This is the twenty-eighth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. There are fifty episodes. This is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series.
It may now be purchased on Amazon. It is available in paperback or Kindle digital format.
Fishing Tournament
The passengers stood on deck at the rail, entertained by a pod of porpoises. They seemed to tease everyone with delight by tailing off and returning so close they could almost be touched. However, it soon became monotonous.
Sage’s and Coyote’s knife throwing took on a bizarre twist that seemed to alter the passive attention from the porpoises. They leaned a large piece of plywood against the forward mast. It had an outline of a man.
“It doesn’t make sense, who’s gonna get close enough to a bull to toss a bullseye?” Coyote reasoned. “You use a knife to cut a steak, stop a man, or clean cow dung from underneath your fingernails before eatin’ time.”
The passengers recoiled at hearing the explanation. And that brought a hidden smile to Coyote.
Trace sat at the wheel, and Adam sat on the bench. They watched with amusement.
“It’s getting a bit tense, wouldn’t you agree?” Trace said.
“It isn’t to the breaking point yet,” Adam said. “It’s probably time to introduce something to break the tension or start passing out Xanax.”
“On the aft deck, flip open the starboard bench,” Trace said. “There should be four fishing poles in there. Grab them and the gear and take them to the forward deck.”
Adam slipped out to the aft deck.
Trace grabbed the mic and called to the galley. “Makani, bring some bait to the foredeck.”
Adam and Makani met at the foredeck with the bait and fishing gear.
“Listen up,” Trace said over the mic. “We’re going to have a fishing tournament. There are four poles. It will be the Collins against the Wholleys. You catch three fish each and weigh them. The winner will face the winner of the Wingates against the Troys. Makani is in charge and will be the judge.”
There was a collective groan and scowls.
“I’m the captain,” Trace said.
Calvin called out, “This can hardly be fair, you guys are used to fishing.”
Trace said over the Mic, “Makani will coach. Nobody fishes better than him. And there’s nothing to it; bait on hook, toss line, pull in fish. It’s the most basic of human skills.”
As soon as the four baited lines struck the water, the competition grew fierce. The Whooleys won. Maxwell held a smile but was clearly displeased.
In the match between the Wingates and the Troys, the Wingates won. Adam accused Trace of throwing the match so he could return to the pilothouse.
The Whooleys won against the Wingates.
“For the winners,” Trace announced. “Come to the pilothouse as my guest.”
Calvin and Wilma entered the pilothouse from the rear door.
“Welcome,” Trace smiled. “Calvin and Wilma, I’m going to let you steer for a while.”
“It won’t tip over, will it?’ Wilma said.
“You don’t have to worry,” Trace said. “If you can drive a car, you can drive this boat.”
“I tipped a car over once,” Wilma said.
“I'm sure it was the car's fault,” Trace said.
“That’s what I said,” Wilma said. “But the policeman thought differently.”
“What do they know?” Trace said.
Trace wanted them to start asking questions. He could logically ask questions in return. That didn’t happen. After an hour, Wilma grated so heavily on Trace's nerves that he congratulated them for winning the fishing tournament and spending the time with him in the pilothouse.
“And remember,” he said, “the rule still applies, no passengers in the pilothouse.”
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