Tortugas Rising Read Free Page A

the wet couple. The second did nothing. This solid figure only stood with his arms crossed, glaring at Steve. As this stocky man locked eyes with Bennett, Steve could swear that over the whine of the smaller boat’s engine, the roar of the sea, and the booming of the diesel-powered water-jets, he heard the man growl.
    “Environmentalist? That guy looks like he could hug a tree into mulch.”
    “We were told that it’s a new group that formed in response to ImagiNation’s plan to build the island chain. That never made sense to me. We say the Tortugas Banks in the literature just for a point of reference. We’re not that close. And, even at that, the reclamation engineers went out of their way not to endanger the reefs or the national park.”
    “He looks like he wants to hurt me.”
    “They buzz the yachts and occasionally play chicken with some of the dredging ships. Aside from this kind of crap,” she shook more water from her hands, “they’re harmless.”
    “I don’t know,” Steve continued to stare at the man in the boat. “They don’t look harmless. You don’t get that big playing hackey-sack.”
    Steve broke the stare and turned to look at Katherine. Her white gown had turned transparent. Blushing, he removed his drenched suit coat and tossed it around her shoulders.
    Puzzled, she looked at him and then made the connection.
    It was Katherine’s turn to blush as she pulled the jacket closed and turned to leave. She turned back. “Thank you, Steve.”

 
     
    THREE
     
    “This is ImagiNation!” With the flair of a practiced showman, carnival barker, or pickpocket, Warren Baxter stood aside the windows of the main salon and presented the man-made islands on the horizon. The applause was inebriated and enthusiastic.
    Paul sipped his drink as he studied the view. From his seat near the bar, he could see seven islands – their man-made nature evident only from water muddied by unsettled sediment. He knew from the website that there were three hundred and ninety-seven others just like them.
    The audience erupted into conversation as everyone clamored to the windows for a better look. Paul remained near the bar as the line thinned out.
    “Where did you put the bags?”
    Paul turned, “Good news, Steve. They thawed out Walt Disney. This guy Baxter and his world of ImagiNation put on quite a show while you were gone.”
    “What did he say?”
    “The bad news is that the name ImagiNation isn’t just a placeholder. He really seems serious whenever he says it. He even looks to the sky when he says it, as if it were a stroke of genius. Other than that he didn’t say anything that wasn’t in the prospectus that Campbell sent us. He just added extra thanks for everybody’s money. You got a personal nod.”
    “It’s not my money.”
    Paul sighed, “It wasn’t your money. And, it wasn’t your investment. But, now it is your money and your investment. These are your islands, man.”
    Steve took the drink from his friend’s hand and drained the glass.
    “You still don’t get it, do you, Steve? You’re rich! Rich beyond belief. You need to start believing it.” Paul ordered another drink. “You’ve got so much money now that your job is to watch your money. And, even at that, there’s too much to watch. Lucky for you, I’m willing to help.” Paul took the drink from the bartender.
    “Lucky me.” Steve took the drink from Paul’s hand and took a sip.
    “You’d better believe it. Do you think I actually enjoy eating the finest foods, driving the fastest cars, and spending my working days traveling to brand-spanking-new paradises? No. I do it for you.” Paul ordered another drink.
    “Thanks.” Steve finished the drink and placed the glass on the counter.
    “The fact that you pay me to do it doesn’t hurt either. But, I’m starting to look at my job as making sure you realize what you have. And, that you start enjoying it. Take the new suit you’re wearing. You can’t be comfortable in