Ch 46
Cameron lay cuddled up in bed with her head on John's shoulder. John was sleeping, his vitals were normal. On John's other side, Delilah laid against him in the same pose as Cameron. Delilah had gone into standby.
This was a time Cameron liked. She could go into standby, but she liked being aware and monitoring John and their environment. Knowing they were as safe as they could be, and fairly happy. They were living in a place that was good for everyone. John was at ease and enjoying life. Delilah had her car and was loving having their kids. Cameron did also. Not that theirs kids were perfect.
Ever since she was little, Joan had proven she could be a trial at times. That made perfect sense though. Her and John's child, Joan acted like it. Learning as she grew, Joan did find ways to get into trouble. She was far from a bad kid, but in her hyper/curious ways, Joan did find herself in situations she shouldn't have gotten herself into. A little bolder than she should be, Cameron saw Joan acting like she herself would have, given similar circumstances if she would have grown up normally. Joan was smart enough not to lets things go too far, most of the time. Joan was kind, but that Terminator streak in her showed up now and then. Cameron was very glad Joan and Allison were close. Allison seemed to be the brake for Joan, like at that last soccer match they had. There was no doubt Allison had kept Joan from going totally 'terminator' on that other team.
JJ was a little more reserved that Joan. Cameron figured a little more like John. He'd lead Joan lead, then watch. That was fine, he was learning to stay pretty much out of trouble. That was good, because she did worry some about Peggy. Peggy was a nice girl, behaved well and pleasant. She had also taken note Peggy thought JJ was her unstoppable hero. That part was fine, but Peggy was also a little too forward with JJ. Maybe it was because of her own family rejecting her, but she was clinging tight to JJ. Cameron was thankful JJ had a cautious streak. He was handling Peggy well, not letting her go crazy with him, like she was sure Peggy wanted to do. JJ seemed to be what Peggy needed. Cameron was also sure Peggy was what JJ needed, someone to watch out for and care about.
Jackie was plain, pure fun. A teaser, she liked to 'poke the bear' and get reactions from people. Jackie's joy level went up with how flustered she could get someone. Cameron had no type match for the poor guy who would be compatible with Jackie, but she was sure Jackie would test him to his limits.
Louise was the calm one. A little too calm Cameron thought. That girl needed to get some drive to her. Her whole foray into testing herself seemed to be initially feeding that alligator with Joan. Yes, they got in trouble when the alligator got in the house looking for more, but she'd taken being grounded hard. Too hard, Cameron thought.
Cameron was so happy that Sonya had found Mark that she'd cheered. The 'George' thing was over. Although Sonya was seven foot plus, she'd still been a child. She was growing up and doing things, and now had someone who would really care for her. Sonya was becoming Sonya.
Cameron did have to wonder who the brilliant person was who had named Joan's teacher 'Tommy Nader'. He was doing well from everything she found out about him. He was a little on the stiff side, but then again, he was a T-800.
Peggy's family were doomed for failure. Cameron could see that. It was a shame they couldn't. At least Peggy was being salvaged. The good thing was the others of her race that came here were a little more reasonable. There were people of her own race she could identify with. That was important, or should be to her for her own identity. In fact, they should probably arrange a visit soon to go see them, just so Peggy could meet them.
Cameron's sensitive hearing heard a door open up. Soft footsteps went down the hallway. Another door opened.
"Johnny, you awake?"
"Huh, what? ... Peggy what are you doing?"
"I just need to be with you ..."
"No ... Peggy, we can't be doing this!"
"Just for a little while, please?"
JJ groaned, "No, look if we're found in bed together, we're in big trouble!"
"We won't be."
"Yes, we will."
Cameron heard covers flying to the side.
"OK. come on."
"But..."
"Come on ... OK, sit with me ... Hon, we can't be sleeping together OK?"
"You love me, don't you?"
"I do, very much so. That also means we have to behave, OK? Look, I'd like nothing more than to cuddle up with you. Really, but we can't be doing that. Not yet, OK? We see each other every day, we get to play some, I don't want that to be ruined."
