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Writing Projects: Fiction :: Nonfiction
Fiction Excerpt: VAN RIGGS ISLAND
Science Fiction/Fantasy Short Story, 3K words
Hallie Merrick bent over the side of the boat and skimmed her hand across the water. A dorsal fin broke the surface and she reached out for it, feeling safer with the dolphins following them. But it would be safer for the animals if they hadn’t.
"Careful, girl," Griswald said and jerked her away from the railing. His hand dug into her arm. "The boss wouldn’t want you falling overboard."
"I can't help you find Van Riggs' fortune. I won’t."
"Boss figures those critters in your head'll do it for him."
Nanites, she wanted to correct him. A marine biologist, Hallie had volunteered to have nanites implanted in her brain. They enabled her to hear the high frequency clicks dolphins used for echolocation and communication. A sub-dermal transmitter located behind her ear enabled Hallie to respond.
The 20-foot runabout sped toward Van Riggs Island on the horizon, supposedly where the jettisoned cargo of privateer Nefen Van Riggs landed one hundred years prior.
"Van Riggs fortune keeps its own secrets, Griswald," Hallie said.
He shoved her into the seats at the aft of the boat. "Other space smugglers' dumped goods have been found, girl. Boss knows where it is this time."
Griswald spent a lot of time at the gym, which was obvious from his thick-muscled arms. He didn't seem to think too much about whom he worked for, though.
The boat's driver, tycoon Hugo Attis, kidnapped Hallie from her lab six hours ago. Attis would pay any price to find Van Riggs' fortune, including abducting a biologist with sensory SONAR.
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