Loves Circle

By Roy Ingham

Larry and Janet's honeymoon has ended with the announcement that the Seychelles whale sharks have been spotted.
What does God hold in store for them, and what will be the changes and challenges they have to face next.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Ingham
• Release date: Oct 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311408235

Roy Ingham

I am an aspiring Christian author.Some get visions, I get stories, into which I incorporate the truth needed for the 8th day.

Book preview

LOVES CIRCLE

All characters and events are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

Loves Circle

Roy Ingham

Copyright 2015 TTI Enterprises

Published By Roy Ingham at Smashwords

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters and events are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

Chapter 1 Excitement is in the air

It was Monday morning, week two of Janet's and Larry's honeymoon. While Larry and Janet were soaking up the sun, the local dive shop owner came to find them.

Sir, ma'am Shawn greeted them

Morning Shawn Larry replied

They have been spotted this morning 30 miles off the coast of Ile du Nord Shawn replied.

Janet and Larry jumped out of their chairs, About how far is that? Larry asked while Janet gave Larry a hug of excitement. Janet grabbed Shawn's hand and pulled him towards the hotel, and the room Larry and Janet were occupying. And so their honeymoon transitioned into a working vacation.

Approximately 3 hours Shawn replied

Great! Larry replied, and checked his watch, and it was just after 10:00 am it would give them about 2 hours to surface scan and pull plankton samples.

Larry and Janet, along with Shawn rushed into the hotel room and straight for the cart containing the dive equipment. Even though it was still their honeymoon last week, both Janet and Larry were eager to check the equipment. So last week they had, in fact, tested the tanks, in the hotel's pool and the small beach in front of the hotel nearby the local restaurant. It was because they needed the tanks refilled, that they had found Shawn's dive shop. Campbell's Diving Adventures was a small store by Larry and Janet's standards, but average for Mahe, Seychelles. Shawn did his best to support himself and his son, Jacques, who helped supplement the family income with the prize money he won in international competitions for freediving. It wasn't Shawn's ideal way of raising his son, but it was the best he could do. Business was good, during the tourist seasons, but in between, it as practically nonexistent. Larry double checked the two bags and re-secured everything to the cart.

Do you have the ability to change onboard? Larry asked.

We do Shawn replied,

Let's change on board the boat, it will help us to get going quicker Larry suggested to Janet

Yes, Janet agreed and picked up her camera placed it inside her camera bag with spare batteries and SD cards. With that Larry pulled the cart, out into the hallway, and requested Shawn to lead the way to his boat. Larry made sure that the receptionist saw them leave, just in case something went wrong. Janet did the same thing, it wasn't they didn't trust Shawn, but one always had to be prepared for anything. Shawn took a short cut through the housing area that separated the hotel from the dive shop. Otherwise, they would have had to walk along the coastal road. This short cut took a good 15 minutes off of their journey, fighting the traffic and tourists, even though there was very little.

Prepare to set sail! Shawn called out, to the man aboard the Deep Blue, the diving boat owned by Shawn. The man waved and jumped off, and untied the bow rope, and then he released the chain that held buoys across the front the boat. After making their way down the small jetty from the road, Larry, Janet, and Shawn were greeted by Jacques, Shawn's son.

Good morning, please let me help you Jacques greeted and started to grab the top bag from the cart. It was at this time both Janet and Larry realized he was just a kid.

Thanks, Larry said. Larry and Jacques did most of the offloading while Janet climbed aboard and situated the equipment securely on the boat's lower fishing deck. Shawn, untied the stern rope, but held it tight until everyone was aboard. Larry climbed over with Janet's dive bag, and Jacques climbed over with Larry's dive bag. In record time, it was obvious Jacques had done this before, which was no surprise to Larry and Janet. What completely surprised them was Jacques, who climbed to the boat's bridge and started the engines.

We're green! Jacques called out to Shawn, who then unhooked the rope he was holding, and jumped aboard.

Take us out Shawn replied.

You let him drive? Larry asked.

He knows these waters probably better than I do, Shawn replied, Trust me, he could do it blindfolded. While I would still probably hit the power cable, that feeds the lighthouse, out there Shawn pointed to the light at the opening of the harbor. Larry was cautious but impressed.

It's all here Janet replied, have double and triple checked all the bags.