The latch on another door opened. These steps were quiet, Cameron barely heard them.
"Johnny, We're suppose to be together, aren't we?"
"We are, hon, we are."
"When people commit to be together, that means ..." Peggy gasped.
"Jackie? What are you doing?"
"Don't mind me, I want to be a voyeur when I grow up." Jackie giggled.
"Could you please shut the door?' JJ asked.
A door closed.
"And be on the other side?" JJ asked.
"What fun would that be?"
"Jackie, please, we don't want to be watched," Peggy said.
"Does that mean I can join in?"
"No! Jackie ... Peggy you both have to go back to your own rooms!" JJ hissed.
"You're no fun."
"Out, come on, both if you," JJ said firmly.
"But Johnny..."
"Peggy, hon, you can't be in here."
"So just you and me, JJ?"
"No, out!" JJ hissed.
Another door opened. These footsteps were clear. Joan's vice hissed, "WHAT are you doing in here?"
"I interrupted a make out session, they stopped."
"We did not!"
"You didn't keep going."
"Everyone, get back to bed!" Joan said firmly. "If I can't sleep with Bob, they you can't sleep with Peggy. Go before Mom comes out!"
"We don't want to wake them up," Peggy agreed.
"If I heard you so did our Moms. go."
"Spoil sport," footsteps left.
Another set of footsteps left.
"Night, JJ, and stop the room visits!" Joan said.
"It wasn't my fault!"
JJ's door shut. Joan went back to bed.
Cameron smiled.
.
The Sheriff came into his office in the morning and got the coffee pot going. A yawn and a stretch and he looked over the work on his desk. That's what he liked about this town, routine stuff, not much out of the ordinary happening. The new furniture factory was completed enough so a safety inspection could be made and get them signed off on that, Greg Lewis had to come in for his four hours of community service and he had to check Ike's to be sure he got his new permits. No biggies.
He brought up his computer screen and checked for any new information on the Police web. No new arrest warrants he had to be concerned with, nothing happening near Driftwood. Good.
The door opened up. "Hey Sheriff."
He looked up "Morning, Pedro. I thought you and yours were leaving town soon?"
Pedro lifted his arms and let them flop down. "Can't, senior. Got a bus that needs motor work. Joe said we can work it out but it's not going anywhere until he gets the parts in to fix it. Our work visa was up yesterday. What an I gonna do?"
"If you just need an extension, I'll get that for you. Did Joe say how long it's gonna take?"
"Si, he's looking at six days," Pedro said.
The timer on the coffee pot beeped. The sheriff got up. "Cup-a-joe?"
"Si, gracias."
"Have a seat, Pedro, lest you're in a hurry."
Pedro sat down. "The last few days have been ... loco, ya know? I went up to the Littleton vineyard, thinking maybe we could get work up there. Something's wrong with them, Sheriff. I mean, they been out in the sun too long with no hats. They ain't right in the head!"
The Sheriff laughed. "Can't argue with that," he said pouring two cups of coffee. "Black?"
"Si."
The sheriff brought the cups over and gave Pedro one. Sitting back down himself he said, "Just out of curiosity, your and your folks have been coming up here for what ? Seven years now? Why not just get green cards and stay?"
Pedro took a sip and let out a sigh. "If it were only that simple. You know about family ties and women. I also don't think we could afford to stay the whole year. Leaving late is already a strain, and now we got a busted bus. Sometimes, I think God hates me."
"Oh, Pedro, he don't hate you any more that he hates everyone else," the Sheriff said with a grin.
Pedro laughed.
"Seriously, your kids can't be getting good education with running back and forth twice a year like you do," The sheriff said. "Just think of all the gas you'll save."
"Gas is an expense. In the off harvests, where could we work?" Pedro asked. "Hey, I seen there's houses going up around that small lake, in the north end there it looks like they might have a big operation started."
