The Equinox (26 page)

I’m not sure why I look up when I do but
my eyes land on a laughing Ava and Alec setting up the entrance of the garden
maze, some sort of spooky exhibit that her father designed and suggested for
the carnival. They are building it from scratch and it’s supposed to be an
exotic adventure of some sort.

“What’s at the energy plant?” I ask,
turning my attention back to Johnny.

Johnny slows down slightly so our strides
are equal before answering me. “When I first moved here I volunteered at the
Manatee Viewing Center, across from the energy plant.”

I scrunch my face. “Huh?”

“Manatees that live up north migrate here
closer to winter. They can’t survive in water less than sixty-eight degrees, so
this is their home during colder months. The plant takes in cold water from the
bay and heats it in large boilers. The steam from the boiling water turns the
turbines and condenses before pumping it back out in the bay, so the manatees
are able to live here. Starting in November you’ll see hundreds of manatees migrating
to the plant. In December the number is in the thousands. It’s incredible.”

There’s an awe in Johnny’s voice that he
failed to mask. I like it.

“When I was nearing town on my trip here
a couple years ago, I noticed an injured manatee. It had been hit by a boat
like the one we saw last week. The manatee rescue team came and they told me about
the Manatee Viewing Center and that they could use volunteers like me. I did
everything, from giving tours to feeding the baby manatees. I fell in love with
the big goofy creatures. They’re gentle, playful, and harmless to those who
injure them.”

I turn to him, unbelieving. “Why are
people so thoughtless?” But then I remember the Equinox symbol that was branded
into the manatee Johnny helped, and I know that not all accidents are
thoughtlessness, but in fact, purposeful.

Johnny just shrugs. He obviously has no
words—no explanations for such awful violence.

“Why don’t you volunteer anymore?”

He smiles. “I do. Their season doesn’t
begin here until November. I thought about going up to Crystal River for the
summer. There are manatees there all year-round because the water is a constant
seventy-two degrees.”

“Why didn’t you?”

He shrugs. “Things came up here, and I liked
working at the Island Grille.” He leaves it at that so I decide to leave it
there too.

I allow my eyes to linger on him as his
shoulders move back and forth with each stride. He carries a hint of a smile
that I can’t help but wonder has anything to do with me. We approach the gate
to the energy plant. It’s closed and locked but Johnny is able to get ahold of
a tall, heavyset man in a security uniform as he’s walking by.

“Pierce,” the man says with a jubilant
smile on his face. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey Frank. The boys needed some help at
the turbines, but first I was going to let my friend here get a glimpse of the
manatees first.”

Friend.
The word creates a sinking in my chest.

Frank looks around and shrugs. “Sure. Not
much going on today. That’s fine.”

I give him a bright smile as he unlocks
the gate for us but I’m thrown by the way he looks back at me with narrowed,
curious eyes. I pull my eyes away in discomfort and then turn to Johnny who is
looking around.

We leave Frank and cross the paved road,
beside a strip of water until we reach another gate. Johnny leans up against it
and points to a tall bridge on the other side of the water with what looks like
an observatory. “That’s the Manatee Viewing Center. It’s all locked up now, but
people come in the thousands from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of
the manatees.”

“Look” he says now, pointing down into
the water.

My eyes follow in the direction he’s
pointing and I see just a few manatees floating around, their large gray backs
just barely raised above water. Some of their snouts come up to take in some
fresh air and I giggle.

“Come on.” He opens the door to the gate
and we reach the end of the platform and sit, our legs dangling off the edge.

Johnny points to the nearest manatee. “This
is the guy I saved a couple of years ago.

My jaw drops. “How do you know it’s him?”

He points. “You can’t really see them now,
but his scar patterns is unique. I don’t know why but this is the only group of
manatees that stick around the plant during the summer months. It’s unusual but
they are welcome.”

I look at him, amazed. Just then one of
the manatees pops out of the water and raises his snout to Johnny and heads
toward us. Johnny leans forward and pets the nose of the large whiskered snout
and I laugh.

He looks at me over his shoulder and
smiles. “Do you want to touch him?”

I nod and pull myself forward close to
Johnny. So close that our shoulders touch. This time, he doesn’t move away.
Johnny takes my hand and an electricity passes through us. I feel it up the
length of my arm and I wonder if he feels it too. I can barely think straight. He
brings my hand closer to the manatee’s nose. I giggle at the feel of his rough
and prickly nose.

