From noon one day to the morning of the third day, I spent most of my time on the stern deck. It was then that the engines started, the anchor came up, and we were on our way to the cove. Because of the nature of our location, I didn't dwell on the delay in going home.

The stern of the Horizon was like a party place. At one time or another, we were all there, watching boats and birds come and go from the canal. I'd filmed for a half day, and then I sat and watched. It was a crossroads where all cultures and the different nationalities met to pass through the canal to cut down the distance to where they were traveling to in the world.

People waved from passing ships, wondering why we weren't moving along with all the people who met at the canal. The most exaggerated and enthusiastic passersby were those on yachts, large and small. Some yachts were modest affairs with people who seemed to be enjoying the adventure. There were yachts as long as some of the freighters but far more stylish than working ships. People on the biggest yachts smiled and looked sad for our predicament.

We were all from different places and we were all going to different places, but we came upon each other at the Atlantic side of the canal. When I felt and then heard the engines, I could smile, as we began the last leg of a journey that carried me thousands of miles from home and was about to return to where it all started.

At various times, Logan, Bill, Rolf, Dolf, and Sidney Peacock came to sit with me. We didn't talk much, but we watched ships entering and exiting the canal. The Greek brought me sandwiches, soda and lots of cookies. He sat from time to time if he wasn't in the middle of some food preparations.

The most unusual thing I saw, and photographed, was a yacht that was longer than long, and at the stern of this floating palace was a swimming pool. I'd never been to a swimming pool. There were no swimming pools near the cove. Why would people with yachts big enough to take across the oceans need a swimming pool?

I spent a lot of time in the water, but I never went swimming. I was a lucky lad to have a life of adventure. No one tried to keep me from learning about the world in which I lived. I didn't understand everything I experienced, but I wanted to learn about things I was less familiar with.

As we got moving, my mind went to the cove. I loved going out to dive with Dad, but returning to the cove was more fun. As we turned toward the marina, once back inside the cove, we faced the Dive shop, and many times, Ivan came out of the shop to wave.

It was a greeting that made me feel great about where I was. My biologic hadn't always been in my life. He told me on my birthday that he was on the way home. I can't wait until the first time I return from a dive with Dad, and we see Ivan come out of the Dive shop to wave.

As much as I learned, and as much as I'd seen, I still couldn't wait until I got home. It was all that was left to do and it would make the summer I turned fifteen one of the best times in my life. I didn't have a lot of time to think about home, but I knew it was the next stop. We were on the move and we saw islands as we worked our way northward. I wasn't sure what the Straits of Florida would look like, but when we got there, we'd turn west into the Gulf.

Several deck chairs were left on the stern of the boat and I sat in one most days. From time to time, someone sat with me. Everyone seemed to understand what I was waiting for.

"You'll be home in a couple of days," Bill said, as he came over to where I leaned out to look down at the water passing under us.

"I can't wait to get home," I said. "I enjoyed the summer."

"All but the Scorpion," Bill observed.

"All but the Scorpion. I don't know what happened there," I said.

"I did something foolish. Can't undo it, Dylan, but you'll feel better about it next summer."

"No. I've done this twice. I think I'll stay home next summer."

"When I was your age, I might have gone off for a week or two with my friends. We'd go camping. Maybe camp on a beach somewhere, but not an entire summer. Even if I had the opportunity, I'm not sure I'd have signed up for this at fifteen," Bill said.

"It's not that different from what I do at home. It's a new location, and seeing the Pacific Ocean was exciting. I've done it now."

"You were with your father last summer, and you knew all of us from last summer's trip. You knew the things to expect. You even knew the reefs."

I'd soured on Bill before realizing I didn't do a thing I didn't decide to do. He was a scientist. He needed to see what he could see. He needed to learn what he could learn to be able to do the job he did. When I jumped down into the Scorpion beside him, he didn't force me to go. I willingly went and while what he did was as scary as anything I'd done, I got into the Scorpion.

