Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen

Author:Iris Johansen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780553897975
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2003-09-08T22:00:00+00:00

LAS PALMAS

“They're so beautiful.” Rosa Valdez gazed down in admiration at Pete and Susie in the seventy-foot tank. “And they're truly a magnificent species, aren't they, Melis?”

“They're fascinating, all right,” Melis said absently. Susie had been freed of the sling after being lowered into the tank, but she was just lying on the floor of the enclosure. She'd seemed in good shape when they'd reached the dock. Why wasn't she moving? Pete was wondering too. He was worriedly swimming around her.

“It's a true honor for you to let us help you with them,” Rosa said solemnly. “We students help at the aquarium, but this is different. This is the real thing.”

“I appreciate the help.” If Susie didn't start moving, she'd have to jump in and see what—

Pete was gently nudging Susie.

Susie's tail switched back and forth.

Pete gave her a shove with his nose that was far from gentle.

Susie hit him with her tail and then swam up to the surface and started clicking indignantly at him.

Melis breathed a sigh of relief. No trauma. Susie was just being a drama queen. She turned to Rosa. “Thanks. I couldn't have gotten them settled without you and Manuel.”

“It was our privilege,” Rosa said. “My professor was very excited that we're going to be permitted to take care of the dolphins until you're ready to release them. We're going to keep journals for extra credit.”

She was so serious, Melis thought with amusement. Serious and eager and young. What was it like to feel that young? “You say there are other students coming to help tomorrow?”

“Marco Benetiz and Jennifer Montero. They both wanted to be here tonight, but we didn't want to overwhelm you.”

“I believe I would have been able to take it.” Melis turned to the ice chest beside the tank. “They have to be fed. I purposely didn't feed them before or during the trip because I didn't want to deal with sickness or fecal material in those close quarters. Would you and Manuel like to do it?”

“Could we?” Rosa was opening the ice chest before Melis could do it. “How much? Do we hand-feed or do we just toss it into the tank?”

“I'll show you.” She hesitated. Might as well teach them to protect the dolphins while they were helping out. “But you must make sure that nothing is fed to the dolphins that isn't in the ice chest. Sometimes people like to toss human food to the dolphins, but that mustn't happen. Do you understand?”

Rosa nodded. “Of course.”

“And since this is a new environment, Pete and Susie have to be monitored twenty-four hours a day. Someone has to be here watching them every minute.”

“We would do that anyway. We've already set up shifts of two so that we can complete our journals.”

“Good.” She bent over the ice chest. “They like whole fish. I only serve them cuts in emergencies. You can toss it to them. Later I'll show you how to hand-feed. It's quite an experience to feel . . .”

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