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JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
Jonathan interrupted with a big toothy smile on his face,
“Yes, we know, you want to be alone with him.”
“NO! I mean yes…no, what I mean to say is, we are going to
catch some lobsters for tomorrow’s dinner,” said a red-faced
Bardala. “Now stay here. No going anywhere. Brilloso, guard
them. Ronú is in charge of things while we are gone. Viviana,
learn all you can about those people who were in that city, as it
may be important. I’ll be back soon,” Bardala said assuredly,
giving Jonathan and Viviana kisses.
Tital had built up the campfire, and gotten out all the
snorkeling equipment. Bardala told him about Moka, as they
walked down the scraggly, grass-covered hill toward the moonlit
beach.
“The water better be warm, or it’s going to be a short hour
and a half,” Bardala said with a laugh.
“Don’t worry, the lobster will be worth it,” said Tital, as he
checked on the underwater LED lights to make sure they were
working properly before handing one to Bardala.
“The water’s nice and warm,” Bardala said as she waded in.
“Look, the water’s glowing. I know what it is. There are trillions
of dinoflagellates in the water, and they give off fluorescence
when agitated by producing chemicals whose interactions
produce a neon-blue glow, similar to that of fireflies.”
“Well, I’m impressed, Miss Encyclopedia,” Tital said as he
swirled his swimming mask through the water, causing ripples of
flashing electric-blue radiance. “I wish I could bottle this stuff.”
Suddenly, startled fish streaked past like blazing comets. As they
swam farther out in the strange glow, from the depths a small
one-meter wide stingray glided by, &