We are probably just going need the sampling gear, snorkels, and tagging equipment, Larry replied, We should have about two hours. So we won't be able to dive much, but we may get lucky and at least see one. Janet nodded.

Why don't you take your bag, and get into your wetsuit, in there? Larry said, and pointed to the indoor cabin. Janet compiled, and Larry went to Shawn.

Have you got a map of the area? Larry asked.

Yeah, climb next to Jacques, it's on the bridge console Shawn replied. So Larry climbed to the upper bridge and was followed up by Shawn.

Jacques, this is Larry, that his wife Janet Shawn introduced his son.

Might get two maybe two and a half hours, depending, on how rough it is? Jacques said, shaking, Larry's hand with his free arm while still steering. Larry didn't need to ask for a map, the entire bridge console, was a map of the area, and all the islands.

Can you show me where we are, and where were they sighted? Larry asked,

Let him clear the harbor and get us into the channel. Then he can show you Shawn suggested. Larry nodded, in his eagerness to get out to sea, he hadn't paid attention to the amount of steering and maneuvering Jacques was doing to get the dive boat, out to sea. Just as Janet was climbing the stairs, Jacques called his dad over, and they swapped positions at the helm.

Sorry, Jacques apologized, they have just dredged the new channel and dad, keeps forgetting. Okay, we are here, headed this way, Jacques wrote an S on the glass, with a wax pencil, and drew an arrow indicating the northeasterly direction they were heading. He then pointed out Ile de Nord, which was the next biggest island on the North end of the Seychelles. They were spotted here at 8:00 am. Jacques continued, and placed an X on the map, Now at this time of year, they are a commonly sighted here Jacques drew a figure 8 on its side. But normally that is after the full moon, which is only two days away. So, it would be my guess that they are somewhere here, Jacques finished drawing an oval, enclosing the X at its northwestern point, and the sideways figure 8 as its southeasterly point. Larry agreed, both the Gulf of Mexico herd and the Poliqui Bay herd tended to follow the coastline. So, using that knowledge and the scale of the map, Larry estimated how far they could have traveled since 8:00 am, so he took the pencil and created a rectangle.

Can we get here? Larry asked.

Sure Jacques replied

Armed with a plan, Larry went below to get into his wetsuit and then came back up, to find Jacques had retaken the controls, and the boat was traveling a little faster. Obviously it was safe because the swells, were minimal to none, certainly not big enough to be affecting the 60ft dive boat.

Are you excited? Janet asked

Are you upset, our honeymoon is over? Larry replied.

Mmmm, No, it's still just you and me in the hotel room, this way we get to work and play Janet teased.

I like it, and I like it a lot Larry replied, and gave Janet a hug.

So are they seen here often? Larry asked Shawn, Shawn shrugged and pointed to Jacques

The locals look out for them at this time of year, and they feel if they are healthy then this years fishing will be good. So they are kind of like an indicator for the next fishing cycle. Jacques replied.

Larry then turned to address Jacques, Has there been any interaction with them before this? Janet asked.

Not really Jacques replied, keeping his eyes on the water ahead, The locals are very fond of them but keep their distance, the commercial fishermen, try to avoid them. But, they feel they get in the way. I heard they tried to hunt them about 12 years ago, thinking they were of the whale family, but then found out, they're just fish. They tried to sell it for meat, but nobody liked it, so they have as always been left alone Jacques replied, Larry was impressed with his knowledge.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? Larry asked,

I'll be sixteen in five weeks Jacques replied, which stunned both Larry and Janet, Shawn chuckled loudly.

He's had to grow up young, Shawn replied as a way of explaining, but, out here I wouldn't trust anyone but him. That includes me. He may not have been born out here, but he certainly belongs. Shawn ruffled Jacques's hair, which Jacques didn't mind, but not in front of strangers and paying guests, so Jacques pulled away.

He knows I love him Shawn replied, Can I get you anything to drink?

Lime soda? Janet asked.

I've got a tropical Lime and mango soda Shawn replied.

Larry and Janet looked to each other, they had never heard of it or had one before, but it was worth a try, so they nodded. Shawn left to go to the fridge and came back with cold drinks for all.

You mentioned the whale sharks, were known to be here, Larry said and tapped the sideways figure 8, after the full moon. Why is that?

