Well Met by Water

By Joy V. Smith

Cathay saved Rand's life after he'd been chained in the water and cut to attract the sharks by fellow gangsters. However, Cathay and her dolphin companions freed him. Cathay and her family are not fantasy mermaids and only the females in her family are mermaids. Cathay and her siblings are the result of her mother rescuing a seaman. Her mother and her grandmother and the rest of the merpeople have kept themselves secret for generations and are occasionally hostile. Since Rand's rescue, wanting to win Cathay's respect has caused to look for more respectable work rather than being just a thug.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joy V. Smith
• Release date: Jun 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215336410

Joy V. Smith

Joy V. Smith has been writing stories since she was a kid and made her own little books. Her stories and articles have been published in print magazines, webzines, and anthologies; and her SF has been published in two audiobooks, including Sugar Time. Her books include Strike Three, Sugar Time, Taboo Tech, Detour Trail, Building a Cool House for Hot Times without Scorching the Pocketbook, and a collection of her published short stories: The Doorway and Other Stories. Her ebooks include Hidebound, Velvet of Swords, Cold New Planet, Pretty Pink Planet, Hot Yellow Planet, and Remodeling: Buying and Updating a Foreclosure. She lives in Florida with Samwise Gamgee, a Chihuahua cross, and Pemberley, a tortoiseshell cat.

Book preview

Well Met by Water

Joy V. Smith

Copyright c 20223 Joy V. Smith

Smashwords edition

Well Met by Water

Joy V. Smith

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The tide is coming in

Chapter 2: A new life, but more danger

Chapter 3: Home in time for supper

Chapter 4: Vacation Time

Chapter 5: Scouting for danger

Chapter 6: Rand Comes Aboard

Chaapter 7: A companion for Alex

Chapter 8: Rand returns to the water

Chapter 9: Rendezvous

Chapter 10: A fishing trip or a rescue?

Chapter 11: Pool invasion

Chapter 12: The pod heads home

Chapter 13: Draining the network

Chapter 14: Pamir’s story

Chapter 15: Cilicia’s story

Chapter 16: Drawing in the net

Chapter 17: Rand at work

Chapter 18: Perris’ treasures

Chapter 19: Perris’ crews

Chapter 20: Sun Song ships out

Chapter 21: Out of its lair

Chapter 22: Me Jez. Who the hell are you?

Chapter 23: Seas Ho

Chapter 24: Uh, who?

About the Author

Chapter 1: The tide is coming in

Small waves lapped warmly over his shoulders. The tide was coming in leisurely; it might be an hour yet before the water covered his head. At least the gashes on his arms had stopped bleeding; he was grateful for that much. A swirl in the water to his left caught his attention. So, it looked like Slits' little knife had done its job after all.

Something nuzzled his leg. Under the dock at night, with the moon shining thinly now and then through rapidly scudding clouds, he couldn't see a thing. Whatever it was seemed to be moving deliberately down his leg. Then it stopped. He imagined it was curious about the chains around his ankles.

It began moving upward, checking again at the chains that secured his upper body to the wooden post at the end of the dock. He tried to relax. Being too tense might cause him to resemble prey even more than he already did. He sweated, waiting for that first exploratory nibble.

Blood from his arms, a little blood maybe from the slivers that had filled his back like toothpicks when he'd tried to fight loose from the chains. How much blood would there be from that first bite? He used to think he was a strong man; now he was close to wetting his pants like some scared-shitless kid. He was pretty sure that wouldn't be a good idea.

It was moving slowly up in front of him now. Incredible. Another whole new set of fears. He couldn't help relaxing a little when it kept coming up. His face. If it ate his face first, that should be quicker. Out of the water it came--a dark shape in front of him that he could barely make out.

The moon peeked out through a cloud for a few seconds, just long enough for him to see the face of the thing. It was smiling at him. A dolphin—he was pretty sure it was a dolphin. Dolphins were friendly, he remembered. It examined his face closely; then with a few flicks of water, it dove and was gone.

The water was at his chin when the dolphin returned. It lay quietly in the water watching him. Then he felt the touch of hands, first at his feet, then at his back, so that he was half-way prepared when someone appeared out of the water, facing him.

I'm sorry, she said, and she and the dolphin were gone. He hadn't gotten a good look at her, but her voice had confirmed the impression he'd gained from the gentleness of her touch. He didn't blame her for not staying since she couldn't help, but he was sorry to be alone again.

***

The dolphin dove, caught in its mouth the line its companion threw it, and towed her. This was something they did only when they were in a hurry, and it wasn't long before they reached another dock. It was further than she'd planned to go, and she couldn't forget the tide was inexorably coming in, but her first stop, closer to the chained man, hadn't panned out.