Bill looked at me before he decided I knew what I was doing. I thought I knew. I'd done it plenty of times before. This time I didn't know what he was going to do. I didn't like it at all. It wasn't Bill's fault. I didn't ask him where we were going. If he'd told me, would I have gotten out of the Scorpion?

I think not, and if he thought about it, he didn't say so.

It wasn't his decision. I wasn't prepared for where we went, but I went willingly. How could I blame a man who was doing his job and he never objected to me going along with him.

Being frightened by something wasn't in my nature. I swam with sharks, rays, and other species that could be dangerous, but I wasn't afraid. I was visiting their world. They didn't invite me there. Maybe because Dad was always nearby, I felt safe. He wasn't afraid and so I wasn't.

I knew way more about being a filmmaker. I'd seen and done things that I'll remember for the rest of my life. Because I went this summer, I'll be better prepared to tell my father's story.

I had a lot to learn, but by using the things Logan taught me, I was learning by having the experience. The more film I shot, the better filmmaker I'd become.

"I didn't tell your father that we might come back through the canal. He'll be starting to worry, because we're already a week overdue from when last summer's trip ended."

"He'd be worried even if we did it the same way as last summer. I think I might have worried him some. We'll be home in a few days."

Both Bill and Logan noticed the change in Dylan's behavior at the midpoint of the research trip. They'd talked about his lack of enthusiasm before recovering it again. They'd both thought he was homesick and it would pass as the summer progressed, and it had.

The weather was perfect since they left the Guam area. They hit no storms or rough seas and the weather held as they moved toward the Florida straits. It was late in the day Wednesday, August, 22, 1984 when the Horizon made the turn into the Straits of Florida.

The Horizon dropped anchor early in the morning on Thursday.

********

Ivan parked behind the shop in Clay's Buick. He promised Clay he'd come back once he and Roland picked up the trash. Ivan had to drive the trash buggy. Roland was too big to drive it. He walked along side while they went from the bottom of the beach back to the shop.

Ivan stopped the trash buggy to look at the ship anchored a few hundred yards away.

"What are you looking at?" Roland asked.

"My son is home."

"Home from where?" Roland asked, noticing the ship.

"My son is home from the sea. He's been in the Pacific Ocean."

"Don't you mean on the Pacific Ocean?" Roland asked.

"On it some, in it some. It's a research ship. My son went on a research trip into the Pacific on that ship."

"Your son, the boy who came to see you in Tampa?" Roland asked.

"I forgot you met Dylan. Yes, he left shortly after you saw him in Tampa," Ivan explained.

"How old is he?" Ivan asked.

"He turned fifteen last month."

"That's young. He is a researcher?"

"He's a photographer. Clay, my partner you know, is a marine biologist. Dylan, our son, photographs what Clay does. He went to film what the research team does."

"He is your only son?" Roland asked.

"The one and only. We need to get this done. I need to go get Clay. He'll have a hissy fit if I don't let him know his son is home."

"Your son has two fathers?"

"Yes, he does. It's complicated Roland. I'll explain it to you once things calm down. We need to get to the trash right now."

"OK, Boss," Roland said, imitating Tag.

Ivan laughed.

Once the trash was finished, Roland went in to tend to the shop while Ivan drove back to his house. He climbed the stairs and jumped on top of the bed beside Clay.

"Back early, Stud. Miss me that much?" Clay said, managing to get one of his eyes open.

"Something I want to show you," Ivan said.

Clay giggled.

"You already showed me that. It's a very nice one, but I'm sleeping," Clay said, as Ivan had his arm pulling him out of bed.

"Come see," Ivan said, pulling Clay toward the deck.

"I'm not dressed," Clay complained, being half asleep.

"Don't remind me. I'd like to show you something else right now, Babe. Bigger fish to fry, Sabre. Look!"

Ivan pointed at the ship anchored beside the cove.

"He's home," Clay said, wide awake. "I was beginning to worry."

