The Deep

Chapter 7

*Mack*

"I don't think this is a good idea, Mack!" Ava trails behind me, trying to stop me from my madness. After Michael reported that the fishing traps hadn't caught any fish once again, I formulated a plan to find out why. It was my scientific curiosity that took over my judgment. Apparently, over the last couple of days, the catches had started dwindling little by little until it was all gone. It's an unusual case.

Cases like these don't rarely happen. In fact, there were many cases that I was able to bring up for research. The causes vary from a small oil spill to an entire ecosystem collapse. None of these are easily fixed in the least. But it is something to look at. I have a feeling that my answer is outside of the bay. My theory? I think that the marine life left the bay and back into the deep sea for whatever reason. Unfortunately, one of those reasons could be incredibly harmful.

My duffel bag is nearly full of clothes and all my necessities by the time Ava catches up. "Mackenzie, stop!" Ava rips the clothes from my hands. "What is going on with you? Why are you doing this?" Ava and I have been at a standstill these last couple of days. She's been asking me the same questions over and over, and I can't answer her. I have nothing to offer her. "I just have to, Ava." I sigh, a bit frustrated. "No one else has the experience that I do to discover the cause of this marine Armageddon. And anyone outside of town wouldn't know the Bay as well as I do."

It's a solid reason. One that I brought up to the higher-ups of the company too. But I'm only making it my excuse to spend time away from everyone. And I know everyone can tell. But I am also the only one who can solve this without costing the company thousands of dollars by hiring outside scientists. 

"You've been so weird lately," Ava sits down on the bed, "and I can't help but feel that you're escaping from something rather than leaving. I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone in that bloody boat." I sit next to her with a sigh. This isn't easy for me either. The fact is I don't feel up to arguing with her about my decision to go. So, I will compromise.

"I'll take Jamie, okay?" I rub my jaw, resigned. "I'll ask him to come with me if that'll make you feel at ease." Ava doesn't answer me, and I don't expect her to. I simply grab my stuff from her and pack it. I leave her with a soft goodbye.

*****

"You've got to be bloody kidding me, man!" I follow Jamie throughout his boat. "You want me to go out to sea for three weeks? I can't afford that! My da and I are barely making our quotas since the fish traps have started to come up empty." Yeah, that was the case for many fishermen of the bay. Including the company's boats. 

I had previously stopped by my boat and debated whether to follow through on my promise to Ava or not. In the end, I followed through. It's up to him if he wants to come with me or not, but I'm going either way. "The company will reimburse our time out there, Jamie. I know you don't like them, but they'll pay you too." Jamie scoffs and walks away from me. There are only a few people in town who are supportive of the factory opening. Jamie and his family are not a part of those few.

"Look," I stop him and turn him around, "I'm going whether you come with me or not. This problem will not just go away overnight. If the marine ecosystem crashes, this could be detrimental to not just them but for all of us! I need to figure out what's going on."

He takes a long look at me. I'm sure I look like a desperate man walking into the eye of the storm. But Jamie knows when I'm serious about something and tends to go through with it. He knows what my determination looks like, even if I don't know where it comes from. Especially now. "Tell me something, Mack," he crosses his arms, "does this have anything to do with Ava? Are you maybe using this as an excuse to hide?" I don't understand how everyone could easily read me. 

Nevertheless, the question was too hard to answer. My mind is at complete odds with each other. Every night I dream about my imaginary woman and every night I wake up disappointed that she's not real. Then comes the thought that maybe she is real and that she's out there cold and alone. But my feelings for Ava haven't changed. Or at least I don't think they have.

I'm sure Jamie sees the inner battle that's going on inside my head because he sighs, relenting in my madness. "Fine! When do we head out?" I check the time on my watch. It'll take about three or four hours to get to where we need to go. Then another twelve to set up the equipment that I'm borrowing from the company. "We need to head out now if we want to ride out the tide."

"Aye, Captain Mack."