"The Connor place," the Sheriff said with a nod. "They are putting up that new furniture factory for their cousin Sonya and Mark, the big guy that works at Joes. I haven't heard anything but I suppose you could ask them."
"Might as well," Pedro agreed.
The Sheriff finished typing and said, "OK, Pedro, I put in an emergency extension of one week for you. Want me to give the Connors a call, tell'em you're coming?"
"They aren't loco like the Littleton's are they?"
"No, loco like themselves. Good people though. Just don't get their dander up. Might be bad for your health."
"They got tempers?"
"lets just say it's best to be nice to them. Saw their fifteen year old pick up a eight foot gator and toss it out of the yard."
"Their boy?" Pedro asked.
"Their girl, Joan. It was caught on the fence, she picked it up and off. That thing is damn near a family pet. Makes me a bit nervous just knowing they got one so close."
"That lake has alligators in it," Pedro said, "I heard that."
"It does, they swim in it anyway. Having a real ball up there, from what I understand."
"They are a bit Loco, eh?"
The Sheriff nodded. "The kind of loco you don't want to mess with. Still, as I said, good people. Shall I tell'em you're coming?"
"Si, I'll get up there some time today. Couple hours maybe."
The printer sounded. The sheriff looked at the printout, then handed it to Pedro. "Here, this extension is for your whole group. You shouldn't need it, but just in case."
Pedro got up and took the paper. "Thank you sheriff. Any time a best time to go see the Connors?"
"Someone's usually there all the time. You want to talk to John, Cameron or Delilah."
"Thanks, Sheriff, se ya later."
"Have a good day, Pedro, and say hi to your kin for me."
The sheriff knew those migrant workers had a tough life, so he helped them out where he could.
He went out to his car to go do the safety inspection at the furniture factory and his phone rang.
"Sheriff here."
"It's Daisy, there's a rattler on the back porch, and he won't leave!"
"Are you inside?"
"I am now. I was hanging clothes and I had to go all the way around front to get back in the house!"
"I'll be right there, just stay inside for now, Ma'am."
He drove out to her place and got the extended snake pole and a bag out of the trunk. He walked around back and found a rattlesnake on the back porch, all right. It's head was squashed. No wonder it wouldn't leave.
Daisy was in the window of the door, pointing down on it. The Sheriff smiled and hooked the snake with the pole and put it in the bag.
Daisy opened the door. "Thank you Sheriff, I was afraid of getting bit!"
The Sheriff winced. "Ya might of, Ma'am, if ya hadn't stepped on his head on the way out the first time."
"I did?" she asked weakly.
"Blood's still there. His head was flat as a pancake. Make sure ya got your boots on when you come out."
"Oh, my," she said and put a hand to her mouth.
"You be careful now," he told her and went on his way. Now he could get to his inspection duties for the day.
.
The inspections were routine. Ike has his permits up to date, and Sonya had her inspections done. It was just a walk around the place to be sure she had all the fire and safety equipment installed. She even had all the personal safety gear ready and waiting for whoever to come in and use it. He signed off on it and gave her a copy, Of course he had one for file and one for the state also.
.
Going back to his office, he saw a car was out front. On the side of it was 'The Inquirer.' He let out a huff. Wonderful. He parked and went in.
In his small waiting area two women in low cut blouses were sipping his coffee. They had a recorder pad and a notebook. Upon seeing him come in, they stood up.
"Morning ladies, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"You are Sheriff Thompson?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Come have a seat by the desk."
He took his own seat. Both women came over and sat down across from him. The big haired blonde leaned forward some to ensure he saw that she had cleavage.
"There is rumor that your town is hosting aliens, it that true?" the blonde asked.
He shrugged. "People come over from Mexico all the time. We have a regular group of Migrant workers that have been coming here for years," he told her.
"No, Sheriff, I'm not talking about immigrants or migrant workers. I mean aliens, like from outer space."
He grinned. "I doubt they would came all that way just to do seasonal work here," he offered.