Ivan and Clay hugged. It was usually Ivan with no clothes on, but this time Clay stood naked on the deck and happy as a clam.

"What are we waiting for?" Clay asked. "Let's go see our son."

"Hey, Babe, I admire your spirit but aren't you forgetting something," Ivan said, as he watched Clay heading for the stairs.

*****

It was a bright morning without the sun making its first appearance over top of the trees to the east when Clay stepped into the tour boat. Ivan swung it around and headed directly for the Horizon, without bothering to stay at an idle until he got to the mouth of the cove.

No one was around, and Ivan was in a bigger hurry to greet his son than Clay. Once Clay knew Dylan was home, the worry left him and he was content. Yes, he wanted to get a gander of his son, but it was Ivan the stoic who couldn't wait to see his son.

On board the Horizon, Greek was serving breakfast in the galley. Bill, Logan, Rolf, and Dolf sat with Dylan was they drank coffee and wait for Greek to start serving the food. No one expected much to happen for another hour or so, when the tour boat threw the line up to Captain Hertzog for him to tie off.

"Boat along side," Sidney said, as he poured the coffee.

Dylan was out the galley entrance and in the passageway before anyone noticed he was gone. As Ivan came over the side and hit the deck, a super charged son hit him head-on.

"Daddy. Daddy. I missed you so much."

Clay stood to one side once he hit the deck. Captain Hertzog stepped back as Dylan sobbed and cried, he cried and sobbed, holding onto his father as though he thought he might never see him again.

Ivan the stoic cried with his son. He'd never remembered seeing Dylan cry. He was as stoic as Ivan but not today. His emotions had been kept in check, mostly, but not today.

"It's OK. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. It's OK, Dylan."

It was OK now. It had been a long summer and Dylan was aware he was out of reach of everyone he loved. He could wait to see Mama, Pop, and Aunt Lucy. He could wait to see Tag, but he'd see them later, and his tears flowed for a while and then stopped.

When Dylan stood up straight and he looked at Clay, his arms opened and he embraced his dad. Clay hugged him tight and let him sniffle his way through another hello. Clay had tears in his eyes too, but they were tears of joy. His son was home and it was OK.

"When you get finished saying hello, I've got a fresh pot of coffee, coffee cake, and sweet rolls for anyone interested," Greek said.

It was a good way to clear the deck and Clay followed Ivan and Dylan into the galley.

"This is the Horizon," Ivan said. "I didn't think I'd ever see it."

The coffee was strong and everyone had something to say. The crew was happy to see Clay and Bill said he needed to get to a phone to let the university know the Horizon was at anchor at the cove, and anyone who wanted to see it would be given a tour.

"Can we go see Mama and Pop?" Dylan asked.

"Sure," Clay said. "Aunt Lucy's home. They'll be having breakfast about this time. They have no idea you're home."

"I'm not hungry but I want to see them," Dylan said.

"Let's go. You can give me a tour of the Horizon later," Ivan said. "I'd like to get my hands on one of Mama's biscuits."

"Me, too," Dylan said, being the first down the ladder and seated in the Gulf tour boat."

********

"Mama, Mama, look who I brought you," Clay said, as he charged in the front door with Dylan right behind.

Mama had a spatula in her hand when she came out of the kitchen. She went straight to Dylan and embraced her grandson. Pop wasn't a big hugger, but he hugged Dylan too, and Aunt Lucy couldn't wait to get her hands around her nephew.

There were tears and laughter as everyone talked at the same time. Then, everyone went silent, and more laughter filled the house.

Dylan was home.

Once order came back to the Conservancy house. The food flowed and Dylan ate and ate. He loved Mama's scrambled eggs. He always had another biscuit in his hand.

The first one he ate with nothing on it. The next he loaded with butter and he ate more eggs. He then had one with Mama's strawberry preserves. He ate more bacon and potatoes with onions and peppers. Greek was a fine cook, but Dylan was home, and the food was as familiar as the people and the house.

