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 Sun and Sea 20 A James Gang Story by Mike C

   Feedback : mikec (at) nspace.net

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   Silently Donnie picked up the mutilated carcass and dropped it
overboard. He flushed and wiped the deck, then came up and took the wheel
from me, nodding at the girls, who were still looking mesmerized at our
wake.  I went aft and unclipped them from their jackets.

   "Hey..." I put my arms around them and they buried their faces in my
chest.  I held them and waited for their breathing to calm.

   "That was one big mother!" Sherri whispered.

   "Yeah!" Amanda shivered, "A bit too big, even for me!"

   "I swear he was looking at me, with those beady eyes!"

   "No kidding!  Ugh!" Amanda sighed, then stopped.  "Wow, talk about a
life changing experience!" She giggled, "I'm actually enjoying being stuck
under his armpit, breathing his BO!"

   "I'm just enjoying touching you guys," Sherri looked up, "Thank you our
snugglebunny!  With the yummy BO!" She leaned up to kiss me and worked her
lips over to Mandie.  "And you are my sweetiebunny.  I love you both!"

   "Sit down, all of you," Hazel pointed us to the seat.  "I want to say
something first," She looked at us in turn, "What happened just now is
probably the most upsetting thing you'll see for a long time.  And it is
also normal to get flashbacks, or even nightmares about it.  But this is
just part of what life is, here in the wild.

   "They are natural predators, and bigger ones will eat the smaller ones.
IT.  IS.  NATURAL." She emphasized each word.  "The shark saw food, and
took it.  It just happened to be close enough for you to see, that's all.
This is not a Hollywood movie - there is nothing evil, or deliberate about
the shark's actions.  He is NOT stalking you, and, unless you start doing
something to threaten him, he doesn't even give a damn about you." Hazel
smiled, "My point is that it's normal, and it's not personal!  Okay?"

   "Yeah, I hear you..." Sherri nodded, "But I'm still scared!" She stood
and grabbed Hazel in a bear hug, "You have to make be feel better!" She
started nibbling an ear.

   "Yeah, me too!" Amanda wasted no time adding her clutches to the pair.

   "Me three!' I leaned in and stole a kiss from Hazel.  I stood back and
looked at her, "Are you okay?"

   "You mean about before?  Or now?" She said, trying to keep a grin from
her face.

   "Before was normal and not personal..." Sherri murmured.

   "Now, it's normal and VERY personal!" Amanda finished.

   "If you don't stop smiling, I'll have to kiss you again!"

   "Damn!" She smiled and puckered up.

   After giving all three girls their due, I drew back, "Now, we have
to..." I stopped and looked at the female flesh arrayed before me, "Wait a
minute!  Haze, I thought you said you were ticklish!"

   She looked down at the hands around her midriff, "Ahh...  I guess I'm
not as ticklish as I thought!" She turned to Amanda, "Don't you do
anything!"

   "Me?" Came the urchin grin, "Won't think of it!" She moved her hand
down, WAY down, "Better?  Not ticklish here?"

   "Oh god," Hazel moaned, "Please, don't go any further!"

   "I suppose you want me to move my hand too?" Grinned Sherri.

   "You're not talking of maybe RE-moving your hand, are you?" Hazel said,
somewhat plaintively.

   "Noooooo..." Sherri smiled, "Just moving a bit higher UP."

   "Sherri...  Girls...  Please, I'm...  I'm..." Hazel looked at me, "Help
me...?"

   "Okay, guys, give Hazel a break now.  We have another problem."

   "What?"

   "How are we going to tell Brenda what happened?"

   "Oh lord, she'll FLIP!"

   "Do we HAVE to tell her?"

   "Let's not wait until she finds out accidentally - we have to tell her
as soon as we can."

   "I can do it," Volunteered Hazel, slipping out of their confinement, "I
will tell her that the face-to-face made you," She looked hard at Amanda,
"Realize that it is not a game, that the dangers are very real and, if
anything, made you appreciated the need for caution."

   "That'll work, just don't use the word 'danger.' " Sherri nodded.  "We
don't want Brenda's imagination to go too far."

   "I can add the part about it being an accident, or even a lucky
sighting," Hazel said, "Leave it to me, I think I can make her look at it
more rationally."

