The mysterious gases emitted from inside the trunk were dodged by everyone. Everyone except Rusty Flathers. He took a straight on hit (downwind blast) that watered his eyes and nauseated his stomach, but otherwise no apparent permanent damage. Yet.

Once exposed to the inexplicable gas, it was then reasoned by Sally, Ellie, Hazel, Tawny and Cos that Rusty be the one to climb the interior ladder of the tree. After all—there was no HazMat suit available—and he had already been exposed to the pungent fumes.

“Stop pushing—stop pushing,” he pleaded to all five members of the audience that felt compelled to force him inside the trunk chamber. Then once his shoulders and hips had been cleared the space became manageable—albeit Closter phobic—lacking oxygen—genuinely damp and grotesque.

          “You’ll be fine honey, you’ll be fine” Sally encouraged from behind, while also noticing that a fairly large clump of brown locks from the back of his head was now missing as he disappeared inside the tree. “Just don’t rub your hair,” she continued.

But inside the trunk of this great beast of a Norway Pine, Rusty could no longer hear the world outside and missed her message, thus beginning his ascent of the magnificent tree. One at a time—two hundred and four feet to the top—maybe they would allow him a late lunch if he returned with the Kraken Eggs.

Halfway to the top…. Some wheels began to grind inside Rusty’s noggin. “Hey, you came to this island to fish, to own a fishing camp. You’re not just bait for catching someone else’s eggs. But maybe I am more than bait. Maybe I am trusted to accomplish what others might not. Keep climbing Rusty!”

Turned out… It was closer to suppertime when they returned to the main lodge at the camp, where he was fed a feast of kings for his efforts in retrieving the THIRTEEN Kraken Eggs. Fresh walleye fillets for everyone! Served over a heated bed of fantastic wild rice.

“Never thought I’d be sitting on an island in the Canadian wilderness, eating fish, thinking about the biology of Kraken eggs, and not be teaching fisheries biology at East Jesus U,” offered Cos to Ellie who was seated directly across the table.

          “Well, I signed up as a student aid with this whole Eagle Three thing, and now I have a Glock on my belt and Kraken eggs in the fridge,” she replied. “So, there’s that.”

“At least we will have stories for the incoming freshmen!” Cos returned and then reached out for a confirming clink with his fork.

Post dinner, Tawny rose from her seat and walked toward Rusty with palms held out suggesting he should rise. Then without notice she clasped his hands, gave him a wink and a nod for a job well done, and a rather obvious peck on the cheek. Was this act for Rusty, or just another jab at Sally? TBD.

And then (next in line) this was followed by a BIG ‘OL SMOOCHER from Ms. Sally Squatsnfishes herself. Big enough to weaken the knees and drain blood from Rusty’s brain. Big enough for Link (their British Lab puppy) to cover his eyes with both paws. Big enough for Cos to whistle unyieldingly while Ellie and Hazel screamed “Hey get a room!”

“I just hope my hair grows back,” Rusty added, after coming up for air following this kiss of all kisses.

           “Sweety, you’ll be fine. Everything’s fine,” Sally comforted. “Plus, I’m digging your whole Little Steven (Steven Van Zandt) E Street look with Link’s bright red bandana on your head.”

“You know…. This is probably the time where I would tell you to stay at the island…. See if my hair does grow back…. See what grows between us.”

          “But you’re not going to say it, are you Rusty?

This made him shrug his shoulders and step back a couple of paces while stammering, “You already know.”

Later that same night it was Hazel who continued to alarm Rusty, when she offered, “Seems odd all your hair fell out after getting doused with those gases, and your head is REALLY egg shaped, dude.”

It was also Hazel who insisted on staying up, beyond late, to paint the Kraken Eggs using bone marrow she had salvaged from a pile of northern pike bones. That and the box of Crayola Ultimate Crayon Collection, of which were Rusty’s, and yes coloring can be fun for adults as well as children.

Tawny and Cos had bombed out early to bed, immediately after supper, to their respective rooms in the bunkhouse. Then Ellie accompanied Sally to the nighty-night in the back bedroom of the main lodge (does Rusty need to be concerned AGAIN) #GoldRopeRanchRomance, and this left Rusty to caretake for Hazel who insisted on painting eggs. It was a Three Eagle settlement based on Hazel turning her Glock-19 over for safekeeping during resting hours.

Rusty did have to admit the coloring effect on the eggs was marvelous. Hazel used vibrant colors and delicate patterns to enrich the rather blah blah blah color of the dull white shapes.

“So, what’s the deal Rusty?” Hazel asked when the final of the thirteen eggs was completed to her satisfaction. “Are you and Eagle One a deal, or what?”

          “Well, between you and I,” he offered, “that’s a tough one to answer.”

“Seems like it shouldn’t be. But neither should Kraken’s, septic witches, or men with egg shaped heads and no hair.”

          “Sally’s a hard woman. My dad always told me to tread lightly around women who like furry cats and Stevie Nicks. But she shows little liking toward either.”

“Dude, you’re weird, but I get it. It’s like she wants to rule the world, but she doesn’t have to.”

          “Well, I guess when she leaves again in the morning, which I understand the three of you (Three Eagles) are leaving for Australia to complete your mission, I’ll have to take it at face value. Are we meant to be together? YES, I believe so. Does that mean it’s going to eventually happen? NO.

When morning came the silence between Rusty and Sally was palpable. He wanted her to stay, but he wasn’t going to beg or plead his case for her to stay.

And then—Stash McGivern pulled away from the dock with three women continuing their chase of The Kraken. Cos went to the boat house to gather tools to complete the dock work. Rusty returned to the chore of prepping skiffs with electronics, trolling motors, and fishing gear. And Ms. Sally Squatsnfishes sat on the deck of the grand lodge, resting calmly in the porch swing—Link nestled in her lap—a freshly brewed cup of Timmy’s in her hand—the Ontario spring sunshine bringing warmth to her heart and healing body.

Her silence was then pierced by an eagle’s cry. She immediately glanced upward into the rich blueness of the sky—and witnessed only TWO eagles circling.

-THE END-

Ready for Season Four?!?! YES… Sally opts to stay at the island to recoup from her wound, and to be with her man Rusty. Who was the “third woman” on Stash McGivern’s boat? Yep—you guessed it—Tawny Bishop. The one and only person most capable of filling Sally’s unfillable shoes. Best of luck to The Kraken. He will surely need it!