Mama had brought enough chairs for everyone to have a seat and for the first time in ages, she had a full table to start the day.

As everyone talked, someone knocked on the front door.

"Who could that be this time of morning?" Mama asked.

"It's for Dylan. Your public has heard you're home. Go let Tag in," Ivan said, having called Tag from the shop.

When Dylan opened the front door he threw his arms around his best friend. Tag had to step back when Dylan hit his arms.

Once Dylan brought Tag into the dining room, Mama already had a chair and a plate full of food in front of the only empty chair.

"Oh, these eggs are good. I love your strawberry preserves, Mama," Tag said, digging right in.

Mama stood at the ready to serve her hungry minions. For the first time in some time, Mama was at ease. She knew where all the people who lived at the Conservancy house were and she kept them smiling as the food kept coming.

*****

By nine Clay, Ivan, Tag, and Dylan were seated in the Dive Shop drinking coffee. Clay would go to the Conservancy later to do some work before taking or not taking the afternoon dive he planned.

The bell over the door tinkled and everyone watched Bob and John Carl come into the shop.

"My word, we came in on a convention of some sort," Bob said.

"Bob, John, this is our son, Dylan," Ivan said.

"Yes, he is. He looks just like you. I'm Bob. He's John Carl," Bob Alexander said, shaking Dylan's hand before John Carl shook it.

"Who are they?" Dylan asked.

"These are the men responsible for me being here. Harry arranged it but when I called you on your birthday, I was on Bob's plane. John Carl, was over there with me and he joined forces with a Cambodian general to get an acceptable outcome."

Dylan stood back up and shook both their hands again.

"Thank you for helping my father," Dylan said.

"I don't go into the field," Bob said, "But I do make sure things turn out the way they should. John does the heavy lifting."

"Coffee, Gentlemen?" Ivan asked, getting down the extra cups.

It wasn't an easy group to get away from and the morning was passing without much business being done.

The tour boat stayed busy for two days. Captain Hertzog gave anyone and everyone a tour of his ship if they wanted. The first two boat loads were campers getting an extra thrill no one expected.

It was in the afternoon that the university people began coming, and Bill gave his people the tour. The biology lab was the high point in the tour, and Bill rolled out large pieces of debris from the ruins on the floor of the Pacific.

Bill had a copy of whatever it was Dylan filmed hovering over the reef, but that would wait to be seen by selected university people who might help to formulate some way of identifying what was in the shadow that Dylan filmed.

The Horizon loomed large a hundred yards offshore. Film crews from Tampa and Fort Myers set up to photograph it for the evening news, which brought hundreds of people to see the research ship that was the property of the university.

No one else got a tour. They could come and see it anchored just offshore. Inevitably people saw the beach, the campsites, and wandered into the Dive, Surf, & Bait shop for a soda. When the shop ran out of soda, Ivan sent visitors to JK's Kitchen.

A lot of people said that now they knew the cove was here, they'd be back. It was an unexpected benefit from having the Horizon come to the cove.

Once the fishing fleet returned to the cove, Popov anchored his trawler beside the Horizon and he got a personal tour from Captain Hertzog. Popov returned the favor, giving the captain a tour of his fishing boat. The captain stayed to drink Stoli with Popov.

*****

"You aren't diving with Clay today, Boss? I filled your tanks."

"No, he needs to get some work done at the lab. I'm waiting for Roland's house to be delivered. I called the guy and told him I was taking him up on the offer to buy a salvaged houseboat. It needs work but it will be perfect for Roland."

"I've never had a house," Roland said.

"Few people have a house on the water, Roland," Ivan said. "You won't need to sleep on that skimpy cot. You'll be my dock master in charge of the marina dock. There are nine other houseboats, and I deliver groceries to them the first of each month. You'll help me with that. You have some nice neighbors not to mention a tour boat, a dive boat, and a deep sea fishing boat, plus the Sea Lab. I'm putting you in the first slip and people will come to you with their problems."