   "Great, it's solved.  Let's get back to what we were doing before!"
Sherri declared, making a grab for Hazel.

   "Wait, peace!" Hazel cried, hiding behind me.  "I yield!" She stuck her
face over my shoulder, "Can I offer you girls a bribe?"

   "Oh, that would depend," Amanda leered, "On what you think can be more
appealing to us than your body!"

   "I won't tell you now, but, tomorrow, if you don't think it's the most
amazing thing you've seen," Hazel held her hands up in surrender, "You
can...  can..." She morphed crimson, "Do whatever..."

   "Whoa, WHATEVER?" Sherri cried.

   "Do you KNOW what that can cover?" Amanda eyes blazed.

   "I'm appealing to your sense of fairness and charity..." Hazel sighed.

   "Honey, I'm afraid that don't wash with us!" Amanda did a good imitation
of the tiger shark's grin, "We're totally without mercy."

   "Oh yeah, totally.  Without morals or any redeeming qualities!" Sherri
echoed.

   "Normally I'll argue that," Amanda thought it over, "But this time I
would have to agree with her."

   "Oh...  oh my...!" Hazel breathed in my ear.

   "When is this earth-shaking occurrence going to take place?" Sherri
asked.  "I may have to shift my social calendar."

   "Daybreak, tomorrow.  We'll need to take the boat."

   "Sounds exciting!"

   "So everything's square?" I asked, "No more harassing Hazel?"

   "I guess..." Sherri sat.

   "The trip's gonna be a bit boring now..."

   I waved Hazel to sit next to me.  "Haze can tell us more about the
country..." I put my arm across her shoulders, "After we discuss MY bribe."

   We continued our negotiations as we sliced a tuna for sushi, while
Donnie steered us to Robb's private island and tolerated our silliness with
saintly forbearance.

   The Andersons greeted us at the dock, and helped us carry our catch to
their house, a large white-painted monolith with an impressive front. 
Under a shade tree on the lawn they had set a table, where fruits and
sandwiches were already laid out.  Around it, the Bentels were in deep
conversation with Brenda.

   She came to give us hugs and whispered, "I've got good news!"

   "Can I speak with you for a moment first?" Hazel asked, and took her off
to one side.

   "This is the bluefin tuna that Amanda caught just now!" Sherri said to
the others.

   "Sherri got one too, and would have had another one except an even
hungrier 'guest' took it!" Amanda said.

   "A tiger shark," Donnie added, "Probably twelve feet long."

   "My goodness, that must have been terrifying!"

   "Yeah, it was quite scary for a while." Amanda nodded, "But it happened
a far ways off."

   "I'm glad none of you got hurt!" Brenda said, returning with Hazel on
her arm, "And you feel OK now?"

   "Sure," Sherri shrugged, "It was quite amazing though - we saw the
shark's fin, then a flash, and both it, and the tuna were gone!"

   "But the morning's outing was worth it?" Colin asked.

   "Oh yes!  Absolutely!  Brenda flew in and chummed the area from the
plane.  The bait fish swam up to the surface just as the tuna was arriving,
and for an hour, we had tuna everywhere!"

   "Commercial Bluefin tuna are sold for up to $25 a pound." Donnie
supplied, "So this fish alone is worth $1,000!"

   "Especially on a boat like ours, with no special equipment, catching one
would have been a great success..." Amanda said, "We got two, plus a King
Mackerel as well!"

   "There's wasabi here but we didn't bring the rice for making maki rolls.
You should enjoy the meat before it gets warm." Sherri said, "This side is
'otoro' meat, prime cut from the fat-laced belly section.  Only about 5% of
the fish is this good - you should try that first!"

   We dug in, and Brenda began, "I talked to Nicole and Jules just now. 
Turned out that Marshall made a run for it just before the sheriff arrived,
but they've tracked his boat on the way to Bermuda, so I suspect they will
have him tonight or tomorrow.

   "As his primary creditor, we've taken steps to freeze his assets, and
we're confident the banks will be willing to let us assume their stake in
the business as well." She turned to Colin, "We've found and disposed of
the note you gave him - so at the very least, he will no longer be able to
interfere in your operation here."

   "That's a big relief!" Colin exclaimed.

   "This calls for a toast!" Robb popped a bottle of bubbly wine.

   As the meal finished, Robb took us on a tour of the grounds, and to look
over sites for the WREN purifying barrels.

