Iris Part 17

The trip to the small island to the south of the main tourist trap took about three quarters of an hour, and they anchored inside the reef on the back side.

Indigo was sprawled on one of the gear boxes on the afterdeck, as Alice and Colin shrugged on their wetsuits. Alice's was bright green, with yellow and black detail panels, in a light 2mm, while Colin's was a simple black in 6mm neoprene.

"I guess you'd need something like that for the North Sea, wouldn't you?" Indigo observed.
"Yeah, I'll probably cook if I stay out of the water too long around here," he replied.
"You have your sunscreen on?" Iris asked.
"Yes, Mrs Chandler."
"It's just Iris, Colin."
"Yes, Mrs Chandler," came the dutiful reply.
"He's not going to budge on that," said Dave from the shade where he was gently rocking Elizabeth.
"How come Adele gets to be Adele then?" Iris complained.
"Because she's scary, Mrs Chandler!"
"Oh, come on, she hasn't had someone shot in years!"
"Not helping dearest," Dave grinned.

Indigo, seeing Alice and Colin were in their suits, grabbed the gunwale, and slithered over it, scales catching the sun as she vanished over the side.

"Um, Alice, do we need to worry about sharks?" Colin's accent was slipping back in again, revealing his nervousness.
"You'll be fine. We've never seen anything bigger than a little carpet shark around here. And they're fine unless you actually stick your hand in their mouth or something stupid like that. Anyway, Indi can be right scary underwater when she wants to be."

With that Alice pulled on her goggles, and tipped over the side backwards, hitting the water with a splash.

Colin followed her in.

Iris looked over the edge, and watched the three swim towards the edge of the reef, Indigo circling around the other two impatiently. She felt a presence next to her. "I don't know if I'm happy or annoyed with you right now."
"Both is quite normal," Adele replied looking out towards the swimmers.
"You clearly think he's OK, but what is your read on Colin?"
"He loves Iain. I bet Iain loves him just as much. They're the brothers neither had. Whoever Iain ends up with is going to have to cope with them being a package deal," Adele's expression became pensive, "I'm rather glad he's turned up, really."
"Oh?"
Adele paused "They both need someone somewhat normal."
"The girls have had their classmates, but couldn't really get close to any of them, could they?" Iris mused.
"No, and the selkie mob don't have anyone around their age to socialise with either."
Iris bit her lip. "Do you think they'll be OK?"
Dave spoke up from behind them "Yeah, they'll be fine. But you're both right. So I think we should reach out to Alice's old teacher and see if there are any kids around their age they can hang with. Now Alice is out of school, we can do that without attracting too much attention, although I fear this will become The Party Boat for a while."

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Iris Part 16

Colin sat hunched over, apparently out of words.

Adele came over and handed him a mug of tea. He nodded a thank-you and breathed deeply from it before taking a sip, followed by a larger swallow. As they watched, they could see as he made himself relax. Finally he looked up again.

"I'll start again" he said, and took a deep breath before continuing, "I don't really have many friends back home. There's Iain, but that's different. And me and my family, well, aside from my uncle Joe, we don't get too well. And Indi always seemed so with it and happy and everything. I wanted to see what that was like."

Alice frowned "Colin, did they hurt you at all?"

He shook his head "No, nothing like that. They just, well, I love the sea and boats and all, but I hate the fishing and the by-catch and all of that. They just don't get that. The family's been fishing for centuries, so I just don't fit. And then there's Iain."

"Iain is?" asked Iris.

"He's me best mate. He had some trouble with a teacher at our old school, and that's why we moved back to town. I couldn't survive without him, though. He's what has kept me going. Him and Indi."

"So you're travelling together?" continued Iris.

"Yeah, we look out for each other. He keeps people off me back, and I pull him away from the obvious red lights."

Alice tipped her head, "So you ... what, are you together?"

Colin gave a snort "Nah, people keep thinking we are, cause Iain's as gay as they come and not shy about it. But me, I'm not. We're just good mates."

"So you wanted to see if you could make something with Indi?" she pressed.

"No! No, when I said I'm not. I meant it. I'm simply not."

Indigo nodded "And I bet your family couldn't deal with that too well either."