"What did they come for?"
"Seasonal work," he said firmly. "Pedro was just here today, they got an emergency extension on their visa."
"Sheriff, I'm not talking about Mexicans, or other humans. There is rumor that real, live Aliens from space are living in this town," the blonde said firmly.
The Sheriff raised his eyebrows. "Who are they?"
"We came to you to find out."
He shrugged. "Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. We don't have any little green men running around."
"You do have one Sonya Connor, who is seven feet four inches tall."
"We do, but she's from California, not outer space."
"Doesn't is strike you as odd that she's so tall?"
"Not really. She's going out with Mark, who's also seven something. I know he was born right in town, he didn't come from anywhere. Actually, I think they are meant for each other. They look good together."
The blonde let out a huff. "Sheriff, There was a reported alien visitor that came here with a government man. They came from Nevada, Area 51."
"Who is it?" the sheriff asked.
"We came to find out if you know," she said firmly.
"Ladies?" he said tentatively. "I know everyone who lives around here. I make a point of it. I have not seen any aliens, spaceships, or other odd things like that."
"We also had a report of mermaids in a lake near here."
"The Connor girls," he said. "They got these mermaid tails they put on and go swimming in. The Young's daughter does too. They are just girls that wear those tails. I looked them up on line, expensive things, but anyone can buy them."
"We have reports of these mermaids jumping like dolphins."
"Never watched them myself," the Sheriff said with a shrug.
"Do you think we could watch them?"
"You'd have to go ask. That's up to them, not me."
"Where is this lake they swim at?"
"That's on the Connor property. It's not a public lake. You'll have to go get their permission." he told them. "Maybe try the high school, I think they have a biology class going up there in the next day or two."
"Thank you Sheriff," the blonde said. They got up and left.
.
Carol did arrange a trip for the upper grade students, 9-12. It was a trip to study the animals in and around the small lake. The boat they were going to use was a 35 foot glass bottomed boat with side cameras to get underwater photos. It was an all-day Saturday trip for students wanting to seriously get into either biological studies or jobs as rangers in parks of the fish and game commission. Carol knew where baby alligators were and at least one adult female they could get close to. Cameron and John OK'ed the trip. The two reporters wanted to go with the students. Since it was arraigned anyway, and the reporters said they would pay for the fuel the boat used, Carol OK'ed it.
Another thing Carol did to prepare for the lake tour was to let Bob know that it was happening, so if they happen to run across Joan or Allison in the lake, those girls had their tops on. She knew Joan at least would go topless if she could get away with it.
.
What Joan was thinking about was those sticks the mers used to fish. Looking for fishing gear on line, she found something cool. The were five foot long tridents. Each of the three forks was barbed and six inches long. Set three inches apart, those would be good to spear fish with. She had the money, so she bought 4. Fast delivery.
The tridents came Friday afternoon when she was at school. Seeing the box, the first thing Joan did when she got home was to open it.
The poles were aluminum with stainless steel heads that detached from the main shaft. There were also practice heads that didn't have the barbs on them.
"Homework, then fishing!" Jackie announced.
This was a weird time of year. The temperature in the air outside was 59, the water was 71. They all took they all wore their robes and carried their tails and tridents down to the dock. Louise was shivering a bit as they got into their tails. Joan nor Jackie wasn't too warm either. Tridents in hand they jumped in the water. The alligator hadn't been fed yet. It followed.
There was no shortage of fish in the lake. The only thing they were short on was accuracy. They had tried throwing the tridents. Then after they missed, they had to go pick them up off the bottom. Jackie speared a log. Joan missed the big bass she was aiming at and got a smaller one out of pure luck. She hadn't even see it hiding in the bottom weeds. When she pulled the wiggling fish off to rip it open, she noticed the alligator was right there. OK, fine, she crushed the fish and pushed it towards her. The alligator ate it.
Joan continued hunting, the alligator continued to follow.