   "We're lucky we have lee- and sea-ward access by boat, but we've only
got about 35-feet of beach frontage," he pointed.  "We can extend it, but
it would mean buying sand every year to replenish what the tides take
away."

   "How much will you need to add, say, 50 feet to this?"

   "After the rocks and vegetation are cleared, the rule of thumb is one
ton per linear foot of frontage.  So that will be 50 tons, and at $70 a
ton, about $3,500.  Colin is lucky over at Turtle - he has a natural reef
lagoon, so the tidal loss is very low."

   "Robb, tell me about this boat!" We had come up to a brightly decked out
fifty-footer.  It had 'Parrot Heads in Paradise' painted all over it in
garish pastel colors, no doubt inspired by some Jimmy-Buffett-esque theme.

   "Ah, our pride and joy!" He exclaimed, "We converted a lobster boat and
made it the beauty of the seas that it is!" Fran rolled her eyes to tell us
how demented she thought the concept was.

   "When you told me you sailed a houseboat to Miami, I thought you were
crazy." Brenda said, "But I see there's a method to your madness!" She
pointed to the loudly decorated sides of the 'house.' "These can all be
collapsed down and removed, I suppose?"

   "Yes," Robb laughed, "Everybody knows Rowdy Robb's boat - and pays no
attention to the plain ol' shrimper when we need to get away."

   "And what is this?" I pointed to the only solid part of the house of
boards.  It sat perched over the stern and said 'Scanties Shanty' on it.

   "That's the name of Robb's swimwear line," Fran said.  "In the summer we
cruise about and sell to tourists and boaters from it.  Good business and
better advertising!"

   "With Fran doing the modeling, I'm surprised you're not international by
now!" Sherri laughed.

   "We've had some inquiries, but we're not sure how to approach it.  It
will mean a large investment, and we'll have to borrow it if we want to
retain control." Robb answered, " But now that you're here, Brenda, maybe
you can give us some advice..."

   "Sure - but first, you have to answer one question." Brenda said, "Do
you have a financial NEED to grow?  What I mean is this: will getting 20%
more income, or even 100% have a major impact to your lifestyle?"

   "Nooo...  I don't think so," Robb looked around, "We have this, and we
like it."

   "I agree," Fran nodded, "We get some renters, or I get a shoot, and the
money just goes into a few more parties, or an uglier boat!" She grinned
and kissed her husband.

   "So you've provided your own advice - you growing your business will do
little for you, except to make some other people rich!"

   "Yeah," Robb scratched his head, "I guess hearing stories of how the
other guys are expanding 50% every year sorta made me feel I'm not very
successful..."

   "I know..." Brenda said, "We're brain-washed into needing to be first or
the biggest.  But success, in business as in elsewhere, is relative.  Spend
your hard-earned money just to buy bragging rights?  No thanks.  And
risking money you don't have trying to make money you don't need is
downright foolish."

   "Yes, I see that now." Robb nodded, "Thank you Brenda - you've made
everything so obvious!"

   "Don't thank me," She grinned, "Thank my mentor, Mr Buffett!" A pause,
"NOT that Buffett!  Another one, Warren."

   "They must be related!" Robb announced, "Absolute geniuses!  But Brenda,
this will not be forgotten, I owe you big time!" He nodded solemnly, then
pointed uphill, "Come, let me show you the rest of our domain!"

   A rocky path led up from the beach through a thick stand of trees to a
small swimming pool, 35-feet by 15, with a hot-tub at one end.  Just to the
north of us were a couple large bungalows leading out of the main house.

   "These are our two rental units with two bedrooms each.  Each one has a
kitchen and fireplace." Fran supplied.

   "Here," Donnie called from the other side, "We can put two rows of maybe
eight or even ten barrels behind these trees.  There is sun all day, and
the trees will give cover for the storms.  But--" He shook his head "--that
is almost 100 feet from the sea, and 30 feet high...  Long way to pump
water."

   "Another way, Donnie," I said, "Is just use the barrels to recycle the
pool and hot tub water.  Maybe save one or two for sea water to maintain
the levels."

   "All I think I need is to remove the salt from the pools." Robb said,
"If the barrels can do that, I don't mind paying for fresh water now and
then.  The problem now is I have to change all the water every two or three
weeks because the wind blows salt into the water."

