles do the job perfectly, and he cuts the first of two cables encircling her body.  He hesitates before pulling the handles for the last cut, she may violently react when the pressure is released, and he will be pinned, unable to jump clear. 

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking Pepper?  You need to hold still.”  He slowly squeezes until he feels the cable sever.  “Got it Pepper girl, we’re almost done.”  Next, he very slowly pulls the loose ends out of Peppers flesh.  “I’m sorry Pepper, this must really hurt.  You and your mom are being very brave. Where is momma anyway?”  When the cable is halfway removed, he stops to get a better grip.  He flexes his cold fingers forcing them to function and then strokes his bare hand along the white patch above her eye.  Pepper whistles quietly, only it’s a new sound, one she hasn’t made until now. It’s unmistakable, so quiet, like a purr, Josh feels a rumbling with his hands, and through his leg jammed against her side. I guess you’re telling me you’re okay. 

He considers finishing the job with a sudden yank; the way people wax their legs, jerk out a baby tooth, or remove a band-aid, except no one really enjoys the process, why would an orca   be any different.  He continues talking to Pepper while he gently pulls the embedded wire rope from her flesh.

“That’s it, young lady, your free; the rest is up to you and momma.  You can lower the lift now,” says Josh, “I think you should crank it down until Pepper is floating free on her own, but leave it up enough to support her on the surface, that way she can leave or rest. For all we know she may need to sleep for a month.”

Sammie and Maggie have been creeping closer as Josh pulled off the last of the cable. When Josh climbs onto the float, they converge next to him.  Sadie sniffs his dripping legs, then turns to Pepper, and gives her a couple welcome barks.  Before Sammie can clamp her muzzle, she lies down with her paws hanging over the edge of the wood decking and stares eye to eye with Pepper. Sadie acts as if she wants to play with her new friend, but settles for watching, whining, and whimpering. 

Josh has been preoccupied with helping Pepper, but now watches from the dock.  Sammie throws her arms around him just like she did to her dad earlier, and plants a kiss on his cheek.

“You are an absolutely crazy hero,” Says Sammie, while hugging him, “you saved her life—ewe, and you’re all wet.” and then she pushes away from him because water is soaking through her clothes.  “How did you know what to do, weren’t you afraid?”

“I don’t know, I just did what seemed right, and talked to her, I think we connected somehow.  Isn’t that right Pepper, we speak the same language.” All of a sudden, Josh shivers a huge uncontrollable whole body shake.  “You’re freezing.” Says Maggie, “You should go put on some dry clothes.”

“I guess all the excitement has kept me warm, but I’m sure shaking now, you guys keep Pepper and her mom company, I’ll be right back.” 

As if on cue, momma lets loose with a big noisy spout, the spray hangs in the air, but fortunately drifts away from them. They all direct their attention to her, in time to see her lift a fin, and then ease it back under water.  Sadie jumps to her feet, and barks once while giving a big tail wag.  Sammie hushes her and Sadie resumes her vigil, whining her concern.  She lies on the dock only feet from Pepper, their eyes watching each other.

Chapter 9 -  Friends