Once the Horizon entered the Pacific there was a vast expanse of open water ahead of her. The ship's crew returned to their duties. The ship stayed on a westerly course as she moved deeper into the Pacific Ocean. The day was waning. The adventure had begun.

It was sunny and bright in the Bay and in the open waters beyond. The cirrus clouds in the azure blue sky indicated fair weather ahead. The temperature was mild. Everything pointed to a safe passage as the ship's crew settled into their routine. There was plenty of time for the passengers to adapt to being on the sea.

Clay and Bill went to the galley for coffee and conversation. Dylan went forward. He was drawn to the bow of the boat for an unobstructed view of what was ahead of the Horizon.

Dylan saw a difference in the color of the water. The Gulf of Mexico was green. The Pacific was dark blue. There was a definite roll to the water ahead of them but the Horizon was steady. He saw a similar roll in the Gulf after a storm passed. The Sea Lab reacted to the waves and a shift in the wind.

Going to the galley, Clay and Bill were delighted to be together. Bill was the wise professor blazing new trails into the seas. Clay gave his teacher the credit for what he knew and how he did his job. He'd followed the path Bill laid out for his students.

Glowing faces reflected the fondness they shared for each other.

The teacher and his student, now friends, share an intense interest in the delicate balance of nature that was under threat by the actions of men.

Their job was a simple one. Reverse the damage and stop the polluters from destroying the earth. Maybe it wasn't quite that easy, even when they knew the cause of the problem.

To save the environment from the men destroying it, you needed the cooperation of industry, That they didn't have but hoped to get.

"You say you are returning to the same reef you investigated last summer. Are you going to tell me what you want me to see?"

"Let's get a cup of coffee. We can talk about it then," Bill said.

They stood at the counter that opened on the business end of the galley. The woolly Greek was cutting and chopping furiously. He'd put out a fresh pot of coffee a few minutes before.

A lot of coffee was drank on the ship. No one liked bitter coffee.

Bill poured Clay's cup full and he filled his own cup. They moved among the half dozen tables that were bolted to the floor. They moved off to one side to be out of the way.

"Let's sit over here," Bill said.

They sat across from one another.

"Yes. I've drawn certain conclusions and I want to follow up. I also wanted to return with you. See if your conclusions are in agreement with mine," Bill said. "We need to do this more often."

"I'm fascinated, Bill. You don't plan to tell me what your conclusions are?" Clay asked.

"No. I'd like your opinion. I don't want to influence it," Bill said.

"I feel like a fish out of water, Bill. This is a long way from the Sea Lab. The galley is close to the size of Sea Lab."

"It's big and it's functional. Mr. Sinclair saw to that. After we have some coffee I'll show you my labs. They are state of the art, Clay. I can do anything on the Horizon that I can do in my lab at the university. I don't need to wait to be able to form a conclusion about what I'm seeing. There are funds set aside to buy any new equipment that becomes available. At the university it takes a year or more to get the new technology approved and purchased. There's another wait of months before I have it in front of me. For the time being I'll continue to teach but I see a time when I might want to spend all my time researching the world's seas."

"You're responsible for many of our best marine biologists. I'm not sure we'll continue to make as much progress without you influencing the next generation who are in the pipeline," Clay said.

"I would miss teaching. My students are so smart that a few of them could be talked into teaching for a while. The seas are not getting healthier as we speak. Men like us, men who are under the seas studying what's there, are the future of marine biology. It's why I wanted you to come along, Clay. I want your opinion. You're the only marine biologist that is in the water more than I am."

"I can't wait, Bill," Clay said. "I feel like I'm the luckiest marine biologist around. I work for Harry McCallister, the environmental senator. He provides everything I need to analyze conditions in the Gulf. Now I get to go into the Pacific with you. It's exciting."

"In some ways it is an advantage to have a research vessel the size of the Horizon. I can go anywhere in the world but we're restricted by her size. The Sea Lab can go into rivers. You can experience all the local conditions. The Horizon can get me anywhere but we can't go everywhere. I could stay the Pacific for a hundred years and I wouldn't see everything I need to be aware of. You will eventually know most of what there is to know about the conditions in the Gulf. You will be the most influential voice on that body of water. You're already making your mark on marine biology. Seeing the Pacific can't help but add to your understanding of pollution."

"You can come out here and sail around all summer. I'd be afraid to bring the Sea Lab. I'd be intimidated but my job is to study the Gulf. Having a chance to see the Pacific Ocean can't help but have me comparing the two. The Horizon gives you quite a reach, Bill."

"Conclusions that I hope you'll share with your old college professor," Bill said.