"What kind of problems?" Roland asked.

"I get so few of those, I guess it could be anything. Most boats have industrious young men that take care of maintenance. If they need something from the hardware store, you'll go get it for me."

"What if they don't like me?" Roland asked.

"It's not a matter of like or dislike. You'll be in charge and help when you can and come to get me if you can't help. These are very nice people. They'll be fascinated with you, Roland," Ivan said.

"Why?"

"You'll see. They'll be on the dock of their boats as soon as someone notices your houseboat being put into slip number one."

Roland was apprehensive about meeting new people. Until he met Ivan, he was mostly by himself, but once the salvaged houseboat was delivered, he understood that most of the fishermen living at the marina were small people. Only a couple were larger men and they were all smiles when Ivan told them that Roland was in charge of assisting anyone with a problem.

This gave Roland his own space and his place at the marina where he belonged. The shop was a few feet away from his home. They were still working out things Roland could do to help Tag.

*****

Dylan was after Clay to go diving by the second day he was home. Clay knew where he wanted to take Ivan and Dylan, but the sunken freighter was farther out and took an entire afternoon to go and return from fifty miles out in the Gulf.

Bob and John were going diving with Clay at the end of the week, and both Ivan and Dylan were invited to go on that dive, but on Thursday, Clay was caught up and could do what he wanted for the rest of the week.

Clay couldn't just take off when he liked with Harry around. He needed to be there when something came up, and Harry was flying to Miami for a Wednesday night when he met with high roller donors.

Once Tag came into the shop, Ivan, Dylan, and Clay headed for the Sea Lab. It was the first dive with Dylan at home, and Clay requested that Ivan go with them. He wanted to show them the octopus, which neither of them knew was there. Clay was waiting for Dylan to return before he took Ivan there. They'd all see it together and it was something few people got to see.

As Clay throttled back at the proper location, he dropped anchor on a site both Ivan and Dylan knew. It was a deeper dive than most sites closer to the coast of Florida.

Dylan was excited. Ivan was stoic as Clay lead the way down the ladder as his men followed him as they floated down to a spot where the stern towered over them.

Clay had developed a way to approach that didn't disturb the mama octopus. He signaled that they should rise to deck level slowly, and as Clay spotted the octopus, had signaled for Ivan and Dylan to follow him as he came up on deck level.

Pointing out the octopus, he'd explain later why she was there. They were on the same level with the octopus and ten yards away. They'd been extremely careful on their approach and the one octopus eye they could see, remained shut. She hadn't detected their arrival.

They watched for some minutes when the big octopus eye opened. It shut once it saw Clay and wasn't alarmed by a sight she'd seen dozens of times. The strange creature with the bubbles coming out of him wasn't a threat, but this time, the single octopus eye opened a second time. The octopus mom realized there were three of them resting on her deck.

Watching closely for several minutes, the octopus' eye closed, and she went back to waiting on her eggs. Clay signaled for them to drop down to behind the stern before they surfaced.

This was one of the most interesting dives they'd taken as a family. Clay liked sharing this unusual event. It was something special to see and he wouldn't show many people. He'd been planning this dive since both his men were far away. This would be special and of course, Dylan would be planning to take his movie camera next time.

Sea Lab made its way back to the cove entrance. As they turned toward Sea Lab's slip, both Tag and Roland stood in front of the Dive shop, waving. They waved back and in a few minutes they were coming off the pier to go to the shop.

Ivan promised Bob and John that he and Clay would be able to take them to dinner tonight, but now they'd be bringing Dylan. They weren't likely to be separated for a while, and explaining to Mama why they weren't coming to dinner took some doing.

Both Ivan and Dylan were home, where they belonged. Clay couldn't remember a better gift. He had never been happier. It was a glorious day in paradise, and both Ivan and Dylan were every bit as happy as Clay.

Ivan didn't know if he'd be returning, when he left in June, but he did return, and that return was about the best thing he ever did.

The End