“Billy and Stewart?” Topher asked.
Chris patted him on the shoulder.
“So clever you are. So clever.”
Billy snuffled and shook and was suddenly awake. He kicked, shouting against his gag, stirring up the sharks even more.
“No need to waste your energy, Billy,” Liam Chris said. Then, to Topher, “So hard to get good help these days, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I don’t think you and I agree on very much at all.”
“You disapprove? How did you keep your people in line?”
Topher didn’t answer.
Some birds flitted by, and Liam Chris smiled at them.
“They’re such delicate creatures, aren’t they? So fragile, so easily crushed.” He put a hand to his mouth and yelled, “Are you ready, Charles?”
A disembodied voice cried out an affirmative from somewhere below.
“Please, Mr. Bill, know that I no longer