   "Don't forget how warm the water is when it comes out though," Amanda
said.

   "The pool is only four feet at the deepest - so it gets warm anyways. 
Of course the hot tub will need to be even warmer."

   "Then another 100-watts of solar panels should be enough to drive a
couple of pumps to keep the barrels filled."

   "If the salt level is kept low, there won't be as much need to 'clean'
the barrels either!" Sherri added.

   "So you will install it for me?" Robb asked Donnie.

   "Yes, once we know the design will work without problems." Donnie
nodded.

   "And about our other request to be an investor?" Robb looked at Brenda.

   "The Bahamas and the States have different incorporation requirements,
but I think the best way is for Eva and Donnie to set up a Proprietorship,
and we, the investors, are issued six-month notes as Partners of Record."
She looked at Donnie, "In effect, you get the seed money and you make the
decisions to grow the business for a period of six-months.  After that we
get together and decide on changes, if any."

   "But I can still come to you and Mr Anderson for advice?"

   "Oh absolutely!  The time limit is to let you know that we have the
confidence in you, and won't interfere with the day-to-day operation.  The
agreement also states that you have hired us - Mr Anderson, for Sales and
Promotion; and James, for Technical Consultation."

   "Eva has already said she will go with your plan, so we'll be happy to
sign."

   "Yeah, me too!" Robb said, "So I will write two checks - first as an
investor, then as a purchaser of the barrels." He looked at Donnie, "Do I
get a discount for being your first customer?"

   "Actually you should pay more - just to make sure Donnie's business
takes off!" Brenda laughed.

   'We will talk about pricing when the first few samples are made - I
think I have a few ideas already!" Donnie smiled.

   "This morning I ordered the solar panels and mist-makers." Brenda
continued, "For the first order, it will go to Regan first, then we'll find
a way to get them to you.  After we straighten out bank credits and
routing, it'll ship direct to you."

   Fran took us on a quick tour of their house, a large, 3,000 sq-feet
Mediterranean style villa with an impressive cathedral hall and
living-room, 30 or 40-feet high.  Narrow stairs allowed us to climb up to a
walkway around the dome-shaped promenade.  A widened section at the front
allowed a few small tables and chairs.

   "When we bought it, this was all boarded up, but we knew some people in
Miami who put reinforced glass and the elasto-something-gel sheet, which
will withstand the storms.

   "The press here calls this the 'White House', both for the exterior and
a passing resemblance to the one in Washington DC." Fran chuckled, as she
showed us the exquisite panoramic view of the oceans.  "There was even an
attempt to entice George Sr to visit here!  It got us enough attention for
one of the travel rags to do a shoot of it - which paid for the two rental
bedrooms by the pool." She looked down to the yard where Robb was waving at
her.  "Looks like we have to go - my husband is eager to try out Miriam's
new dish!"

   "New dish?" I asked, "You mean..."

   "Yep," Brenda grinned, "Some idiot who's had a few drinks decided to
play tag with Leona...  Guess who won?  So Anne decided that it was too
dangerous to keep around and Miriam gets to try out her new recipe!"

   "Alrighty then!" Amanda slipped her arm around Sherri, "I looove les
poissons!"

   "Ah oui!" Sherri echoed, and together, in a horrible accent, they sang,



   "Les poissons,

   Les poissons,

   How I love les poissons.

   Love to chop,

   And to serve little fish!" They flailed their arms wildly as they mimed
the actions.

   "How can such lovable girls be so...  worldly?" Hazel asked, "And so
bloodthirsty?"



   "First I cut off their heads,

   Then I pull out the bones.

   Ah mais oui!

   Ca c'est toujours delish!"

   Hazel trotted after them, "Wait!  Teach me the words!" And all the way
back to the resort we were serenaded with:



   "Les poissons,

   Les poissons,

   Hee hee hee,

   Hah hah hah,

   With the cleaver I hack them in two.

   I pull out what's inside

   And I serve it up fried!

   God, I love little fishes

   Don't you?"



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   (C) Copyright 2001-2009.  MikeC. All Rights Reserved. All Reproduction
for fee or profit forbidden.

   Copies of this and other stories can be downloaded from:
<http://www.asstr.org/files/Authors/MikeC/JAMES/Sun&Sea/>
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