Free Divine Fury by Robert B. Lowe Page A

came to a stop 50 yards away from the otters.   Now, they could see an even larger group beyond the first ones.   It was otter party time.
     
    Harper set up at the rear of the Neptune and the cameras reluctantly turned away from the real stars to record the candidate’s remarks.   As the news teams signaled they were ready, Blount and Lee stayed off along the side railing and watched.
     
    “These sea otters out here in the water are just as important to me as a rancher in Redding or a plumber in Santa Barbara…” Harper began.
     
    “Plus four times more likely to vote Democrat,” whispered Blount into Lee’s ear.
     
    “…Otters are more than just cute,” continued Harper.   “They’re like the proverbial canaries in the mine.   They help tell us what is happening to the ocean and the coastal environment in California.   They’re at the top of their food chain.   So, when there is something wrong in their environment, they show it…”
     
    “You can see it in their eyes,’” whispered Blount.   “They’re thinking, ‘What the hell happened to the abalone?’”
     
    “…So, why aren’t our friends, the otters, flourishing?” he asked.   “Ten years ago, they were.   Populations were growing.   But not anymore.   Something is wrong and our scientists haven’t figured out what it is.   Are we overfishing the shellfish on the coast?   Are pollutants washing out of our cities and poisoning the otters or their food supply?”
     
    “As your governor, I promise to find out,” said Harper.   “And, I’ll fix it.   Like the people of California, the otters deserve an environment that is clean and healthy.   Not one that is a dumping ground for Big Oil, the auto industry and other polluters…”
     
    Just then, Lee heard yelling.   It came from the captain and crew on the upstairs bridge of the Neptune .   He followed their gazes and saw a big ship, some sort of freighter, bearing down on them.   It was a quarter of a mile away but coming fast.   As it neared, it looked huge as it towered above the Neptune .   
     
    Lee could see that the ship wasn’t going to run them over at least.   But now he understood the captain’s concern.   The ship was moving fast and leaving a huge wake behind it.   The Neptune and the smaller boats were drifting broadside to the oncoming wave.   The wake threatened to capsize the boats.   
     
      “Hold on!   Everyone hold on!” he heard the captain shouting from the bridge.   Then the wave was on them.   The port side of the Neptune went high into the air as the wake slid under the boat.   Then, as the wave passed to the other side, the Neptune rolled the opposite way with the starboard side high in the air.   People were falling, having lost their grip on the railing.   Cameras and other equipment slid across the decks.   There were screams and shouting.
     
    The Neptune rocked a couple more times and then stabilized quickly in the flat water behind the wake.   Then, Lee heard more shouting and he saw two crew members run to the opposite side of the Neptune .   One threw an orange flotation device into the water.   Another had a long pole that he was pointing down into the ocean.
     
    Blount had already moved to the other side of the Neptune when Lee joined him and saw one of the smaller boats upside down in the water.   Four or five people were hanging on to the capsized boat.   A couple of others were treading water next to it.   Cushions and equipment bags floated in the water.  
     
    The photographers on the Neptune retrieved their cameras and started filming the scene as the crew of the Neptune began working to get those in the water onto the larger boat.   Lee could guess what images would lead the story on the evening news.
     

Chapter 13
     

     
    LORRAINE CARR STOOD on the tips of her toes and used all of her strength to lift the bike off the Yakima rack and for the fifth time that day – it was only 7:00 in the