A tall distinguished looking man walked into the galley. He moved directly to the window with the counter in front of it. He immediately poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Hey, Cookie, I need a pot on the bridge, if you don't mind. I'll send Dolf for it in a few minutes. It's going to be a long night. Engine number three has failed to respond. I've got the engineers on it but they'll need to take her off line to find the problem."

The Greek came to stand opposite Captain Hertzog at the window on the other side of the counter.

"Send dinner up between six and seven?" Cookie asked.

"I like to eat with the new arrivals on the first night out. I'll let you know on dinner, Greek. I plan to eat in the galley at the moment. I'll know more after the engineers give me a preliminary report."

"Hi, Bill," the captain said, heading toward the two men.

Clay stood up when Bill did and he turned to see the captain.

"Captain Hertzog, might I introduce Clay Olson to you. Clay, this is Captain Hertzog. He's been the captain on the Horizon since we put her in the water in 1979," Bill said.

They shook hands. Captain Hertzog sat beside Clay facing Bill.

"We're having trouble with engine 3, Bill. It won't slow us down. We can run as well on 1 and 2. I'm taking 3 and 4 off line and the engineers will be trouble shooting. It simply means I need to be available to tell them what I want. Fewer distractions up there. Once they report their findings I'll make a plan. I'll keep you posted. Won't impact the voyage as far as I can tell at the moment."

"You'll stop in Hawaii?" Bill asked.

"I don't want to go any further without having all the engines in good working order. I prefer addressing mechanical issues as quickly as possible. It could help assure there are no issues later on in the trip. I want to be out ahead of any trouble," Captain Hertzog said.

"Sound reasoning," Bill said. "Engines are your department. You do what you think is best."

"We can lay over in Honolulu if need be. Once three is in good working order, I can push our speed up enough to make up a day. We'll be on site one day later than planned if we lay over."

"We can stay an extra day if it's needed but we have plenty of time on site to get everything done," Bill said. "I always plan a few extra days because weather can keep us out of the water at times."

"I wanted to let you know. I doubt it is anything major. These engines are still almost new. They're quite reliable," the captain said.

Captain Hertzog stood.

"I need to get back to the bridge. I wanted to say hello and advise you of our situation. At present I'll be eating with you at the main table this evening."

Captain Hertzog left the galley.

"He looks like Captain Nemo," Clay said. "From the movie."

"I think they went to captain's school together," Bill joked.

Clay laughed.

The engine problem wasn't solved by dinner time and the captain opted to stay on the bridge. Both Rolf and Dolf came down to eat, but returned to the bridge to be available if their father needed them. With night setting in the Horizon sailed steadily ahead.

Dylan was unusually quiet and after picking at his food, he excused himself and went to his cabin. Since they ate a big lunch before boarding, Clay wondered if the rolling sea might be having an impact on Dylan's stomach. He'd never been sea sick but being aboard a ship was different than being on Sea Lab.

Logan Warren showed up for dinner after Dylan left. He wanted to meet Dylan but he'd need to wait until the next day. Logan was young. He wasn't a bad looking guy and Clay liked him. Mostly Bill and Logan talked about the filming they planned to do.

Clay listened. His interest wasn't so much in their planning, but what kind of man Logan Warren was. He seemed pleasant enough.

Logan spent the afternoon checking out and stowing the equipment that had been purchased with him in mind. He'd got involved with an editor that fascinated him. Losing track of time after they sailed, he didn't come up for air until his stomach was growling.

Bill did most of the talking and Logan tried to answer the questions he had. Being the first day, everyone was a little worn out by the time Greek served banana pudding for dessert. After thanking him for a very nice meal the men who were experiencing their first night on the Horizon went to their cabins to get a good night's sleep.

When Clay went to his cabin, he stood in the doorway that opened onto Dylan's cabin. He was sleeping and Clay went to bed.

Once again Clay wondered if the ocean waters were giving Dylan a little bit of trouble. He hadn't eaten much and the food was excellent, if not what they were accustomed to.

They been on the go since leaving Florida and Dylan might have run out of gas. He didn't do a lot of running at home and three days of being constantly in motion probably had him worn out.

Clay didn't feel tired until he sat on the edge of his bed. Once he lay back and closed his eyes, he was gone. The last thing he noticed was the roll of the ship. He smiled, rolled over and fell asleep. Clay was finally in the Pacific Ocean. This would be a wonderful summer.

It was daylight when Clay woke up. He could still feel the motion of the ship. It was comforting to him. He liked lying in bed and feeling the motion, but his stomach told him it was time to eat. When he got out of bed, Dylan's cabin was empty. He was already up and gone.

After washing his face and getting himself ready for the day, Clay went to the galley for some coffee. When he went in, Bill was seated across from Logan, and they were both eating breakfast.

"Good morning," Clay said. "Anyone see my kid? I figured I'd find him here."

