"The Something's Rotten in Block Island Affair" Chapter 2 for PicFic Tuesday 2/23/16

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Chapter 1

The Prompt:

Every summer the island hosted Block Island Race Week, a competitive, week-long sailboat race. On odd years, the event is held by the Storm Trysail Club, and on even years by the Block Island Club. Yachts competed in different classes, sailing courses in Block Island Sound and circumnavigating the island.

Napoleon was very familiar with the competition, having engaged in it off and on ever since he’d first gotten his yacht but he hadn’t been back in quite a few years now.

He was unusually quiet and contemplative as he and the others returned to the Pursang for a confab before doing so, he barked out some orders and the other’s could easily read his displeasure.

“Get some brooms and do a clean sweep of the deck down fore and aft. When that’s done, flemish up the lines!” He called out, using a nautical term meaning to tidy up ropes by making a Flemish coil and that was done by taking the end of a line and laying it in a tight flat spiral on the deck.

“This isn’t a cruise ship you know.” By the looks on their faces, they had no idea what he was talking about, and  Napoleon demonstrated. Realizing his tone of voice and barking orders was inappropriate; he apologized. Though they’d come along to be his crew, these men were his friends and coworkers and deserved better.

He quickly passed out some beers from a cooler and  gathered them for their meeting.

The stench from the rotting fish was obviously getting to the men, and the beers, one by one were set aside nearly unfinished as the smell didn’t exactly help the palate.

Mark was the first to speak.

“I don’t know? Could we just be a little paranoid about  all this? Couldn’t it be a natural thing happening here...I mean I’ve seen fish kills, and some pretty bad at that.”

“I agree,” Kitt said.”I was on a vacay in Florida once, stayed in a place called Apalachicola. It’s a small city just over 2 miles set on a river and bay of the same name.

Gorgeous place.”

“Get to your point Kitt?” Napoleon said.

“Crikey, aren’t you a bit on the grumpy side,” the Aussie countered.

“That is because he is unhappy his regatta may be cancelled,” Illya said. “So your point Kitt?”

“Oh sorry, well when I was in Apalachicola there was this massive fish kill, they said it was caused by something called a red tide.”

“Yes I have heard of this,” Illya said.” It produces toxins that are particularly harmful to fish, marine animals and birds.”

“Exactly, this kill was chockablock with dead fish, birds and dolphins, even heard tell of a few of those odd creatures dying...tsk, what are they called? Manatees, yes that was it. They look like walruses but without the tusks...would you believe they say sailors used think they were mermaids?”

“Let’s get back on topic,” Napoleon said.”So you’re saying this toxin caused the massive kill off of marine life. I’m familiar with red tide and fish kills as well, but I never knew it was a toxin that caused them.”

“Yes, up from the mouth of the river to the bay and along the coast there.” Kit said. “So it travelled a might far.”

“Where’s this toxin comes from Illya?” Mark asked.

“It is caused by an explosive growth and accumulation in coastal waters of certain microscopic algae, predominantly dinoflagellates. Some species of dinoflagellates produce dangerous toxins. These harmful algae blooms can pose a serious and recurring threat to human health, wildlife, marine ecosystems, fisheries. That is if what has happened here was indeed this red tide.

“Well I guess you could include economies in that. No beaches going, no tourists, or in this case regattas,” Napoleon said.

“I didn’t see anything that looked red in the water, did you mates?” Mark asked.

The all agreed on that.

“However,”Illya said.” I have read these tides are not necessarily red and can have no discoloration at all.”

“Block Island is about 13 miles south of the coast of Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island so it would make sense the mainland and Long Island should have affected by a red tide because of the currents and the tides, yet they weren’t."

Napoleon scratched his head. “I’ve never seen fish kills that were confined like this one is, as the dockmaster said, just around the island... especially one of this magnitude. There was absolutely no sign of red tide or a fish kill when we passed Montauk Point. Granted I had to keep the Pursang farther offshore there to minimize the current and avoid the riptides there, so we could have missed dead fish washed up on shore, but I doubt it.”

“Illya could this toxin thing actually kill a whale?” Mark asked.

“Brevetoxins affect a variety of marine wildlife. Aquatic organisms can be exposed to them in several ways... coming into contact with them in the water, ingesting them, inhaling toxins and as well as consuming toxic prey.

The toxins can accumulate in primary consumers such as zooplankton, fish, bivalves and other filter feeders. From these organisms, they can be transferred to predators such as fish, crustaceans and other bottom-dwelling organisms.

The accumulation of brevetoxins in these marine animals and environments such as seagrass and sediment can eventually lead to the transfer of the toxins to larger animals such as sea turtles, birds and marine mammals. For it to have affected a whale though, the toxins would have had to be substantial in the environment and been here for awhile, I think. Basically it is an illustration of the circle of life, that is if this occurrence is indeed natural?”

“Doesn’t seem natural does it mate? Illya you remembered all these facts from reading?” Kitt asked.

“Eidetic memory,” Napoleon said.”That means, and I say this painfully, Illya remembers everything he reads.”

“Painfully?” Illya’s brows raised in surprise.

“Well you do tend to be a walking encyclopedia at times.”

“And there is something wrong with knowing the facts? Unlike you my friend, I prepare myself for an assignment by reading up on where we are going.”

“Didn’t read up on Block Island did you mate?” Mark chuckled. ”Otherwise you might have learned about this mess here beforehand.”

“I had no time as I was practically shanghaied into this trip.”Illya stopped himself, lest he slip and say something about being blackmailed by his partner.

