Tova’s mouth pops open, then she quickly presses her lips together again.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I promised,” he mutters. She continues to regard him through narrowed eyes when he continues, “Any other thrilling job tips for me?”
Tova straightens. “Yes, one more thing. The matter of the door. I think you’ll agree, nearly allowing one of the aquarium’s most popular exhibits to wander out is hardly acceptable.”
Cameron lets out a beleaguered sigh as his eyeballs flick momentarily, almost imperceptibly, upward. The gesture unravels a thread somewhere in the depths of Tova’s memory; it’s almost exactly what teenage Erik used to do when he was annoyed with her. She clicks her tongue again. Young people. Although this one must be at least twenty-five, from the looks of him, Tova has the distinct impression he has some growing up to do.
“How could anyone think that was my fault?” Cameron’s voice bursts out. “Maybe someone could have given me a heads-up on the possibility of free-range kraken? And maybe they should put a lock on his tank.”
“Marcellus can undo locks,” Tova points out. “How do you think he left the pump room?”
The boy frowns. He doesn’t have a comeback for that. Instead, he asks, “Why does he do it?”
Tova pauses, considering this. It’s a question she’s asked herself many times, and one for which she doesn’t have a clear answer. She goes with her best guess. “I believe he is bored.”
Cameron shrugs. “I guess it would suck to spend your whole life living in a tiny little tank.”
“Yes,” Tova agrees.
“Especially when you’re so smart.”
“Marcellus is very bright.”
Panic flashes in Cameron’s eyes. “What am I supposed to do if it happens again? If he gets out, I mean. While I’m here cleaning.”
“Leave him alone, of course,” Tova says, because what other response can there be? It won’t do to have the boy wielding a broomstick at the octopus.
“Right. Leave him alone.” Cameron casts a leery look down the hallway, as if Marcellus might be lurking there.
But something nags at Tova. If she’d left the octopus alone when she discovered him under the table in the break room, hopelessly tangled up in electrical cords, what would have become of him? Until tonight’s attempt to leave the building, she would’ve thought Marcellus had enough common sense to avoid such bold stunts, to keep his nightly hijinks to his usual: teasing the seahorses, poking around in the sea cucumber tank for a midnight snack. A sudden dread seeps through her at the thought of Marcellus dying alone, a vague shame at her own inability to prevent it, even if she were working here as normal. After all, he could break out of his enclosure at any hour of the night and find himself in danger in the empty building.
Perhaps letting Marcellus escape the building would be merciful. He could pay Erik a visit, down so deep, on the floor of Puget Sound. The thought feels wildly inappropriate. She can’t help but smile.
The boy tilts his head at her. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Come on, Tova. Share with the class.” A tiny sparkle flicks through Cameron’s eyes, good-natured teasing.
“Truly, it was nothing.”
“Nothing is nothing!” Cameron grins at her. He really is a charming young man when he’s not being so insolent. Erik was like that, too; she and Will used to throw their arms up at his attitude, but he was so effortlessly endearing, the kind of person everyone wants to befriend.
An idea springs to her mind.
“Follow me,” she beckons, shuffling back toward the pump room. “I have a plan.”
“A plan? For what?”
“For next time you encounter Marcellus outside his tank.”
“I thought you said I should leave him alone.” Cameron trots along behind her. “Are you going to show me how to capture him?”
She turns back to him. “Not exactly. I’m going to show you how to make friends with him.”
“Friends?” Cameron stops in his tracks. “Seems like a long shot. Scylla the sea monster wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy with me during our little hangout earlier.”
“Expect the unexpected, dear.” Tova smiles.
Day 1,329 of My Captivity
MUCH OF HUMAN PARLANCE IS NONSENSE, BUT PERHAPS most ludicrous among the rubbish they spew is their tendency to glorify their own foolishness. By this, I mean absurd statements such as: What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him! Or, worse: Ignorance is bliss!