He nodded sadly "Yeah, I think they'd have been happier if I'd been gay."

Adele shook her head "You happy travelling with Iain like that? How about him, is he happy with it?"

"Yeah, he knows I don't swing at all, and is good with it. He knows that if I'm warning him off someone there's good reason, and doesn't get snippy. And I like seeing him happy. Maybe one day I'll get to be his best man."

"Right. We can hold off departing for a couple of days can't we?" Adele asked, and then turned to Colin, "Can you leave Iain alone for a couple of days?"

"Yeah, he's with a good bloke right now. It's not going to last, but they'll be OK for the next couple of weeks."

"Did you bring your wetsuit?"

"It's back at the backpackers, but I can get it."

"Ok, we'll delay our trip for two or three days, take you out to a couple of dive spots. You can stay aboard, and then we'll bring you back," Adele looked around again, "Everyone good with that plan?"

Iris and Indigo nodded, then so did Alice.

"Right then. Off you go, and remember the rules. We'll set off when you get back."

"Yes ma'am."

"It's Adele."

"Yes ... Adele."

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Iris Part 15

Adele stepped out, leaving the girls alone for a moment.
"I guess you've been dying to meet Colin for years" Alice's voice was subdued.
"It is exciting, but he's the first person outside of," Indigo gestured around the boat, "here and the exotic community that will know about me. I'm a bit scared. Sit by me? Please?"

Alice shuffled over so she was properly next to her friend. Indi leaned back a little against her.

Outside, Adele looked across at Colin. "Indi says you can come aboard," she made the invitation sound like a threat.
Colin gulped, and stepped aboard. Adele moved next to him, and whispered "If you ever hurt either of them, I will end you."
"Yes, ma'am!", he said, accent back in force.

She opened the door to the saloon, and gently pushed him in.

"Girls", she announced, "this is Colin. Colin, meet Indigo and my daughter Alice."

Colin stared, then shook himself. "Uh, hi. Um."
Indigo blushed hard "Uh, hi, Colin. Uh, yeah, it's real. Er, Adele? Can you get mum or dad from below. One of them should be here."

Adele nodded, and went below. As soon as she was below decks, Indigo asked "Did she threaten you?"
"Yes?" Colin said softly.
"That tracks. Don't worry about it. She hasn't had anyone shot in six years."
"Is that supposed to be reassuring? And what about" he pointed at her tail.
"I'll explain when mum or dad are here. I figured you had your secrets, this one is mine."

Alice looked on as Colin continued to stand awkwardly in the middle of the cabin. "Oh for crying out loud, just sit down!" she finally burst out, just as Iris came up the companionway, Adele following.

Colin, quickly stood up from half sitting. "Uh, hi Mrs Chandler. Sorry for turning up unannounced."

Iris looked over the slender dark haired young man and sighed. "Well, I see the girls have already introduced themselves. Welcome aboard. Dave is looking after Elizabeth, she's fussing a little. As Alice just said, do sit. Tea?"

A look of absolute relief came over Colin's face. This was something he could deal with. "Yes please, white with two, please."

"I'll look after it. Girls?", Adele asked.

"Yes, please," they chorused back.

"Now, we have some rules. Firstly, no photos, and no telling anyone - not family, not friends, no-one - about Indi. Unless you know some other people who are similarly gifted?"

"Uh, no. No, I don't. Does that mean there are other sorts of people out there too?"

"Oh yes. For example..." and Iris turned to water "I am a naiad, or water nymph." She turned back. "I know you are taking a gap year, backpacking. But what are you doing here, specifically?"

"I came to see Indi. Uh, not like that. Cause we've been sending letters so long and well, I got my passport, and um" as he spoke he sped up, and his accent started to get thicker, and then stuttered out.

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Iris Part 14

Adele got out of the ride-share and lifted the duffel bag onto her shoulder. A fortnight in the tropics was looking very attractive now that the girls had graduated from high-school.

Indigo couldn't do the usual sort of graduation trip, and Alice wasn't going to go off without her, so this was the alternative. That she got to go as well was an added bonus. Plus someone had to give Dave and Iris a bit of a break - with a newborn daughter, they had their work cut out for them.