By the time they were done. Jackie had managed to spear a decent sized fish. She hadn't thrown her trident, she swam up fast and speared it, still holding on. Joan tried it. This worked better.
It was getting dark, they had to go back. Jackie, the first one out, rolled back in. "It's too cold to get out!" she complained.
Joan sighed. They had to do, what they had to do. "This is gonna suck," she grumbled.
The good thing was JJ and Peggy had come down to feed the alligator, so they helped the girls get their robes in a little faster. Seeing the fish Jackie got, Peggy fed it to the alligator.
"Hey! That was mine!" Jackie cried.
"Sorry," Peggy replied meekly.
At least the alligator ate well.
Looking at the forecast, tomorrow was going to be a high of 62, around 1PM. They would go around 11, so it wasn't so cold out.
.
Saturday, John was kind and put the boat at the end of the dock, side gates open, the roof extended and side rain covers down. With a propane space heater in it, he was going to light it around 1 PM when they planned on being back. Even without the heater, the side covers kept the breeze out, which helped.
Joan had hers and Allison's trident. So she wasn't hindered by a trident in each hand, she put Allison's alongside her back to the side and caught it in the back shoulder material of her bra. She swam a short ways, and it stayed in place.
Louise was going to stay in the area fishing, so Jackie stayed with her. Joan headed for Allison's place. Swimming along, Allison's trident was tipping. Joan only found out now that this was a pain in the butt. Reaching back she tried to free it to carry it. It felt tangled.
How did that happen? Joan tried to push it up an stuck herself in the back of the head. At least she stopped a the poke and didn't spear herself. Working at it, she was sure it was free so she pulled.
Snap.
Her bra came loose. Dammit! She did get the trident out. Both tridents in one hand, her bra was coming off anyway, she she took it off and stuffed it in the belly of her suit. She'd fix it when she got home.
Knowing the way now just looking at the bottom, Joan headed for Allison's house. Lights shown down on her. Twenty feet above a long boat was floating across her path. Of course she turned over to look up. Right the biology tour.
The Biology tour, and her bra was in her suit! Joan turned back over and dove deeper, kicking fast to gain speed then turned to swim away as fast as she could and get out of the lights.
.
The Junior class boy that was panning the light and watching the monitor was looking for something interesting. The instant he saw a mermaid down deep with what looked like tridents, he yelled "LOOK!" Right after he did the Mermaid turned over to face him showing she was topless. By the time others gathered around him, she had turned back over and was diving deeper, fast. Soon, she shot off to the side and faded into a shadow, then was gone.
"A mermaid?" one boy asked.
"Look at her go! Damn, she's down deep."
"She didn't just dive down, we would have seen her, we're not going very fast."
"Either she can hold her breath for a really long time, or she wasn't human," A girl said.
"Replay the video of that," one of the reporters said.
Carol watched the replay. She knew it was Joan, she recognized her hair color. Thankfully, no one else recognized her. The others were also convinced they'd just seen a real mermaid. She didn't want to admit who is was, or support rumors. She just said, "Let's keep an open mind for now."
The reporters got a copy of the video
.
Joan was getting to her breath limit. The boat was also far behind. Under water far away, anyway. If they were looking this way, they'd see her the moment she stuck her head up. Coming to the surface, she slowed as much as she dared and only stuck her face above the water to get a couple deep, clean breaths, then let herself sink back down.
She'd forgotten about that stupid tour until the saw the lights. Buy then, they'd seen her if anyone was looking. With all the cameras and lights, she was sure someone was looking. Damn.
Joan didn't resurface until she had the Young's dock in sight. Even then, she poked her head up and looked around.
Allison called, "Joan! It's pretty cool today, How about if we do this some other time."
"OK" Joan replied. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Am I getting wet?"
"No." Joan pulled herself up and dropped the tridents, then pulled her bra out of her suit and handed it up. "Fix this for me? One of these tridents are yours."
Allison took the bra and inspected it. "You ripped out a clasp. Hold on, I have to take this inside," Allison told her. She picked her trident up and ran inside.
