The manfish who has been roaming Collinsport and attacking animals and people has been captured and identified as the missing Phillip Todd. Roger is planning how to murder Adam to keep him from marrying Carolyn. Derek and Patterson found the treasure they were hunting from. A valuable piece of that treasure, a Faberge egg, is missing and Patterson and Derek blame each other..

METAMORPHOSIS

Chapter 1

Vicky wept silently against the glass plate that formed the front wall of the aquarium. She knew that she should be strong, but after a whole day of trying to communicate, she felt like giving up.

"It is not hopeless" Barnabas tried to cheer her up.

"I try, but I get nowhere. I knew that it would be hard, but..."

"It will be slow, but we believe that Phillip recognizes you."

"What good does it do? He can't talk?"

"He may remember how to read and write. Your presence may make him remember. And if he does, he may be able to tell us what to do."

"You don't give up easily, don't you?"

"No. I found out that not giving up pays off."

"You really think that there is hope?"

"There is always hope."

"But not much of it, not lately."

Barnabas looked at her. "You have been here all day, have you?"

'Yes."

"You are exhausted. You are probably hungry, too. You need to rest, and to try to have a normal life. You got your baby, you got your school, you got the pantry. You cannot neglect them."

"This is more important."

"If you become exhausted to the point of hitting the wall, you will do Phillip no good. You will need to have a clear head, and if you drive yourself like this, that's the one thing you won't have. Go home, get refreshed. Don't stay here too long, either. If you push yourself you'll make mistakes."

"But I want so much to make it right again."

"So do we. But sometimes things take time."

One missing Faberge egg. Two former partners accusing each other of theft. One of the partners, an obnoxious former law officer. the other a likeable, polite con man. And on top of that, one of the local residents transformed into some kind of fish.

And if that was not enough, George realized, tourist season was upon them.

He liked tourists. They were good for the local economy, and most of them were polite and well behaved.

But the ones that were not... There was no way to screen the people who came to Collinsport for the season. No way to tell the honest citizens from the pickpockets who followed them like flies follow horses. And pickpockets were not the worst, they were probably the best they could hope for. Some of the summer visitors could be outright dangerous and long overdue for a stay in an institution for the criminally insane.

Just when everybody was having a vacation, his own workload went through the roof.

Well, it could be worse. Barnabas knew enough not to bite tourists, nor to make himself notorious in any way... As Megan had known when she was here.

No, the notorious one was himself, the gay sheriff of Collinsport. He was bound to become the next tourist attraction... Gimme a break...

Julia shook her head. Toughest problem she ever had. She sounded. hopeful in Vicky's presence because she had to. but it felt like she was beating her head against the wall.

How could anyone reach Phillip? He could not talk, could not understand their gestures. As for writing, it was useless to even think about it, not matter how hopeful Barnabas was on that. It just could not be done.

But she had promised Barnabas that she would try. She had been optimistic at first, with reservations, of course. And Barnabas believed that she could do it. It was touching, the belief that Barnabas had on her powers. And a real pain.

She went to the blackboard and traced the letters on it. PHILLIP VICKY. Phillip did not seem to react to that. Why should he? Writing and reading was one more of the things that he had forgotten.

Again she wondered who such change could be effected. A spell, a curse, yes. She could understand that. But what kind of spell, on what conditions?

All she could do was to run basic tests on him. Skin and blood samples. X rays, basal metabolism. And they told her what she already knew. Phillip had been turned into a fish.

If Angelique were there... But they could not communicate with her yet...

If Eliot were here... But he was dead.

But he had left his notes. Maybe there was something in them about man-fish hybrids...

Peter opened the egg. He did not know how it had gotten into his room. Suddenly one day it was there, at the foot of his bed...

But he knew what it was. When he opened, he could see the dancers, as he had seen them before, in the windowpane. And they would dance..

And they somehow needed him.

"A man-fish?" Munsungan tried to speak. I have heard stories about such...

He stopped. The cough racked his body and he shivered.

"Don't exert yourself," Barnabas said.

"It is no use" Munsungan said calmly "my time has come. The last battle I fought... I stopped the fire from devouring us all."

Barnabas nodded. They all owed their lives to the old shaman who now lay dying before him.

"The time comes to all of us." Munsungan said clearly. "Mine is now. I cannot help you. But be warned, there is danger ahead. No such fish man could exist without a man to create it. A man who will attempt to destroy you all who try to lift the spell... A man with a grievance against you., yourself. I almost can see his face."

Barnabas bowed his head. He could not find help here. All he could do was to be with the old shaman as he died, remembering the battles they had fought.

He stayed with him. He saw that he would not last the night. He took one of the old man's hands and held it.

Munsungan's face was calm, even if his breath was labored. Every now and then another cough shook him. Barnabas wondered what was killing the old man...

Probably tuberculosis... sanitary conditions in the Indian reservations left a lot to be desired. He knew the statistics. And at his age, Munsungan had lived longer that he would be expected do.

It was his time now, as Munsungan said. To everyone his time. Even to him, one day."

Munsungan opened his eyes and said something, that Barnabas did not understand. He bent over to listen better.

"Your time will come sooner than you think. You will reach the end of your journey soon, Barnabas Collins. I cannot tell you when, but know that it will come soon. Do not fear it, and do not be bitter for what it robs you of."

"I will not."

"Leave me now. It is time to be with my people"

Barnabas rose, squeezed the old man's hand once more and left him. He passed Harry Redwolf as he left. He did not speak It was not the time for that.

Angelique was still unreachable. Munsungan was dying. Who else? Who could be of help?

George thought about Nicholas. No. By all reliable accounts he was now a hopeless drunk, his effectiveness completely lost. And even if he was not, he was still malevolent, still willing to cause trouble for anyone, He just could not be trusted.

How about Amy Jennings? She used to read the cards at one time... Maybe she could give them answers.

And maybe Sebastian Shaw...