As she approached the Nereid, she saw a young man, maybe 18, staring at the boat with a serious look about him. This was not good. He might be a scout from one of the gangs.

She had not got as far as she had, nor survived retiring, by holding back. She quietly walked up behind him, dropped the bag, and before he could turn, had an arm around his neck, and a knife pressed just above his kidneys. "You are going to tell me who you are, and what you're doing here. Now," she hissed into his ear.

"I came to visit Indigo! I'm a friend of her's that's all! I'm Colin!" This all came out in a rush, and in an accent that made it almost unintelligible. Adele took a few moments to process this, eventually figuring what he'd said. The accent alone was enough for Adele. No-one in the local gangs had an accent like that. This boy was fresh out of England.

She let him go "Sorry, the girls have had a problem with a stalker" she explained "Indigo know you're here?"

"Uh, no, Mrs Chandler. I wanted it to be a surprise." He was talking slower now.

"I'm not Iris. I'm Indi's godmother."

"Oh! The mum of her mysterious friend!"

"Yes. Now wait here. I'll see if Indigo is accepting visitors."

With that she picked up her bag, made the knife vanish, and stepped aboard.

Inside Alice and Indigo were hunched over video game controllers. "Hi mum!" said Alice without looking up.
"How do you know it's me?"
"New camera looking out on the afterdeck. I've got it on my phone."

"Well done. Pause the game please."

The girls paused it.

"What's up?" asked Indigo.

"Are you accepting a visitor? From England."

"What? Colin's here?" Indigo's excitement spiked and then her face fell. She looked at her tail. "I'll have to tell him. Should I let him aboard?"

"That is up to you. Do you think he can be trusted?" Adele's face was grim.

Indigo closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Then opened them, looking straight at Alice. "Ask him aboard, please."

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Iris - Side note - M.V. Nereid

The boat Dave Chandler purchased was a remodeled ex-trawler. 53' long with a 17' 6" beam, drawing 7'.

The M.V. Nereid has a single 480hp diesel engine and single screw.

On the main deck, the cabin has been extended, and (from the bow) has a bridge, head and shower (port), galley (starboard), two bunk cabins (port and starboard) with a central passage, and a saloon area, opening to a rear deck and swim deck.

Between the saloon area and the cabins is a pair of companion ways, starboard leading to the engine room, and port to below deck cabins. There is a ramp to the swimdeck with handholds left and right, to make it easier for Indigo to get up to the main deck. Yes, Indigo does have rather impressive upper body strength.

Below deck there are two cabins, one bunk, adjacent to the engine room, but to starboard, and a double stateroom in the bow. Both have ensuite showers and heads.

She has sonar and radar, and a SOLAS life raft dispenser to port. To starboard is a hoist for an 8' RIB.

When Indigo is sleeping aboard, she takes the maindeck port lower bunk. Alice usually takes the upper when sleeping over.

When she stays aboard, Adele takes the below decks bunk, sleeping in the lower one.

The starboard above deck bunk is usually used for extra storage.

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Iris Part 13

Alice got off the train, and walked down to the boat harbour. After six years her mum had finally decided that it was reasonably safe for her to travel alone on public transport.

When she got to Dave and Iris' boat it was clear that something was going down, as there were several people she did not know aboard. Her mum was with them and when she saw her, waved, meaning everything was OK.

"Hi Mum! I thought you'd be at home, what's up?"
"I got called in for crowd control and to keep Indi company", she smiled, "Today's the day. These folks are selkies, and one of them is a midwife."

Alice's eyes went wide, and she darted into the cabin. "Indi?" she called as she ran.
"In here! Oh, Alice! They're all down in the galley!" Indigo was stretched out on one of the benches in the saloon, her tail slapping against the cushions in excitement.

Alice knelt and gave Indi a hug. "So, big sis Indi any time now, huh?"
"And Aunt Alice!"
"I will, naturally be the coolest Aunt."
"Yep! Oh! Wait! How did your graduation go?"
"Our school doesn't stand on ceremony, thank goodness. I've got my results. Number 16 in the year. Bang on the 76th percentile, just as we planned."
Indi grinned. Part of the plan Alice and her mum had was for Alice to do just well enough to get a good round of offers, but not so well as to attract attention. "Perfect! So when," Indi broke off as a pained groan came from below, followed by Iris shouting "DAVE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" and then, just slightly less loud "Kirsten! Give me that fucking jab!"