She'd seen the lights reflecting on the water, broken now and then by shadows, so she was pretty sure someone was here. This marina was halfway around the island though, so she couldn't waste any time. She went up the ladder quickly; she wasn't wearing enough clothes to slow her down, in or out of the water.

Three men were playing cards; they must not have been playing for money because they didn't seem to mind the interruption.

I need something to cut metal with, she said. Right now, she added as they stared. One—so young that from the nicks on his face he'd just started to shave—had jumped to his feet when she entered. Now he looked uncertainly at his companions.

The oldest, grizzled in voice as well as hair and beard, shrugged and said, Sorry. I can't help you. I don't lend out my tools anymore ‘cause I never get ‘em back.

The man across the table from him, younger and more eager to please, said, I don't have any. If I did I'd be happy to let you have them.

It's a matter of life and death, she said sharply, moving further into the room and looking around in desperation. The youth vanished into the next room and returned lugging a long tool box.

They never listen, the veteran of a lifetime of mislaid tools and broken promises said, apparently not surprised.

Will this do? the young man asked as he offered her a pair of wire cutters.

She shook her head. Too small, I think. She wasn't sure, and she couldn't afford to be wrong. What about this? she asked him, pointing to a heftier and nastier looking implement.

That'll do the trick, the old man remarked. You can take off a man's leg with that if you've a mind to.

I will bring it back, she promised before she fled from the room. They heard the splash as she hit the water.

The old man frowned. That'll take her straight to the bottom. Not likely you'll see her or it again.

Don't care, the young man said, and he went out onto the dock and stayed there awhile, staring out over the water. He thought he saw a glint of moonlight on something heading away at a good clip, but the moon disappeared again, and he wasn't sure.

***

The water was higher under the dock; coughing and choking, the bound man tried to work his way upward. He thought he'd gained an inch or two, but it wasn't enough even with his head twisted aside and back as far as he could force it. The water was rising much faster than it had been, he was sure of that.

Something hit his leg—hard and fast—but he no longer cared, unless Even when the chains slipped off and down, he hardly noticed because he was still trying not to breathe, while hoping against hope.

They pushed him to the shore, keeping his head out of the water, though the dolphin soon had to turn back. The two humans crawled together up the beach. The man stopped as soon as he was out of the water; his chest heaving as he drew in his breath in great, grateful gulps. He turned over to lie on his back and stared up at the moon.

It was the first time he'd ever felt moonlight as a tangible thing, like the sun. Then he realized—the light. He whipped over onto his hands and knees, grabbed his companion, and threw them both into the shadows of the dock. He froze there, listening.

He saw nothing, heard nothing, and relaxed, releasing her. You're all right then, she said, a hint of laughter in her voice. The moon was gone again, and he hadn't really seen her.

Yes, thanks to you. The sincerity in his voice made a simple voicing of gratitude a promise. There's danger here, he warned her. You have to go, he added, reluctantly. More than anything in this world, he meant to keep her safe, even if it scared him to see her go. He'd never had to depend on another person before—not that he could remember. And he hardly knew what she looked like.

I thought there might be. I have to go anyway, to return something. But you will be careful? she asked. There was more than a hint of worry in her voice. He recognized that when you've saved someone's life, you might be sorry to see it thrown away.

I'll be very careful, he promised her, but there's something here I have to do. He heard a splash as she entered the water, or it might have been the dolphin, waiting.

I'll be back as soon as possible, she told him, in case you need help. He heard again the sound of splashing, rippling water, and she was gone.

The marina was dark when she arrived. She hesitated, not wanting to leave the bolt cutters outside on the dock where it might be stolen, but she didn't have time to waste thinking about it. She climbed the ladder, and when she reached the top, the boy stood up. He'd been sitting on a bench outside so he wouldn't miss her.

Relieved, she held out the tool to him. Thank you. I was in time, she told him.

He took the cutters. Im glad. I was afraid we'd wasted too much time talking about it."

She smiled and shook her head before turning away and diving into the water. He held the tool tightly, almost reverently for a few minutes before going inside to put it away. He was deepdown glad he hadn't missed seeing her.

On the other side of the island, a man listened and thought hard for almost half an hour before making his move. He'd located two lengths of chain and one swung from each hand as he moved quietly in the grass alongside the mulched cypress path that led back to the cottage.

He was crouching behind a massive clump of sea grapes opposite the back door when he heard the shots. He hugged the ground and waited. A few minutes later a man came out, and went only a couple feet from the back door to fetch the big garden cart leaning against the building. It was Toby, which meant he wouldn't have to deal with Slits.

Toby pulled the cart up to the door and went back inside. He was out immediately with a body slung over his shoulder; he dumped it in the cart. He went back in, but returned shortly with two suitcases, dropping them on top of the body. The watcher smiled. As Toby picked up the cart handles and started pushing the cart down the path,the watcher faded away and back to the dock.