“There’s a coast guard station near New Harbor,” Napoleon said. “Maybe it would be worth heading over there to speak to them.” Napoleon suggested. “We can sail…”

“Napoleon I saw there were motorbike rentals,” Illya interrupted him.” Might we stick to land for a bit?”

“Stomach not good?”

“Only when I am on your boat; on terra firma I am fine.”

Napoleon huffed, deciding to put it to a vote.

“All in favor of the bikes say aye?”

He was outnumbered three to one.

The mopeds were inexpensive to rent and they rode them up through the main drag of the Old Harbor. The road was lined with quaint shops selling local goods and crafts, and there were several restaurants.

Given the island was so small they could get anywhere by in about 20 minutes or less. The rental agent, a lovely older lady named Maude warned them there were  some hilly roads, and some flat stretches but lots of beautiful views.

“We have some excellent hotels if you’re interested. The Spring Hill Hotel was built in 1954; oldest hotel on the island and then there’s the Oceanview, it’s the largest hotel on Block Island built in 1872. President Ulysses S. Grant stayed at there and held a special session with the U.S. Supreme Court so its members wouldn’t have to interrupt their vacations by returning to Washington. And did you know,” Maude said with pride.”Captain Kidd was known to frequent Block Island. There are people that think he hid at least some of his buried treasure on our shores!”

“Thank you for all the interesting information Maude,” Napoleon kissed her hand, making her blush.”We’re here for the regatta but I heard it may be cancelled.”

“Oh yes, such a pity but this pesky fish kill is endless and has driven off the tourists. You gentlemen are the first to rent scooters from me since it all started. So odd how it never seems to end. I’ve seen fish kills all my life but nothing like this. They clean the beaches and the fisherman with their nets have been clearing as much of them from the water as possible, yet the fish are back covering the beaches with their slimy little bodies. Tsk...it’s terrible really and not to mention smelly.”

“Thank you again Miss Maude,” Illya gave her a polite bow as he and the others finally exited the office. “Napoleon I need to stop at one of the shops first.”

“Tovarisch, we’ll eat in a little while. I was planning to take you to the Block Island Boating Club. I’m a member there, or actually the Solo family are registered members. My dad used to bring us here sometimes for the summer, when I was a kid.”

“I do not wish to buy food, I want to find some vials or small covered glass jars. I think taking some samples of the fish and water are in order.”

“But you don’t have a lab mate, how can you examine them,” Mark asked.

“No I do not, but we do have a field office in Rhode Island with lab facilities, if you recall? They can helicopter here to meet us, as I read in a brochure at the dockmasters office; there is a small airport on the island.Though it is located slightly inland, which is really only a matter of minutes away since the island appears to be quite small.

“Good thought tovarisch,” Napoleon patted him on the back. “I’d forgotten about that.”

Solo looked around, scanning the street. “There’s the general store. Bet we’ll find what you need Illya.”

Chapter 3

Comments

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

The mystery is starting to unfold. At least they'll get their appetites back by steering clear of the shore. Coming along nicely.

Can't get this song out of my head now, thank you very much!

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Mwaaaa haaaa haaaaa! Glad you liked the chapter. I've never seen or heard of that song, it's funny yet very creepy. It's not going to be stuck in my head, I promise you.

Thanks for the comment and the strange video.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

I was a fan of Dr.Demento-a radio show host that played odd songs. Weird Al sent his very first recording (sung in a bathroom) in to the show and Demento played it. I have a huge collection of silly songs; they made me very popular with my nieces and nephews. ;D

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

We had Zacherly here, a TV host whose show was old horror flicks but he came up with some funny stuff, no Dr. Demento as far as I know.

[ssclassof56.livejournal.com]

Love Dr. Demento! We used to listen to the CD on youth group road trips. Star Trekkin' was another one of my favorites.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Lost me on Dr. Demento, will have to search out You-Tube I guess.

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

He sold his shows to radio stations all over the US. I especially enjoyed his Halloween radio shows. I found a website that has catalogued every show he ever did. I've used that info to find those songs and made my own CDs to play at me Halloween parties.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Heard the name but never heard a broadcast. I grew up listening to Cousin Brucie and Wolfman Jack among other DJ's. Going to the beach laying in the sun with your trusty transistor radio by your blanket.

"Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a back beat, you can't lose it
Any old time you use it
It's gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me!"

[ssclassof56.livejournal.com]

Nice shout out to wonderfully weird Florida. Ah, the joys of red tide.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you and I thought you'd appreciate that shout out. We've had our share of red tides up here in the bay and off Sandy Hook, but the sea life is more interesting down in Florida. I figured Kitt being from Australia would enjoy a vacation there.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

I knew nothing about red tide, so you've given me a real education today. I suspect, however, that it may not be the case here. Looking forward to seeing what IK discovers.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

thank you and yay! Always good when a story of mind can be a little informative. Yes, red tides are icky, though here it's being portrayed as even worse than I've ever seen. They can however, be pretty bad.

Yep lots more to come!

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

Huh, plot definitely thickens. Napoleon's comments on Illya's memory gave me a chuckle. Also I didn't know about red tide either - interesting stuff. And doesn't Red Tide sound like a Tom Clancy novel?

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yep, red time tends to form in warmer waters. I didn't want to put too much details on it in the story and i think I it was just enough to pique everyone's curiosity. Poor Illya, in my stories he does like his exposition at times, and it does wear thin on his partner, even though Napoleon appreciates the information and often relies on it.

Ewww, I didn't think of that Red Tide does sound like a Clancy novel!

Thanks for the great comment!