"Here at six. Ate with Rolf. Said he was going on deck," Greek said from the window behind the counter. "Ate like a horse. Sausage, bacon, eggs, a stack of blueberry pancakes. Wanted the biscuits from dinner. I heated them. He ate two and carried another one toward the deck. He told me, 'I've got to keep my eye on the Pacific,'" Greek said. "That damn ocean ain't going nowhere."

"I'll have what my kid had. What did he drink?"

"Like father like son," Greek said. "I saw him drink two cups of coffee but I was busy. Didn't ask for milk. Kids usually like milk."

"Bacon is nice and crisp," Bill said. "I've never had sausage like this. I'm going to need to get with Greek to find out where to get it."

"I can't believe I'm starved. I didn't leave anything on my plate last night and I'm famished," Clay said, sitting to face Bill.

"Sea air. It'll do it every time," Bill said.

"Sleep well?" Bill asked.

"I'm not sure," Clay said. "I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up about ten minutes ago."

The Greek brought out a man sized plate. It had an even amount of bacon and sausage, eggs over easy, two fluffy blueberry pancakes, and two lovely biscuits swimming in butter.

"I can't eat all this, Greek," Clay said. "Smells wonderful."

"That's what I said," Logan said. "I made all gone with every bite. Something about this sea air. I think I might get some more of that sausage. It's wonderful mixed in with the pancakes and syrup."

Clay went about attacking what looked like a wonderful meal for two. When the dust cleared he had a half biscuit and a strip of bacon he was measuring up for destruction but he needed to get up for more coffee first.

"I want to show you my labs," Bill said. "We'll have another cup of coffee and let the food settle and then I'll take you on a tour."

"When your son is ready I'll show him the film lab. I'm still checking the equipment. I took some of it out of the boxes it came in. It's first class equipment," Logan said.

"If we're serious about what we are doing we need to go first class," Bill said. "I have no interest in wasting time. Our work just might save this decaying old planet from total destruction."

"Amen," Logan said. "I want to film it the way you do it. Showing people the magnitude of what you're attempting to do can't help but get their attention. We'll have a startlingly vivid documentary by the time this voyage ends. We'll show the world what's going on in its waterways, one waterway at a time, Bill."

"I've been impressed by your work for some time, Logan. It's why I asked you to come along. You don't know how thrilled I was when you accepted. We're going to work well together," Bill said.

"Filming you in action will tell the story. The narration will explain the story. We can expect it to attract a lot of attention. I love being on the ocean."

"It never gets old, Logan," Bill told him.

"I can't believe I'm in the Pacific Ocean, Bill. Thank you for inviting me. Especially thanks for inviting Dylan. I was becoming anxious about leaving him for so long."

"A little bird told me you were having second thoughts about coming along," Bill said, confirming Clay's suspicions.

"Is that an Ivan bird?" Clay said. "And what accounts for you and my lover talking more often than you and me?"

"It started with him asking me about cameras at the Conservancy picnic. He told me Dylan was interested in photography. He told me that Dylan wanted to film you at work. I offered the best advice I could. That's how it started and the cameras have only gotten more sophisticated since he first asked."

"These days, when Dylan goes on the Sea Lab with me, he has one or another of those cameras he takes along. Taking underwater pictures is a bit more dangerous than taking pictures on deck, but it's somehow the way the cameras have led him. As troublesome as him taking underwater pictures is, I don't want to discourage him. It's a delicate balance, Bill. He's so young to be so certain about what he wants to do with his life."

"I remember a kid not much older than Dylan is now. I took him on his first dive. I brought him back from that dive after he'd discovered an entirely different world than the one he saw from the fishing boat he worked on. A world he wanted to learn about. That man is Dylan's father, and Dylan is as determined as you were, Clay."

"I didn't know what I was doing when you took me on that dive," Clay said. "Once I saw what it looked like underwater, I was all in. In my wildest imagination I could hardly believe such beauty existed and right below the fishing boat I had been working on."

"Your son is every bit as focused as you were, Clay. He's pretty young but you need to let him go with what he likes best. Right now it's filming his father doing important work. I could think of worse professions for him to take up," Bill said.

"Yes, sir," Logan said. "He'll never regret being able to compose pictures that other people will marvel over. I love watching people's faces as they watch a production that I'm responsible for. Sometimes I'm in awe of my own work. It's difficult for me to believe that I'm capable of capturing such beauty. It transcends the human condition. No matter how inspiring some footage is, it must go with the not so spectacular pictures I mostly take. I suppose that's a drawback."

"I'm being as flexible as I'm able to be at the moment. My son needs to experience more than what he sees in my universe. He might decide to be a pilot, a teacher, another kind of scientist. Locking him too tightly into my world doesn't appeal to me. For him it is a way to be with his father. I understand that. I understand why he feels that way. I want him to have other options," Clay said.

