Free Floating Alone by Zenina Masters Page A

your silver eyes.”
    Her skin got hotter.
    She licked her lips, and his pupils dilated, showing a startling change to something that wasn’t human and wasn’t fey.
    Her pulse pounded in her veins, and she slowly withdrew her hand from his grasp. “Thank you?”
    He grinned. “So, you have a facility that you are interested in funding?”
    With that one phrase, he snapped her back to why he was there.
    “Of course. Welcome to the Wake Manatee Rescue. We are here to rehabilitate and release wounded, injured and maimed manatee back into the wild. Our goal isn’t to keep them in tanks; it is to get them back into open water.”
    She turned to the wall and activated the screen that showed the damage done by the propellers, jet skis and other human vehicles. “Human incursion into manatee waters needs to be mitigated, controlled, and when they break the law, there needs to be a consequence.”
    She paused, “But that is a matter for legislation. Now, we are simply seeking funding to support and expand our existing facility. Would you like to see the patients?”
    Maweel smiled, “We would love to see the animals.”
    She frowned. “This is not a zoo. They are not here for display. This tour is to expand understanding.”
    Irdan smiled. “We understand.”
    She looked at her father and then ignored him as she led their small group out of the education centre and out toward the pens.
    “You don’t have a dedicated medical centre?” Irdan drawled.
    “No, we have to create med tents when we need them. That is one of the items that is on my wish list. To get a manatee out of the water takes some special lifts, and we don’t currently have them.”
    They walked down the gravelled path toward the recovery tanks.
    “We keep the patients in their normal water type until they are set for movement again. Over here are my favourite visitors. These are pregnant females who were struck by boats, and one of them is nearly ready to return to her original no-wake zone.”
    Irdan drawled, “How did she get injured?”
    Marina made a face. “Speedboat, as far as we are able to tell. Folks want to insist on their right to kill native and endangered species at will. That is why we are pushing for larger penalties.”
    She led them through the concrete paths and opened the gate that led into the deep, shadowed tanks.
    Maweel looked at the cages surrounding the tanks. “Are you afraid of the manatees getting out?”
    She smiled. “No. While in captivity, they are in even more danger than nature normally provides. Folks regularly come by and try to slaughter them for their bones, their hide, their use in magic, if you believe in that sort of thing.”
    Irdan looked solemn. “What do they think they will gain?”
    “Power and patience. The feeling of enjoying each moment as it comes. A few of those caught say it is the best drug they have experienced. Complete calm.”
    “What do they do with the hide?”
    “They turn it into belts. Apparently, it turns nervous business men into zen tycoons.” She grimaced.
    The shadows shifted, and a curious and wide-eyed face bobbed upward.
    Maweel knelt and extended his hand. “She looks friendly.”
    “Oh, she is. Is that suit washable?”
    He frowned, and when the snuffling upper lip gripped his hand and tugged, his eyes went wide with surprise.
    Marina grabbed his arm and tapped the frisky lady on the nose. “You are pregnant. Have some decorum.”
    Irdan crouched but didn’t reach out. “She was struck by a boat?”
    “You can see the blade strikes. Let me get some grass.”
    She walked to the edge of the pen where some grasses were still floating and gathered them up. The lady in question liked being hand fed, so this would get her attention.
    Marina returned to where the dominant lady was trying to lure the fey into the water, and she waggled the waterweeds in her face. The attention turned to food, and Marina pulled the food back so that the lady in question rolled to her side to