“Why aren’t people allowed to touch
them?” I ask curiously. Manatees seem to love the attention.

“Because they get used to the attention,
and when they lose their fear of humans they lose their own survival instincts,
making them more susceptible to harm.” Johnny looks back down at him. “Hey
buddy, I’m glad you’re hanging around today. I wanted Kat to meet you, so she
could see what she helped protect the other day.”

I pull my hand away and look at Johnny
with a smile. “You saved that manatee. Not me.”

“Shh,” he says covering his mouth with a
finger. “Don’t tell my friend that. I want him to like you.”

I smirk. “Oh yeah, why’s that?” I am
teasing him now, blood pulsing through me. It’s ridiculous to entertain the
thought that Johnny could like me in a romantic way, but the flirting feels good.

Johnny doesn’t answer my question,
instead he stands up and helps me to my feet. “Not too much to see here, but I
thought you’d like to check it out.”

“Hey Johnny. A mans voice from behind
causes us to turn. He’s an older gentleman with white hair and a beard. “Frank
told me you were here. Checking on your friend?”

Johnny smiles. “Yes, hello sir.” They
shake hands. “We were just about done here.”

“Will you be volunteering at the Viewing
Center again in November? They can definitely use you, and so can we. That job
offer is still open if you’re interested.”

Johnny nods. “I’ll let you know. Sir, this
is Katrina Summer.” The man turns to me and a look for recognition crosses his
features. “Kat, this is Robert Hoffman, Operations Director of the energy plant.”

I offer him my hand which he takes firmly.
“Nice to meet you.”

Robert tilts his head at me. “Summer.
Rose Summer’s granddaughter. I’ve seen you at some of the community events.” He
says this and the familiarity in his face registers in my memory. I’ve seen him
at the Enchanter meetings. “It’s great to officially meet you.”

A smile widens on my face. “Thank you.”

“Johnny, would you mind giving the boys a
hand downstairs? They want to get out of here but there’s only two of them
today. I can give Katrina here a little tour of the facility.”

Johnny throws me an apologetic look. “I’ll
be quick.”

Robert’s timing is suspicious. Johnny walks
off and I’m standing there alone with Robert. Is he trying to get me alone? But
why?

“Come with me. I’ll show you where the
boys are working.”

I’m not sure what could possibly be
interesting at the energy plant but it’s kind of Robert to keep me company, so
I feign interest as much as possible. We walk through the doors of the main
building and he leads me down a long corridor with nothing but doors on either
side.

“Did Rose send you?” He asks me once we’ve
traveled almost halfway down the hall.

I shake my head slowly, eyes wide. “No,
why?”

He lets out a sigh of relief. “We’ve had
this place on lock down lately. Keeping workers limited to just Enchanters.
With the Equinox running about terrorizing people, we’re on high alert. I
thought you may have a message for me.”

I don’t get it. I shake my head at him
apologetically. “I’m sorry, I don’t have a message for you, but I can talk to
Rose if you need something from her.”

He just stares at me, as if contemplating
if he should tell me something. What does he know? What should I know?

“Has Rose told you anything about this
place? I’m just curious.” Something in his expression triggers worry in me.

I shake my head again, though I am tempted
to lie to see if that gives me more information. “I’m afraid she hasn’t spoken
a word of this place.”

Robert looks around uncomfortably. “Okay.
Well that’s good. You really shouldn’t know.”

“Know what?” I am utterly confused.

Robert hesitates but finally makes the
decision to shake his head. “I can’t.” He begins to back up. “I’m sorry Kat.
I’m sworn to secrecy. I just—I thought you knew. Since you’re who you are
and all.”

I sigh. I should have expected as much.
Another secret, but this just isn’t any secret. What would Rose be keeping from
me that has to do with the energy plant, and this strange man in front of me?

“It was great meeting you, Kat. Johnny
should be back soon. I do need to get back to work though.” And then he turns
and scurries off, leaving me to myself.

More curious than ever now, I give myself
my own tour through the hallways. What on earth about this place could have
anything to do with the Enchanter’s secret? I remember the cryptic conversation
between Isaac and Rose last week, and wonder if it has anything to do with
this. Is this the secret that only a few of them know?

As I’m roaming the empty, narrow hallways
I don’t know what I’m searching for—anything that appears strange, I
suppose. A door marked Private sits at the end of the hallway. As I approach a
man dressed all in white with a clear glass globe on his head exits the room.
The door is closing slowly behind him but I can see some of what’s inside.