Joan waited at the end of the dock, neck feel in water and hoping an alligator didn't come along. Getting out would suck.
Treading water and looking for eyes and snouts, Joan knew if those on the boat didn't see her good, that meant the hunt for the real mer people would begin. That meant she had to go back. Shit! Well, at least she'd have a bra this time.
.
After playing the video six times, the excitement on the boat died down enough to keep looking for other wildlife.
Carol announced, "So far the number of fish species is greater here, as well as the numbers we're seeing. Not to mention the five alligators we saw. Ecologically, this lake is healthier than the big lake."
"I'll say it is!" a senior boy said. The big lake has no gators OR mermaids!"
"Not many people come here, that's probably why," a senior girl added. "Over fishing the other lake has depleted the stock. Possibly removed some species. I didn't see one bass, or an alligator gar there, like there is here."
"So the mermaids don't over-fish their stock," A reporter said.
Behind them Joan jumped and cleared the water before splashing back down.
"There she is!" a boy cried.
"It might not be the same one," a reporter said.
They watch Joan swim up beside the boat.
"This one's got a bra on," a boy quickly noticed.
Joan surfaced and grabbed the edge of the boat to pull herself to to talk to them, trident in her other hand.
"So sorry!" Joan said, "I broke my bra and was going to get it repaired. That's why I ran away."
"Joan Connor? a girl from the soccer team asked in a squeak.
"Hey Rachel, yeah, it's me. I started out fishing, but had a little accident."
"How do you swim like that? You were down deep, and went much deeper," the reporter asked.
"I practice nearly every day," Joan told her. "So, um since I'm here, is there anything you want to know about the lake?"
"You swim even when it's cold?" a boy asked.
"The air is, the water isn't. When I checked it this morning it was 71 degrees off the dock. The surface is a little cool, but down about ten feet or so, it's nice all the way down to about forty. The only trouble is getting out. That's cold!" Joan told them.
"Don't the alligators bother you?"
"Naw, I keep a sharp eye out near the shores. That's where they hang out. The only place the water's shallow mid lake is the mound over on the eastern side, say, middle third, just off to the right. It's only about three, four feet deep. Tons of small fish hang out there, and a few bigger hungry ones. It's a great fishing spot. There's many smaller gators there too."
Joan pointed at the banks with her trident. "In the shallower places near the banks is where most of the fish are, turtles hang out on the bottom, catfish usually go deeper in the middle. Back the other way is a monster fish I saw, he's got to be eight, nine feet long. I give him a wide berth."
"How deep is that fish?" Carol asked.
"When I saw him, he was under cover, about 70 feet down. It looked like one of those walleyes."
"That's a big friggin walleye!" a boy said.
"He's got big teeth too! That's why I don't go near him." Joan replied.
"This lake it that deep?"
"Towards the west end. Here it's about fifty or so, around fifty, forty is average until you get to the east end."
"Joan, you really know this lake," Rachel said.
Joan shorted a chuckle. "Well yeah, it's kinda like my back yard. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"
"Just seeing what's here," Carol said.
"Can we have a photo op?" the reporter asked.
"Like?" Joan asked.
"Can you do a dolphin like jump?"
"OK, one jump, then I gotta get home." Joan agreed. She let go of the boat and turned to dive in.
They all watched Joan dive down and turn to swim back the way the had come from.
"She really is graceful," one girl said appreciatively.
"Where's she going?" a boy asked who watched her disappear from sight on a monitor.
Joan then came swimming up fast from behind and below. Even with the back of the boat, Joan flew up out of the water and arched over to dive back in towards the front of the boat. It looked like she cleared ten feet of air at the highest point of her jump. Lengthwise, it was 30, the length of the boat. Cameras watched her fly, and dive back in. Then she disappeared under water and was gone.
The class was happy to see Joan's great leap out of the water, and they got good information about the lake. The reporters were happy, they got their story.