Carla agreed to undergo a change to her fish face form. We went inside the tent, and I laid out a sheet. She started circulating her essence and triggering the change, drawing on our link. Soph held her hand and fuck a duck. The change sped up while the essence draw remained the same. She was entirely in her fish form and not so energy-depleted in about three minutes. The energy draw was the same, but the change's speed meant there was less essence used overall. Less than a quarter of my pool.

  “This is big,” I said to Soph.

  “It worked so well because we have the same type of essence,” Soph said.

  “I was a lot less painful as well,” Carla said.

  I pulled out the sheet and took it outside to shake out all the dead skin.

  “And this works with new mutations as well?” I asked.

  “Yes, Barb is a bit flighty in her concentration, but yes. It would be better with blue essence, and I can control it.”

  “OK, I have an idea that may solve our income problem. We will need a rich backer,” I said, looking at Soph, “but I think your mother is interested anyway.”

  “Go on,” Soph said.

  “Do any of you know the history of private radio in New Zealand?” They shook their heads. “Well, in the early days, the government would not sell radio frequencies to private stations, so the government-owned stations were the only option. One private station said fuck you to the government, hired a ship and sailed out past the 200nm territorial limit and broadcast their pirate signal from there. I think their breakfast show is called The Morning Pirates to this day.

  “If this government is going to destroy anomalies as soon as they are found, I can find anomalies out in the ocean—blue anomalies. Soph and Barb can reduce the chance of death. We can sell the opportunity to enhance offshore. If we had a super yacht, we could have a medical team and helicopter transport, depending on where I find the anomaly. If New Zealand is destroying land anomalies, it will eventually be flooded with blue essence from the ocean anyway.”

  There was silence.

  Eventually, Soph said, “I think we could make a lot of money, but the window of opportunity is closing as anomalies increase. We need to start a company. A quarter shares each. No, if Mum is going to fund it, she will want a share. We can sell some to her for her investment. We need the Catamaran to explore, which will be a company expense. I can start a company that is easy in New Zealand. You can do it online.”

  “I thought you were a primary teacher?” I said.

  “Mum wanted me to go into business. I suffered two years of a business degree before quitting and going teaching.”

  Soph continued, “Can we each invest $100k into this company?” Nods all round. “Right, I will start it with 400k ordinary shares, the current value being $1 per share. 100k each for our investment. The company will then borrow $200k each from Bob and Ata for the Catamaran purchase. Ata, where is the catamaran?”

  “Whangarei Marina, but I may not think it is suitable when I see it.”

  “No problem. You are our boat expert, and that is your role in the company. I will set up the business side and get it legal. I guess that makes me the business manager or something. How soon can you get up there to look at it?”

  Ata looked at her phone. “I can fly out of Napier tomorrow at 9 am, transfer planes in Auckland and land in Whangarei by 2 pm. I will make an appointment with the owner now.”

  “Remember your flights are all business expenses, so you will be reimbursed,” Soph said. “We need a company name,” Soph came to a halt on her laptop.

  “Anomaly Pirates?” I suggested.

  “Something with Anomaly in it,” Carla said.

  “Anomaly Cruises?” I said.

  “We probably want something a bit more generic,” Soph said, “Although Anomaly Cruises is a good trading name for this part of the company. Remember, this is a short-term enterprise, and we will have to focus elsewhere when this dries up.”

  “On second thoughts, we may not want Anomaly in our company name if this gets offside with the government,” Carla suggested.

  “Bright Blue Enterprises?” I suggested.

  Everybody looked at each other. There were no objections.

  “Bright Blue Enterprises it is, Four shareholders, and we can each be a director for now. I will set the legal stuff in motion and the rules, etc, tomorrow,” Soph said.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Do I get a salary?” I asked.

  “You are a shareholder, not an employee. Shareholders get a share of the profits, and all we have at the moment is $400k debt,” Soph said.

  “She is a bloody tough business manager. Where is the nice teacher? Why can't you be her?” I whined.

  “Shut up, Bob,” Carla said.

  “Better than you. You are the company sheep, and it is time to shed your scales for the company coffers,” I said.

  Carla’s change back was a little rougher with the shedding of the scales, but it still only took three minutes and was definitely better.

