THIRTY-FIVE
Jean clambered stiffly out of the Zodiac, tired and hurting but happy. The last population estimates for the Spit Point colony were around a hundred and fifty pairs, but both he and Audra had counted over two hundred, on both trips. Judging by the number of juveniles, there were still a few adults out fishing, too, which could push the number higher still. He'd have to check his notes to make some estimates, but it was possible that this colony had doubled in size since the last survey. That kind of population growth was just unheard of. A finding like that was a paper all on its own, even before he'd made it out to Doppler Hill or Atlas Cove.
The walk up the beach to the hut was nothing short of t*****e. All of yesterday's bumps and bruises had grown into a bone-deep ache p
