Catch of a Lifetime by Judi Fennell Read Free Book Online Page A

it? She couldn't very well ask for a sea urchin spine and pot of ink. "A pen. Do you have a pen to go with it?"
       Wendy held up a slim, blue stick. "Will this do, or would you like one from our designer collection?" She pointed to a rack at the end of the counter.
       Three rows of the implements stood like tube sponges, in all different colors and patterns. Some had spots, others swirls, others were solid colors. If Humans were so fond of colorful things, why weren't they more concerned with maintaining coral reefs?
       Exactly the reason she was here. And why she needed the notebook.
       Angel selected a green and blue pen that reminded her of Atlantian waters. "This one will do. And, actu ally," she selected a second pen and another book, "I'll take two."
       Couldn't hurt to have a birthday present for Michael, and what better gift than a book to make notes in? She assumed Humans celebrated birthdays the same way Mers did, and if not, well then, she'd have two. They certainly wouldn't go to waste.
       Wendy scanned the books and pens, placed them in one of the bags, then handed them to Angel along with that piece of plastic.
       Why, it hadn't even gotten a smidge thinner with all the use the saleswoman had insisted they give it! Had Humans designed a hardier version of the non biodegradable pollutant? Rod would be really annoyed to learn about this when he'd finally been making headway in the planetary cleanup department.
       She was juggling the five bags of new clothes when the bells jingled again and Michael appeared on one side of her, Logan on the other.
       "Here. Let me." Logan grabbed two of the bags, then signed the slip of paper the smiling saleswoman put be fore him. His eyes widened.
       "You did say an entire wardrobe," Wendy replied.
       "I did. Er, thank you." He reached for two more
    bags. "Michael, you want to give Angel a hand with that last one?"
       "Sure!" With something white encircling his mouth and dripping from an unidentifiable object in his hand, Michael reached for the last bag, but Angel decided she didn't want to risk the pretty garments and new note books to the mess.
       "I've got it, Michael. Why don't you just enjoy… that… and I'll carry this."
       "You wanna try my ice cream?" Michael held up the thing—ice cream. "It's peppermint."
       "Michael, Angel doesn't want to get your germs." Logan held the door open for them.
       Actually Angel did want to try the ice cream, but germs… she'd read a lot about germs. The microscopic vermin caused a lot of problems on land, many of which were a direct result of the overabundance of refuse Humans weren't conscientious about discarding. The Coalition's work would benefit both their races; that's why the Coalition was so important—and why it had to have the right Mer heading it.
       Her.
       A blast of hot air hit her as the three of them re turned to the street-side pathway, and Angel decided that air-conditioning, for all its chemicals and energy usage, had some benefits. How amazing it was that Humans could control the temperature—which could explain why they didn't care what they did to the environment by doing so. But if they were clever enough to figure out how to control it, couldn't they also figure out a way to make the process cleaner and safer for everyone?
       More Humans strolled along the pathway, some old, some young. She was mesmerized by how well several bicyclists wove through both Human traffic and the ve hicular kind, amazed they could balance on two thin, rubber wheels. High heels would be enough of a balanc ing act for her; she'd forego the bicycles—especially the tires.
       Those hazards were going to be one of the first issues she'd address. She'd convene a Sewage Reclamation Team to form a small island with tires somewhere in the South Pacific, then set the birds to the task of properly seeding it. Humans would get landmass, and Mers would have Oceanic