He'd been waiting in the launch about five minutes when Toby arrived. He let him load the body and suitcases before he made his move. He swung one chain out and around Toby's leg; it didn't wrap completely around, but it knocked Toby off balance.

Toby pulled his gun out as he went down and had it aimed before he came up. His opponent hit his gun hand—hard—with the metal links and the chain continued on up, slamming into Toby's chin and knocking him off the boat deck and onto the ramp connecting the boat to the dock. There was a sodden thump, and Toby sprawled, head at an awkward slant.

Out in the gulf, boat engine throttled down, he made quick work of sliding the two bodies overboard, hesitating only when he was ready to head back in. The moon had come out, and he scanned the water hopefully. He didn't need the darkness any more, and he was tired of it. Then he saw her, floating next to the dolphin. They both seemed to be watching him curiously.

He stood rigid for a moment. Then he swung over the railing, and hanging from it with one hand, extended the other to her. Come aboard, he said. I'd like to talk to you. To explain, he continued when she made no move.

With the help of the dolphin, who lifted her gracefully to the boat deck so that she avoided taking his hand, she came aboard. In the moonlight, which continued to shed only an occasional gleam on all that happened below it, he explained.

They killed my brother, right in front of me, he began defensively. He stopped, uncertain how much to tell her, while she sat on the deck and calmly studied his face. He wondered if she could see in the dark.

As he paced the deck and considered what to say next, she asked, Didn't they think that would bother you?

Apparently not. He shuddered. 'I didn't think you were that close,' Slits said. He didn't care. He thought it was funny that I cared. Slits thought a lot of things were funny. Toby hit me on the head when I went for Slits, and they chained me up as you found me— that was Slits' idea, I bet—and then dumped Tommy's body. They told me when they came back. I was conscious by then and that's when Slits slashed my arms.

He paced to the boat's stern before returning to her and kneeling on the deck. We weren't that close, he admitted, but damn it, he was my brother. From his position in front of her he leaned away and grabbed the nearest suitcase. Opening it, he turned it so that she could see its contents.

She resumed her study of him after glancing briefly into the suitcase. He could feel it even though the moon was in one of its distant moods again. It's yours, he told her, if you want it, or if you want me to, I'll throw it overboard right now. He stood up and half turned.

Wait, she said. He found himself more disappointed than relieved. Where did it come from?

He shrugged. It's laundered money. Toby took it from a courier and hired Tommy and me to get him out of town. He said he'd split it with us.

Did you kill them for the money?

You saw the bodies go down, didn't you? I thought you had. I'm sorry about that, but no, I didn't kill them for the money. Toby killed Slits before I could, and I killed Toby in self defense. He didn't say he'd have done it, anyway.

The moon came out enough for him to see that she was looking away from him, and the money. She was looking out over the water. It had been easier for him to make his confession in the dark, but now, waiting for judgement, he wanted to see her face.

He repeated his offers. I'll throw the money overboard if you say so, or it's all yours if you want it. There's more than a million and a half dollars there, he added as an afterthought.

I don't want it, neither do I wish you to throw it away, she said deliberately. I hate waste.

And pollution too, I bet. There's a lot more junk floating in the water than in the air, he said tentatively in an attempt at conversation and to satisfy his curiosity. Then he remembered the garbage he'd thrown casually overboard on his way to the island, and— almost for the first time in his life— he felt guilty.

She smiled, and he thanked God the moon was out as she said, Grandmother really hates pollution. Some of the things she's done... She shook her head fondly. "They blamed Greenpeace once. Then there was that cruise ship garbage videotape.

Grandmother tracked down that ship after I told her about it. You wouldn't believe..." She trailed off, again.

He wanted to keep her talking, and he desperately wanted her to stay. He gambled. My name is Rand Beckett, he told her. You'll have to tell me what to do with the money. He stuck out his hand.

She took it, holding it as she thought. My name is Cathay Poirer, she said finally. Mother believes in recycling too, including old names. I have a sister named Persia. She dropped his hand and stepped back. I really should be going back now, she said with regret. I'm visiting Grandmother, and she will worry. About the money, he said, urgently.

She sighed and shook her head. I can't tell you what to do with it. Of course, she added, you have to do what's right. A charity perhaps. She sounded unsure.

What makes you think I know any charities? he asked. For the first time that night, he was amused.

It's hard to tell with charities anyway, but I can't tell you what to do. She obviously felt strongly about it. Even if she were tempted to tell him what she thought he should do, he saw that she would refuse to do so.

It isn't just the money, he told her, "What should I do now? My life is yours. I don't want to do anything you wouldn't want me to do. I'd throw myself overboard if you asked