  I dropped Ata off at the airport in the morning. I wasn’t sure she should go alone, but we didn’t have much choice. She snuck Eliza on in her carry-on so that Soph could keep an eye on them. Eliza just gated through the security and hopped into her bag after it had been scanned.

  Soph went to the hospital to practice her skills and to get some statistics we can market. I joined Carla lazing around at the tents. I started a new pattern for Carla. When she changed last night, her whole pattern lit up. That was not really surprising, but if I can compare her pattern with some others, maybe we can isolate some areas, like the teeth. Hers will definitely be the most complicated.

  Carla got a call from Soph at lunchtime. Her lawyers had finished setting up the company, and we now had a bank account. She chose a bank that was both in New Zealand and Australia as we planned to milk wealthy Australians as well as the locals.

  Soph said her mother was very interested in the idea and would like to buy into the company, but she would also like to be our first customer. The Hardcastle Family Trust would like a 25% stake in the company for $1 million dollars.

  “So what happens if your Mum doesn’t survive the anomaly?” Carla asked.

  I cranked up my hearing to listen in.

  “Then I would feel guilty as hell even though I know she is choosing that. In terms of the money, I am her only heir, so tell Bob to make sure she survives, as I would become the majority shareholder.”

  Why is it up to me? Isn’t she the one with the essence healing? Whatever.

  Ata rang at about 5 pm. She was happy with the Catamaran and negotiated the price down. It is actually in good condition. Soph is good to go on the purchase, are we?

  She would finalise the deal and take ownership in the morning. She was going to change the name. Did anyone object to Ocean Blue?

  “What about the Bastard’s Boat?”

  No. OK, I guess I will settle for Ocean Blue.

  She wants to spend a day at the marina getting familiar with it and stocking up on consumables. Where would we like her to sail it to?

  Auckland was the obvious choice, so she started looking for a short-term berth.

  Soph was late.

  Carla called her.

  “We were turned away at the gate,” she said. “Amanda is with me, and we are at the cabins.” Soph had the SUV, and Amanda was her second, although she didn’t know that.

  Time to pack up and leave. We have overstayed our welcome.

  Carla and I took down the tents, and then I loaded up the truck while she took a chilly bin and went down a row of grapevines, picking everything she could. Rich stood guard.

  I sensed them coming before Rich. They didn’t try to hide.

  “I see you have got word ahead of us,” Ngoi said. “All non-military are to be evacuated from the anomaly zone.”

  “I am surprised Captain Grumpy Pants isn’t here himself,” I said.

  Ngoi grinned, “He would be, but,” he waved his arm around, “He doesn’t want to mutate. However, I suggest you leave over the paddocks there rather than the main gate, just for your convenience, you understand?”

  I nodded, “Are you going to get into trouble for this?”

  He shrugged. “I have been in worse.”

  Carla and I put on our vests, and Rich jumped in the back. I drove because I could see without lights. I know Barb is with Soph, but I hope Murray is as well, or he will have to make his own way there.

  There was a gate open to a neighbour's paddock, and we drove out their drive to the nearest road.

  Carla was on the phone with Soph to settle up as we would leave Hawkes Bay immediately. Then she updated Ata, who would not spend the day stocking the boat tomorrow but leave as soon as she had ownership papers in the morning. She was going late-night shopping now.

  We got to the cabins we hired but barely used, and Soph was settling up with the owners. Amanda was there and would need to be dropped back into Hastings.

  I was just checking the cabins and transferring some gear to the SUV so Rich had a more comfortable space when I stopped.

  “Drone,” I said as my hearing tracked it.

  “Have I got time for scales?” Carla asked.

  “Probably a good idea. They have located us, so I imagine they will be here in under five minutes.”

  Carla went into the house with Soph, and I felt a pull on my essence. In the meantime, I prepared for a hostile confrontation. I made sure we were all armed. I put the long guns just inside the tray of the ute so I could grab them if necessary. If shooting started, it would be bad for us all.

  Amanda got on the phone for someone to come pick her up and let others know what was happening.

  Then, all of a sudden, her phone signal died. They are close enough with a jammer.

  She looked at me, puzzled. I shrugged, “Army,” I said in explanation.

  The roar of engines could be heard without any enhancement, and three army vehicles blocked the road and driveway.

  I had Soph’s cell phone and lifted it so it was apparent I was recording this. Rich appeared next to me.

  Soldiers piled out of the truck and spread out. Here we go, then.