Slither - Edward Lee [48]
"You know better than that," Loren told her. "We're marine zoologists, Nora. We're out in the sun ten times more than other people. You've been lying out here for three hours with no block? Of course you'll get burned."
When Nora rubbed her face, even her cheeks hurt. Now I'M the fire truck .. .
She had a feeling this wasn't going to be one of her better days.
"Loren found a really big nest of the scarlet bristleworms, right in front of an underwater trench and the most fascinating coral configurations," Annabelle informed her next. She spoke with her eyes closed as Loren continued to massage her back. "I got great pictures!"
"Actually it was Nora who found the nest," he at least had the presence of mind to say. "She told us where it was. Thanks, Nora. You were right. We hit the jackpot."
Who gives a shit? Nora glanced, embarrassed, at her pink arms. "That's wonderful. So we can go now?"
"Oh no," Annabelle piped up. "We'll be here a few more days at least. I need pictures of every aspect of the worm's life and its environment. The sun hits the water perfectly at midafternoon. Loren and I need to dive again tomorrow."
It didn't even anger Nora anymore: the way Annabelle excluded her from everything.
"I'm even going to have Loren in a few of the underwater pictures, so his name can go in the article, too."
The only reason I don't bury you, Nora replied in thought, is because I'm too tired to dig the hole.
"And I got plenty more samples for us to catalog for the college," Loren added, "plus some pretty interesting echinoderm fossils that look like they go back to the Cambrian Period."
"The what period?" Annabelle asked.
"Cambrian," Nora answered with no interest. "About sixty million years ago, when invertebrate life was just beginning to soar."
Annabelle was careful not to acknowledge Nora at all. "You also found some other weird things, didn't you, Loren?"
"Couple of translucent megalodae, some multicolored Clitellatas, oh, and a sea potato."
"A sea potato?" the blonde asked, amused. "It's not like a potato we eat, is it?"
Nora smiled. "Yeah, Annabelle. Loren will cook you up some fries in a jiffy."
Loren intervened. "No, it's just called a sea potato. It's actually a sediment-dwelling sea squirt." - ---- - --- -- --- - - -
Annabelle looked right at Nora and silently mouthed, Kiss my ass. Then she winked.
What gall! For each hour that passed, it occurred to Nora that a conflict would erupt eventually. I guess I shouldn't be getting in any catfights, she realized. The bitch would probably beat me up.
Annabelle rose to her feet and did a long stretch, giving Loren an eyeful. "Thanks for the back rub, Loren. You're a master. But after all that swimming, I think I'll go take a nap." She glanced down to Nora again. "You might want to put some sunblock on Professor Craig, though. She's turning as red as a fire truck."
You would say fire truck. She even steals my analogies.
"Oh, and, Professor? What time will you be cooking that lobster dinner you promised?"
About five minutes after I put my foot up your ass, Nora thought. Instead she just said, "About seven, if that doesn't cramp your sophisticated itinerary."
"Oh, don't worry, it doesn't. See you later!"
A lot later, I hope.
Annabelle traipsed off to the woods.
"What's with all this friction between you and Annabelle?" Loren asked.
"She's just a bossy, arrogant, territorial bitch, that's all. No friction. Women mark their turf, Loren, especially women with implants."
"Oh no, she's natural, she told me."
Nora smiled to herself.
"And there's no reason for the two of you to not get along," he added, fishing in his bag for more sunblock. "We're all in this together, you know."
"Not if you ask her. She treats me like I'm not here."
"You're imagining it. She's actually very nice. Emotionally unfolded, professionally dedicated, and intellectually diversified."
Nora leaned up, squinting outrage. "Loren! She's a ditz with big tits! She's phonier than Al Capone's secret vault. She's a mover, Loren; she uses her