Cretaceous Sea

8

CON SAT ON THE BEACH AND WEPT. CONTRADICTORY

emotions swept through her, waves of an inner storm that batted her one way, then another. She trembled as she imag-ined those cruel teeth tearing her apart, staining the water red as she dissolved into nothingness. There was no emotion in the nightmare eye that burned in her memory. It said, 'You are merely food. Your existence, your pain mean nothing beside my hunger.' Yet the eye was gone... foiled. She had survived unscathed. Relief swept over her and grew into giddy jubilation. She was so happy, if she could only stop crying, she'd shout. Shout to the world how good it was to be alive. Beautiful. The world was beautiful. As lovely as a tapestry. Yet, the tapestry hid monsters. Now she could smell their breath—the stench of death. The lovely vision that had enthralled her that morning was shattered. A feeling of pro-found loss overwhelmed her. Con, racked by sobs, mourned her innocent paradise. The bliss of floating with the ammo-nites had been defiled. She had not risen from the sea like Venus, she had been chased naked to... the guide! What must he think? Humiliation gripped her. So stupid! I've done everything wrong. How can I ever face him?

Con replayed everything over and over until she was emo-tionally drained. Nothing was resolved. Then she recalled stories of her namesake, the pioneer woman. That Constance faced worse than this, she thought. It was small comfort. She was made of sterner stuff. Still, thoughts of her ancestor's trials—tales of panning gold while nine months pregnant— made Con cease crying. She peered about and saw she was alone. The sun had risen higher in the sky and had lost its rosy color. Its hot light revealed a different landscape, harder and stripped of fancy. With one last convulsive sigh, Con rose. With wariness and with trepidation, she walked to the water and attempted to wash the redness from her eyes. She doubted she had succeeded. Then she walked back to camp.

JOE LOOKED AT Rick's battered face with wry amuse-ment as they walked to the aircraft. 'You sure have a way with the ladies. Most guys would get smothered with kisses when they saved a girl's life, but not you.'

Rick remained silent.

'So what happened?' asked Joe. 'You say something wrong?'

'I didn't say anything,' replied Rick.

'Nothing?'

'Not a word.'

'You're kidding!'

'It was an awkward moment. She was ...' Rick hesi-tated.

'She was what?' queried Joe.

'She was unclothed.'

'So? You must have seen a woman naked before.' Joe looked at Rick and read his expression. 'No!

Don't tell me ... you've gone through college with your nose in a book.'

'More like a rock.'

'No girls at all?'

'I'm not gay, if that's what you're asking.'

'Just shy,' said Joe.

'I've had girlfriends. But they were friends. Friends and colleagues.' Joe snorted. 'That Greighton girl's sure no 'colleague.' Not likely she'll be your friend, either. So what'd you do, just walk away?'

'She told me to.'

'Oh man, that's ignorant! She was probably hysteri-cal,' said Joe. 'She needed comfort. Someone to talk to, no matter what she said.'

'What makes you an expert?' countered Rick.

'I'm no expert, but I know a thing or two. You have to listen with more than your ears. Women don't always say what they mean.'