Free The Sphere: A Journey In Time by Michelle McBeth Page B

was before trying to use them. Though his style was simplistic, I knew I was learning a lot.
     
    By the time Marina knocked on the door with lunch, I had a basic understanding of the principles of sailing. I was struggling to keep straight which rope hoisted or turned which sail. Adam told me it would make more sense when we were on the boat. "It helps to see the lines in action. It'll feel natural after a few hours. We'll go out late tomorrow morning."
     
    "Not today?"
     
    "Wind's a little strong, not too great for learning. Anyway, I'm sure you'd like some time to yourself anyway? Relax? Maybe explore the island a little bit?"
     
    "I have been curious to look around. Maybe go for a swim. How big is the island?"
     
    "It's roughly circular and about 6 miles to walk around the circumference. There’s a good sized stream on the other side that flows out from near the middle of the island, but it’s easily crossed. There's a small mountain towards the middle. Not so steep it isn't easily climbable and there's a 360 degree view from the top of it. There's a hydration pack and some sturdy boots in your closet if you'd like to climb it."
     
    "Nice view?"
     
    "You can't see much of anything but ocean from the top. Some people find it a little unnerving to be so isolated from the mainland. But given you spend most of your life in a big bubble, I can't imagine that would bother you."
     
    Something from his tone when he said "big bubble" left me feeling that he didn't exactly approve of my work place. I kept the thought to myself, even though there were times I didn't exactly approve of it either. I justified to myself that the sacrifices of freedom I made were worth it in the end. And since he and Marina shied away from talking about it much last night, I figured it would be better to remain silent on the issue.
     
    We finished lunch and Adam left me to myself. I found the hydration pack and loaded a couple of protein snacks and a towel into it, then tied the boots to one of the hooks on the back. I changed into shorts, found a wide brim hat in the closet and headed out to the beach barefoot.
     
    I took a counter clockwise trek along the edge of the water. The waves were fairly calm and the water was just cool enough to be refreshing. The place really was paradise. I walked what I gaged to be about two miles and stopped to look around. I was not able to see more than a hundred yards or so back down the beach. The trees were thick and nearly reached the edge of the water. Adam and Marina were well around the other side of the island. For the first time in a very long time I was alone. No people. No surveillance equipment watching me or listening to me. At least I hoped not. I scanned the trees briefly and thought about it.
     
    The lab owned the island so it was highly possible they were watching everything here too. That could explain the look Adam and Marina exchanged at dinner last night. I realized I did not care. I shook off the suspicion and yelled at the top of my lungs, a long ecstatic "Wahoo!" The noise was swallowed almost immediately by the ocean.
     
    I dropped the pack to the sand and started to roll the sleeves of my shirt up. I looked at my pasty white arms and thought of Marina's tanned slender arms. The only other people on the island were two miles away and suddenly I no longer cared if anyone else was watching. The recovery crew at the lab had seen me naked often enough on my returns anyway. I stripped off my clothes and ran into the ocean.
     
    The water was delightful and crystal clear. I could see my feet on the sand at the bottom. I had not been swimming in the ocean since I was an adolescent and it had been in New Jersey waters which were cloudy and nearly brown. For the first time I felt comfortable in ocean water. I swam out away from the beach until I started to get tired, then turned around and headed back with a lazy backstroke. By the time I got back to the beach I was fairly exhausted.
     
    I