"If the option is to continue to work with his father?" Bill asked.

"In the end it's his choice, Bill. I won't discourage him but he needs to have other experiences. Give him an opportunity to see what other talents he has. My world limits Dylan. I don't want him limited."

"I don't know Dylan. He reminds me of his father at that age. You know how I feel about his father, Clay."

"He needs to experience more than he has experienced so far. He's a smart kid and he'll decide what's best for him, Bill. I won't discourage him. I want to encourage him to have other experiences," Clay said. "And speaking about my son, I need to touch base with him. See what's on his mind. I thought he might be reacting to being on the ocean. Greek said he packed it away this morning. He's accustomed to Mama's cooking. Might be adjusting to the new surroundings."

"Couldn't stop thanking me for breakfast," Greek said, leaning on the window that opened into the kitchen. "Your son came into the kitchen and washed his plate and cup. I like your kid."

Clay stood and headed for the exit.

"Reason why Dylan wants to be with his father?" Logan asked.

"Long story. I'm not sure how much he might want you to know, Logan. Dylan's mother died shortly after he was born. Clay has been father and mother to him since then. I've never seen a closer father and son," Bill said. "And that was before Ivan came home?"

"Ivan?" Logan asked.

"It's complicated," Bill said.

"Good thing it's a long voyage. This sounds like a fascinating story. I can't wait to hear it all," Logan said.

Clay stepped onto the deck and walked forward. He stopped below the bridge. It towered over the center of the ship. There were three different levels with three ladders going up the side of what looked like a fiberglass structure with the bridge on top.

Huge windows surrounded the bridge on three sides. The captain could see for many miles from his perch but he had to step out on the catwalk to see behind him, Clay observed.

As soon as Clay walked past the center section he saw Dylan. Resting on his elbows he was on top of a thick coil of rope. From that vantage point Dylan was able to see over and beyond the bow.

When Clay walked up Dylan was looking out at an endless sea.

"What's up, Kiddo?" Clay asked.

"It's incredible isn't it, Dad?" Dylan asked.

"This is the same kind of view you get when you are out in the Sea Lab and beyond the sight of land," Clay said.

"It's different. In the Gulf we're contained by the land you know is there. There's nothing out here but water until we get to Hawaii."

"You're right when you're right, Dylan. I hadn't thought of it that way. The Gulf is a huge bathtub. It does open at the Florida Straits and it runs over to where it reaches Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula."

"That's big. This is huge," Dylan said, summing it up for his father.

"You didn't eat much last night. You went to bed before I got to the cabin. You sure you're OK. Stomach isn't rolling a little?"

"I might have felt it a little. I was thinking about Mama fixing dinner back home. We'd all have been around the table," Dylan said.

"You miss them?" Clay asked.

"Wouldn't do much good if I did. It's not like I can go home any time soon. We're kind of locked into this trip now, Dad," he said.

"Yes, we are, and you're going to sit here for a while and keep an eye on the ocean," Clay said.

"That's what I want to do," Dylan said.

"Logan wants to show you his film lab," Clay said.

"This afternoon, Dad. I just want to sit here and breathe in the sea air. I want to see what I can see out here."

Clay left his son alone. He didn't want to be bothered by annoying adults. He was trying to grasp the size of the planet he lived on. He was thousands of miles from the only place he knew and he didn't want to miss anything.

Clay was thinking about his mother and father once he got up this morning. It was Dylan's first time away from them for more than a day or two at a time. That was when Dylan went with Clay when he was invited to speak somewhere.

When Clay just turned fourteen, and Dylan was about to turn fourteen, the Olsons moved away from the only home Clay knew. They moved into the house next to the Gulf. In the years since, Clay became a big deal in marine biology. In the years since, Clay spent no more time away from his mom and dad than Dylan did over the years.

When they'd made that move, he thought about what it did to his life. At thirty-three was the first time he wondered what it did to them. They had responsibilities. They had a family. Clay had his own selfishness. They moved because his parents had no choice. They were forced to leave the only place they knew so his father could go to work for the Sanibel Island Conservancy.

Now he worried about what they were going through. He and Dylan hadn't been away from the Conservancy house for more than a day or two at a time for Dylan's entire life. There would be a void where they always were and his parents were left with that.

They'd be gone for the rest of the summer. Lucy would be home some of the time. Ivan promised to have dinner with his parents as often as he could. That would help.

It was only for six weeks. They'd be flying back home before they knew it. Time had a way of passing quickly when everything was new and exciting.

He was sorry he hadn't been easier on his parents when they had to move the family across the country.

How hard it must have been on them and for all his bellyaching, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.

It was funny the way things worked out.


Send Rick an email at quillswritersrealm@yahoo.com

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