Skeleton Sea

CHAPTER 46

Tolliver was at the wheel of the Breaker.

Walter and I sat on the starboard bench, flanking Lanny.

Lanny seemed to be trying to shrink himself, take up as little space as possible, his arms drawn into his sides and his feet tucked under the bench.

Walter patted Lanny's arm.

Lanny did not respond.

I turned to look at the sea, at the sky. The fog was trying to lift. The sun was trying to break through. I didn't care — fog, sunlight, anything the sky cared to throw at us — we were back in our element and I relished the wind in my face and the air free for the breathing.

I wished I could forget the face down in the cavern, Flynn's mouth open like he had become a water breather.

We sped across the water, circling the algal bloom. I spotted a big wake of a boat in the distance. I focused on the boats up ahead, at the edge of the bloom.

Walter lifted his hand again, at the ready, offering Lanny the human touch.

Lanny drew himself into an even tighter space.

I wished I had something to offer him.