Who Is What?

By J. Robert Parkinson

Immediately after getting married, Mark and Stacy Singleton leave for their honeymoon in the Caribbean. They rent a boat to cruise some of the islands, but while they are sleeping, a large tanker unknowingly overturns their craft. Holding on to wreckage, they float toward a nearby island where two men—one a scientist and the other his assistant—rescue them. Mark and Stacy don’t know it, but their life has just become much more complicated than they could ever have imagined.…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Opal Books
• Release date: Aug 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781626949805

Book preview

Immediately after getting married, Mark and Stacy Singleton leave for their honeymoon in the Caribbean. They rent a boat to cruise some of the islands, but while they are sleeping, a large tanker unknowingly overturns their craft. Holding on to the wreckage, they float toward a nearby island where two men--one a scientist and the other his assistant--rescue them. Mark and Stacy don’t know it, but their life has just become much more complicated than they could ever have imagined...

KUDOS FOR WHO IS WHAT?

In Who Is What? by J. Robert Parkinson, Mark and Stacy are on their honeymoon when their rented boat is run over by a freighter, and they are shipwrecked. They float on a piece of wreckage to a nearby island where they are rescued by a scientists and his assistant. Mark and Stacy are grateful, especially since the scientist is a doctor and can treat their wounds. But little do they know that the doctor and his assistant have ulterior motives, and it won’t be long before Mark and Stacy are entangled in a web of betrayal and confusion, from which they will be lucky to escape in one piece. Combining suspense, intrigue, and humor, Parkinson has created a tale that will both entertain and enthrall all the way through. ~ Taylor Jones, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy

Who Is What? by J. Robert Parkinson is the story of a young married couple who take a honeymoon to the Caribbean. Mark and Stacy rent a boat and travel around the islands off the coast of Miami. One night as they lay naked on the deck of the boat, they are run over by a huge freighter and their small boat destroyed. The two manage to climb onto a piece of the deck and float to a small island on their makeshift raft. A scientist, Dr. Sparkman, and his assistant, Theos, live on the island and conduct research in their specially equipment lab. They see Mark and Stacy arrive on the piece of wreckage and rescue them. The doctor treats their wounds, gives them food and clothing, and lets them stay as guests until a supply ship arrives to take them back to Miami. But unbeknownst to Mark and Stacy, they have just become part of a science project that could change their lives forever. Who Is What? is intriguing, suspenseful, fast paced, and full of twists and turns that will amuse, intrigue, and keep you turning pages as fast as you can. ~ Regan Murphy, The Review Team of Taylor Jones & Regan Murphy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to Faith who edited this book. It was quite a challenge!

Thanks to Jack who persevered to create the art work. It, too, was a challenge.

Thanks also to friends who offered suggestions and support.

Other book by J. Robert Parkinson

from Black Opal Books

Fiction

Rehearsal

Bermuda Sounds

Nonfiction

Three Hundred Dictums

You Can’t Push a String

The Lowly Turtle

Who Is What?

J. Robert Parkinson

A Black Opal Books Publication

Copyright © 2018 by J. Robert Parkinson

Cover Design by Jackson Cover Design

All cover art copyright © 2018

All Rights Reserved

EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-626949-80-5

EXCERPT

They were on their honeymoon...it wasn’t supposed to be like this!

They were in the path of some great ship and were about to be rammed! If this had been a dream, it was time to wake up, but it was no dream!

Suddenly, everything came together. The sudden loss of sight of the stars, the noise, which she now knew, was a combination of water being pushed aside by this great bow and the propeller which thrust this ship toward them. She finally overcame the paralysis of shock and fear. She shouted and shook Mark. He jumped up into a sitting position.

Before he could say anything he heard her yelling Mark, look, oh, God!

The noises grew louder, and they felt their boat begin to rise on the wake that was just ahead of the ship. They were being pushed ahead and to the side as the point of the bow passed them. The great sweeping curve of the side of the ship was moving closer, and as they were pushed outward, the distance between them and that great steel hull grew shorter and shorter. They were in a closing vice, one side water and the other side steel.

With a loud crack, their stern was hit by the steel hull and, for an instant, they were catapulted forward. Then they were twittered and spun around, and, finally, they were pushed underwater.

DEDICATION

To my wife, Eileen, always my first editor, always a great writer, and always my best friend

To my son, Robert, and my daughter, Enid, great readers, great reviewers, and great people.

Chapter 1

Until death do us part.

Amen.

I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.

After a brief kiss and a big smile, the newlyweds, Mark and Stacy Singleton, turned toward the congregation and were greeted by a round of applause--and more smiles.

The organist played the Recessional, and Mark and Stacy walked down the aisle arm-in-arm.

At the rear of the church, they stopped, turned around, and for the next twenty minutes, accepted the handshakes, hugs, and good wishes from their friends and family.

Then came the reception. It was fantastic! Friends, family, and team members filled the hall, danced to the terrific music, ate wonderful food, and enjoyed a few drinks. Only a few.

Mark’s teammates on the university football team were in training so they passed on the booze, but the other guests made up for their good behavior. All the customary activities--the first dance, the garter and bouquet tosses went off without a hitch.

It was a great party, and after a respectable period of time, Mark and Stacy announced, Sorry to have to leave so soon, but we have a plane to catch. We’re heading to the Caribbean. The weather there is perfect--not like this Chicago stuff. We’ll be back for practice, so we don’t want to lose a day by missing the plane. Thank you all for coming. We’ll see you in ten days.

Amid loud cheers and more good wishes, they left the hall, changed clothes, collected their luggage, and headed for O’Hare Airport in a limo waiting at the curb.

That was fun. It was hectic and noisy, but fun. Now we have almost two weeks to enjoy peace and quiet.

Stacy smiled. And each other.

Mark hugged her. Right. And each other. Renting that boat was a great idea. I can’t wait to get on board and enjoy ourselves, the ocean, the sun, and the quiet.

Life is good, Stacy said. And we’re off to a great start. I’m looking forward to doing nothing for two weeks.

Nothing? added Mark.

Well, almost nothing. Stacy kissed him on the cheek as the limo approached the terminal building.

Here we go!

Both of them said the same thing, and they headed into the crowded building to check in for the flight and check their bags and go through the time and aggravation of getting through security.

Their new lives had started, and they wanted to take in everything they could.

Everything was good--and getting better by the minute.