I was calling as Martin Wallace Graynor. Carlos/John could reach us the same way. We wanted no connection between Mart Graynor and Jan Hebert.

Visuals were important to the message. The undersea forest was behind us. I stood next to Sharrol, our eyes exactly level. That’d give him a jolt.

Me: “John, I know you were worried about Mil, and so was I, but she’s recovered. Mil’s a lot tougher than even Addie gave her credit for.”

Sharrol: “Still, the situation was sticky at first. Messy.” She rubbed her hands. “But that’s all over. Mart’s got a job working outside in the water orchards—”

Me: “It’s just like working in free-fall. I’ve got a real knack for it.”

Sharrol: “We’ve got some money too, and after the baby’s born I’ll take Mart’s job. It’ll be just like I’m back in my teens.”

Me: “You did the right thing, protecting the children first. It’s worked out very well.”

Sharrol: “We’re happy here, John. This is a good place to raise a child, or several. Some day we’ll come to you, I think, but not now. The changes in my life are too new. I couldn’t take it. Mart is willing to indulge me.”

Me (sorrowfully): “Addie is gone, John. We never expect to see her again, and we’re just as glad, but I feel she’ll always be a part of me.” I waved the camera off.

Now let’s see Carlos figure that out. He does like puzzles.

✴
GHOST: SEVEN

“So there you have it,” I told Ander. “Carlos is dead. I saw Feather shoot him before she shot me. Sharrol and the children must have gotten away. Feather stayed to put me in the ’doc, then used the other boat.

“She left me marooned on a desert island. I think she’d already given up on catching Sharrol. Otherwise, why would she need me for a hostage? I can’t guess where they all are now, but if Feather was holding Sharrol, I think I’d know it.”

“How?”

“By now she must know I’m gone. She could advertise on the personals net. There hasn’t been anything like that.”

Ander held his peace. No point in his telling the poor crashlander that his story leaks like a NASA spacecraft. From the way I’d told it, Ander could only guess that Feather had covered her back trail. Sharrol and the children must be as dead as Carlos, and Beowulf Shaeffer didn’t have the courage to face it.

If he bought it, Ander would be hunting Feather, not Carlos.

“And I live in Pacifica because anywhere else I’d need pills to protect me from sunlight. Feather might trace that. Ander, can you do something about Feather? I keep expecting her to pop up behind my ear.”