Floating Alone Read Online Free PDF Page A

would see them out.”
    “I need to open the water gate. That has to be done from under the water.” She pressed her lips together. “We used to have a latch up top, but folks tried to get in to free the occupants, not realising that they were nearly dead when they arrived and we were going to let them go as soon as it was safe.”
    “Would you like me to fashion you a suitable bathing suit? It might fit better than what you have on hand.”
    With that subtle reminder of her change, she looked up at him.
    “That would probably be a good idea. Can you manage a one piece or tank suit? I want everything covered if they get nibbly.” Marina smiled up at him and pressed her hands to his chest.
    He ran his hands over her, and the fabric changed into surprisingly hard neoprene as he moved his fingers over her curves. He crafted a wetsuit with attention to detail.
    “Protecting you is definitely high on my list. This suit definitely suits you, so to speak.” He smiled as he stepped back.
    She looked down and blinked rapidly to stop the tears. The left breast had a logo on it that read, Wake Manatee Rescue, with the image of a manatee breeching a small wave.
    She looked up at him and smiled. “If you dissolve this into a dress, I will kill you.”
    He laughed. “I am glad you like it. We can fiddle with the logo, but you will need it for your first real fundraiser. It won’t have to happen for a few years, but it is time to get things organized. Proper equipment is part of that.”
    “Fine. Whatever. I am still not letting you rearrange this suit.”
    Irdan hugged her. “If your assistant is ready, you can set the lady free.”
    “Cool. Once I unlatch the gate, I will coax her into leaving, and from there, I will follow her with a kayak.”
    Toby was setting the kayak and paddle next to the channel that would take the manatee back to their choice of fresh or salt water.
    Toby grinned, “Dr. Wake, ready when you are.”
    Irdan leaned forward and whispered, “Why are you Dr. Wake now when you were Marina before?”
    “He was worried before. Now that we are getting ready to film, he is all business.”
    She quickly braided her hair back, pinning her ears down with hair and making it less obvious that they were pointed.
    Marina tucked her braid up and under itself in the back, and she crouched next to the tank. The mother with her baby swam up and posed for the video. When the light turned red, she began to talk, explaining where the manatee had been found, how they had brought it in and how she had recovered from her injuries.
    When she had gone over the details, she mentioned the date and dove into the water.
    Under the water, she knew she had an audience as she unlatched, twisted and slid the lock that she used to keep the manatee in. They were curious and had very mobile lips. She knew what she could get out of when shifted, so she made sure she couldn’t pick the lock without fingers before she deemed it good enough for her charges.
    When she had unlatched the gate, she beckoned to the new mum and her baby, calling them through their link. When they approached, she stroked their foreheads before swinging the gate open and showing them the way to the open water.
    It was time for them to be free, but the other ladies needed to get better before they could be out in the wild again. One thing at a time.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Marina propelled herself out of the water and landed on the concrete. She smiled at the camera. “She is out and in the channel. Now, I follow her to find out where she is headed. The point where she was found might not be her preferred home. I am going to try and find out where that could be.”
    She walked over to the kayak, put it in the water, snapped the camera headband onto her head and turned it on, climbed inside the kayak and grabbed her paddle. She stroked calmly through the water, tracking the mind of the mother and calf as they made their leisurely way into the shadows of roots and