Free Of Sea and Cloud by Jon Keller

eat.
    How many you got in here, Bill?
    A set of headlights came out of the woods and stopped behind Bill’s truck. Bill watched and from within the glow of the pound’s floodlights he could just make out a black truck. It looked like Osmond Randolph’s and he waited to be sure but couldn’t tell. His heart raced. He thought about Jonah cutting Osmond’s gear on the Leviathan.
    That Osmond? he said.
    Erma Lee turned. I don’t know. It looks like him. Oh the Lord I’m scared of that man, Bill.
    Let’s finish this feeding, Bill said. Make another few rounds and we’ll be done.
    They finished feeding and as they motored back Bill put his weight on the bow to drive it underwater. When it dove he walked to the stern and the bow rose and a curtain of water rushed over the deck and rinsed the salt and flecks of fish flesh from the wood. When they got closer he saw Osmond step out of the truck and walk into the building.
    Bill tied the scow to a pylon and Erma Lee whispered into is ear, I’m scared, Bill.
    Jesus, he muttered as she climbed the ladder but then he looked up and saw Osmond silhouetted and looming as if stepping from the floodlight. He reminded himself that it was just that morning that Jonah had cut the traps off so Osmond could not know but that fact felt somehow irrelevant.
    Erma Lee climbed slowly and Osmond reached his hand down and helped her up. Bill took a breath and climbed the ladder and straightened himself in front of Osmond. Osmond stood four inches taller than Bill and thicker all around.
    William, Osmond said. He reached his hand out and Bill took it.
    Osmond.
    You are picking up where your father left off?
    I guess I been helping the old man feed these bugs long enough to do it. Bill hooked the stack of empty fish trays that were nested together and dragged them across the floor to the corner of the room. Erma Lee stood beside the scale.
    William, Osmond said. He took a cod rack from one of the trays and turned it and smelled it and tossed it back. Your father was one of the few men I’ve ever respected.
    That’s good. Me too.
    Osmond rubbed his hands together. I’m fifteen years older than he was. I’ve always assumed that I would go before he did. Do you understand?
    Bill tried to hold Osmond’s gaze but he felt hot and the room felt tight and pinched and maybe he did understand but he didn’t know. He blinked several times. Understand what?
    Just then the waning moon crested the waterline and shone through the single dirty window and cast a fray of light over Osmond like a flare. Osmond’s eyes held Bill. I haven’t been expecting this, he said and moved his hands across a waist-high plain as if removing the creases from a sheet.
    Me neither, Bill said. He wasn’t sure what Osmond was talking about unless it was the Leviathan but he could not know about the Leviathan. Bill turned his gaze to the end of the building where large blue plastic feed bins held a ton of feed each.
    Osmond took a step toward Bill. His face was lined with vertical wheals of skin that seemed to glow in the dirty moonlight. That feed won’t last long.
    The old man always done the feed. We been feeding a thousand pounds every two days so we got enough for another two weeks. But they’ll slow down once this temperature drops, Bill said. He wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead and looked at Erma Lee. She picked at a loose thread on her jeans.
    Osmond’s eyes followed Bill’s to Erma Lee then shifted back to Bill. Has the insurance company contacted you, William?
    What insurance company?
    Osmond held his hands together at his waist. It was a long time before he responded. I believe you and your brother are due a settlement.
    I ain’t heard a thing, Bill said.
    Let me know when you do. I will help if you need it.
    Thanks, Bill said. I figure I can handle her.
    Osmond’s face softened and he settled on his feet. The Lord recognizes his