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I snorkeled toward the reef. There were thousands of brightly colored fish. I spotted puffers and parrotfish, an eel, and a stingray.
No sign of Dwayne.
He could be dead by now, I reasoned. Barracuda could live as long as fifteen years, but we'd first seen him three years ago. He'd been a legend then. Maybe he'd gone to barracuda heaven.
I looked for a long time, crisscrossing the surface near the reef and occasionally diving down. When I still didn't see him, I had to admit defeat. Mostly because I didn't want to scare poor Fletcher and worry Blake. I reluctantly headed back for the boat. Just as I was about to surface, I thought I saw a flash of silver, but when I turned, it was gone.
If that was you, you old goat… thank you. Because the afternoon that Dwayne had scared the bejeebles out of Blake was the afternoon I was sure I loved her. I'd had an inkling before, but that was the day I still thought of when I looked back at the beginning.
I still wanted to put a spear through him, though. So I could mount him on my wall.
"No luck," I said, climbing the ladder. I pulled off my mask and handed a relieved-looking captain the unused spear.
"Aw, honey, that's too bad," Blake said, rubbing my arm.
"I might hire someone to come out here and try to find him—" I started.
"But you won't," Blake continued for me, "because you've evolved."
"Right. Thank you for evolving me, Mrs. Ford."
She grinned at me, which still gave me a thrill. "Anytime, Mr. Ford. Anytime."