The locals gather on shore and boat out on the morning after the full moon, they coast around, trying to estimate the size of the herd. So they can tell whether the fishing will be good or not. Plus the night of the spring full moon, always sees a massive plankton and coral spawning, along the coral reef, that draws many, many fish of all kinds, including the whale sharks. It's a well-known annual event to the locals Jacques replied.

The government hasn't tried to attach a tourist aspect to it? Larry asked

Jacques was horrified, No! Jacques demanded.

That's one of the few points we don't see eye to eye on, Shawn interjected, The native locals are dead set against it. They have been known to get violent when people try to interfere. But the business locals, like me, who rely so heavily on the tourist income to survive, we see it as a major untapped revenue stream. Now I'm kind of in the middle, even though I'm on their side. I feel it should be tried and done on a small scale, but others want it done full scale Shawn explained.

The tourists, will just get in the way Jacques demanded, more calmly.

Well, I sure would like to talk with both of you about it, Larry replied, I can understand both sides, but I'm afraid I would have to agree with Jacques. Perhaps on a small scale, but then who do you allow and who don't you, who checks it's being done right, and so on and so forth. Larry stated.

Have you done much with whale sharks, before? Shawn asked a question that Jacques had been asking his dad since, yesterday when his dad told him they were taking two tourists out to sea. Jacques was slightly satisfied that it was just two people, but he still wasn't overjoyed.

As a matter of fact we do Janet replied, We work for a group called Protect Our Home Jacques gasped, you may have heard of them?

You guys work with Christopher Anders! Jacques exclaimed,

You obviously have Janet replied, Yes, Chris works with us, though currently he is still recovering from an injury, we are hoping he will come back.

You guys did the black bear study and their impact on Alaskan salmon populations, Jacques remarked, now with obvious enthusiasm and pride.

Janet was about to say no, Yes that was at the beginning of last year Larry replied, Did you see the video, or what?

Yeah it just came out last month, Jacques remarked and discussed the video in detail, and what he liked the most.

That just came out? Larry asked, quite surprised, and they had released that video with NatGeo early last year, they had done four other studies since then, three with Janet. Have you seen the American Lynx one? Larry asked.

Nope, Jacques remarked.

We tend to get things quite late, and we're usually the last ones that see it. Once it becomes unpopular in France, then it might start to make its way over here. Shawn replied.

I see, Larry remarked, having thought about it. Sure they targeted the major distribution points and then kind of left it. Well, we have done one on lynxes, and then one on whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by California Terns, then one with whale sharks, in the Philippines. It was because of the data we generated from the Gulf of Mexico, along with the six years of data from the Philippines, that we have just changed our focus to whale sharks only. So we are investigating, Honduras, Seychelles, Thailand, and Australia, during the next nine months. Larry told Shawn and Jacques. Jacques had not been rude or unkind, but certainly the news that Janet and Larry worked for Protect Our Home changed his opinion of them. Suddenly they moved from prying, pesky tourists, to number 1 celebrities.

Didn't you do one on whale sharks, nine months before the salmon one? Jacques asked.

May have, we have done a couple on the Philippines herd, as I said we have been monitoring and tracking them for six years now. The Gulf of Mexico, February this year was our second trip, to them. Larry replied, and gave Janet a hug and a kiss on the cheek. That was her first encounter with Protect Our Home and whale sharks.

I'm sure it must have been your group, Jacques insisted, some guy explained the tagging system, and how they used photographs to identify each whale shark. He even spoke about one he called Eve.

Janet blushed, That would be this guy, Janet said, and pointed to Larry, with a huge smile.

Man we did that one four years ago Larry replied, now understanding Shawn's comment. It had been so popular because it was the first video on whale sharks and had detailed the tracking tag, Larry and Alex had invented.

Wow!! Jacques replied with pride. He was meeting his hero, and life couldn't get any better. Everyone could clearly see the happiness and eagerness flowing from Jacques, ever since the first mention of Protect Our Home.

Suddenly, Jacques throttled down the engines to idle speed. We're about to hit your box Jacques replied, now fired up and ready to help in any way possible.

Okay show me where you feel we are, on the map? Larry asked Jacques while Janet pulled out the GPS receiver and tried to