Solomon rushed down the stairs quietly, careful not to wake up his Sister. Just yesterday, his Father had told him the news and he could barely sleep at all. Today, he was going back to Honey Island. The best part? He was going to get to help the man who was practically a second Father to him: Basil Lancaster. He grabbed the bus pass he Father had recently bought him, and headed out the door and down the street to the nearest bus stop. But though all of the excitement, he couldn't help think back to what his Brother had told him at Honey Island the week before. Sam always enjoyed messing with him, but he sounded too horrified to have been joking. Solomon pushed the thoughts out of his mind, and boarded the bus which had just arrived. Minutes later he found himself down at the docks, and climbing into a small steamboat, along with another scientist with the same destination, and the two who would be getting them there.
"You're working for Dr. Lancaster?" Solomon asked.
"Hmm? Oh yes," said the other scientist. He had dark red hair and light brown eyes, and was holding onto a large bag. "I start working for him today... I'm guessing you know him as well?"
"Yes, Dr. Lancaster's a friend of my Father's," he replied. "I'm Solomon, by the way."
"Ah, well it's good Lancaster will have a fine young man like yourself around, Solomon. I'm Martin."
Solomon stood at the rail for the rest of the ride, watching the few alligators peacefully swim by through the murky water. Through the fog, he could see the docks and Dr. Lancaster standing on them, with his hands in the pockets of his labcoat. The boat arrived and Lancaster helped Solomon onto the dock.
"Solomon, so glad you could make it," said Lancaster. "If you could excuse me for one moment, I just have a few things to go over with Martin over there."
"Oh, of course."
"We'll be back at around 6," one of the boat workers said to Solomon. "Be ready."