He nodded, pleased.

Then, with a sigh, he lifted the binoculars again.

Watching.

for the blood

For shapes in the water, for shapes on land.

for the blood

He was certain there were none.

for all that goddamned blood

But he had to be sure.

PART ONE October: Thursday

PART ONE

October: Thursday

ONE

ONE

The seashell hummed low over the beach. Indistinguishable from its shadow it blurred through the amber-cast air before lifting abruptly into a graceful sweeping arc. Like a glittering pearl shield it seemed to pause over the jumbled ramparts of a sprawling sand castle, then flipped, fell, and landed on its back. Spinning. Slowing only when nudged by a fan of winking foam.

"Wow!" said Matt Fletcher softly, his large eyes blinking rapidly in disbelief. "Wow, how'd you do that, Mr. Ross?"

Colin held up his right hand, turned it over, turned it back. The hell with physics, he thought; that throw was pure magic.