Alice looked at Indigo.

"Mum just went to water for me. The ultimate C-section. She can't do that with Elizabeth," Indigo explained.

Alice blinked "I never thought to ask. That would have been so strange to see. So she was alone for you?"
"Yep. Dave found out the following morning."
There was another pained groan from below. This time it sounded like Dave.

Looking a Indi's twitching tail, Alice decided a change of subject was called for. "What about your results, do you have them?"
"What, oh, yeah, my results came in earlier. 86th percentile. If I could, I could enrol in just about anything. Actually going to university with you would be so cool."
"Tell you what, I'll go external, too. That way we can still study together."
"Alice - but the whole " she broke off as a new sound came from below - the cry of a baby. Indigo's eyes go wet.
"Congratulations big sis!" Alice hugged Indi again.

Adele rushed in "Did I just hear?"
Indi grinned over Alice's shoulder "I'm a sister!"

One of the selkies came up from below, grinning. "Elizabeth Adele Chandler has entered the world. Mother and child are doing well. Father will, once he gets the use of his hand back."

Adele Ringly, former mob boss, stared in shock. "Elizabeth Adele?"
"Welcome to the family, godmum!" Indigo grinned, "Again."
Alice held Indi at arms length "You didn't tell her?"
"Nope! First name only."

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What do you think Colin's secret is?

Iris Part 10a

Indigo and Alice were sprawled in the cabin working on their chemistry homework, when they felt the boat shift.

Dave, Indi's dad, called out from the deck "Mail call!"
"We're inside Dad!" Indi called back.
Dave stepped into the cabin with a bunch of post in his hand. He looked around. "OK, pretty good. Where is it?"
Alice pointed to the blanket. "In there", she added.
Indi pulled it back, revealing a gidgi or fishing spear laid alongside her long tail, and pointed towards the hatch.
Dave nodded. After four years there was still a risk of the old business associates of Alice's mum coming after her. The spear was a reasonable precaution, and suitably deniable on a fishing boat.

"Okay then. We've got the next month's assignments for you, Indi", as he handed over a large and thick envelope, "And this", he passed over a much smaller envelope.
"Oooh! A letter from Colin!" Indigo exclaimed excitedly.
"Who's 'Colin'?" asked a puzzled Alice.
"I don't believe I've never told you about him! He's pretty cool - he's been my pen-pal since we were ten. He lives in a fishing villiage in England, at the top end of the Channel."
"So he knows about you?"
"Nah, I sanitise my letters pretty carefully. Mind you, I think there's a bunch of things he's not telling me either. Like I think his family do a little smuggling on the side to go with the fishing. From what I've read it is just about a tradition."

Alice looked at Dave "And you're good with your daughter associating with criminal families? I'm shocked."
Dave laughed "We shouldn't have shown you Casablanca! OK, you two, finish your homework, and then you can read your mail"

With that the two girls settled back into their studies.

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Iris 3b

Indigo was ten, and one of the surprises for her birthday was getting a small present from her pen-pal Colin in England. Somehow the two of them had hit it off even better than the teachers had expected, and while all the other pen-pals in her online class had dropped off, she and Colin kept going.

The present was a book about the maritime history of the town he grew up in. Most of the year now he lived in London at a boarding school. It sounded like a tough time for him, but his speed in the pool had brought him respect from his classmates.

-----------------------

At eleven, Indigo's letter writing to England continued. If Colin ever wondered about the odd gaps that she left in her letters, he never mentioned it. The idea of living on a boat, though, thrilled him.

Indigo's letter to him for his birthday that year was returned "Addressee unknown" which left her in tears. Iris and Dave started checking news records in case something had happened to the boy. Nothing.

A week later a letter with a strange address appeared in Dave's post office box, addressed to Indigo.

It was from Colin. There had been some trouble at his school, and he had moved schools, so now his letters had to go via his home in Walberswick. Indigo immediately re-sent the birthday letter.

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