was the finest choice Nature could make for anyone. I grew up
on the Pacific coast and spent my summers on the Gulf or the
Mediterranean. I lived months of my life negotiating coral,
photographing trench dwellers, and playing tag with dolphins.
I fished everywhere there are fish, resenting the fact that they
can go places I can't. When I grew older I wanted bigger fish,
and there was nothing living that I knew of, excepting a
Sequoia, that came any bigger than lkky. That's part of it . . .
I jammed a couple extra rolls into a paper bag and filled a
thermos with coffee. Excusing myself, I left the galley and
made my way to the Slider berth. It was just the way I
remembered it. I threw a few switches and the shortwave
hummed.
"That you, Carl?"
"That's right, Mike. Let me have some juice down here, you
doublecrossing rat."
He thought it over, then I felt the hull vibrate as the
generators cut in. I poured my third cup of coffee and found a
cigarette.
"So why am I a doublecrossing rat this time?" came his voice
again.
"You knew about the cameramen at Hangar Sixteen?"
"Yes."
"Then you're a doublecrossing rat. The last thing I want is
publicity. 'He who fouled up so often before is ready to try it,
nobly, once more.' I can read it now."
"You're wrong. The spotlight's only big enough for one, and
she's prettier than you."
My next comment was cut off as I threw the elevator switch
and the elephant ears flapped above me. I rose, settling flush
with the deck. Retracting the lateral rail, I cut forward into the
groove. Amidships, I stopped at a juncture, dropped the lateral,
and retracted the longitudinal rail.
I slid starboard, midway between the Rooks, halted, and
threw on the coupler.
I hadn't spilled a drop of coffee.
"Show me pictures."
The screen glowed. I adjusted and got outlines of the
bottom.
"Okay."
I threw a Status Blue switch and he matched it. The light
went on.
The winch unlocked. I aimed out over the waters, extended
the arm, and fired a cast.
"Clean one," he commented.
"Status Red. Call strike." I threw a switch.
"Status Red."
The baitman would be on his way with this, to make the
barbs tempting.
It's not exactly a fishhook. The cables bear hollow tubes, the
