I laugh a lot these days.
An hour later, the last purple blemish of sun crept below the western horizon, just as the ROV arrived at its preprogrammed depth of ten thousand feet. From my master controls I switched the robot's lights from white to red before engaging my "Nessie lure."
The sounds of feeding schools of salmon pumped throughout the deep.
Twenty-seven minutes later, sonar registered our first incoming signal.
"It's a biologic," called out John Beardon, our master technician. "Range just over two kilometers. Speed at seventeen knots. Whatever they are, they're closing fast."
"Put "em on speaker," I said.
Blee-bloop… Blee-bloop… Blee-bloop… Blee-bloop …
Moments later they arrived—five of them in all, juveniles, each still over twenty feet. Their yellow eyes appeared orange and luminescent in the ROV's red lights as they circled the robot, their serpentlike bodies moving gracefully and in sync with one another.
"Standing by with the transmitter dart," I said for the sake of the camera crew.
Brandy pointed out one of the larger animals on the monitor, probably a female. I waited until she circled closer, took aim, then, using the control stick in my right hand, shot her with the homing dart.
The big female barely noticed.
The creatures circled the robot for several more minutes, then left. None ever attacked the lure.
Cody Saults, the documentary director from our first adventure, approached to hound me with more of his questions. "Congratulations, Dr. Wallace, you've done it again. How soon before we know if these creatures will migrate back into Loch Ness?"
"Could be next spring, could be never. Just because the passage's been reopened guarantees nothing. Our hope is that the homing device will allow us to track the creatures and learn more about their species."
"And the monster you faced last August? How big did you say she—"
"I think that's enough left-brain thinkin' for one day," interrupted Brandy. "The good doctor's promised tae rub my achin' back. Did ye know babies are born wi'out kneecaps?"
"Uh, right. Just one last question! Do you ever see a day when the paying public will be able to descend in cages and observe these magnificent monsters in the wild?"
"You know," I said, allowing Brandy to lead me below, "that's a question you really ought to ask my dad."
Notes on Loch Ness
For updates about ongoing research at Loch Ness, educational links and tours, movie previews, and to enter a Reader Contest to win an all-expense paid vacation to Scotland go to: www.TheLoch.com
To learn more about the Scottish Highlands, see photos, or to plan a vacation, we recommend these sites: www.VisitScotland.com and www.ToScotland.com
CairnGorm Mountain Railway, by Aviemore
Web: www.cairngormmountain.com
Email: info@cairngormmountain.com
Speyside Wildlife, by Aviemore
Web: www.speysidewildlife.co.uk
Email: enquiries@speysidewildlife.co.uk
Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig
Web: www.highlandwildlifepark.org
Email: info@highlandwildlifepark.org
Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre, Drumnadrochit
Web: www.loch-ness-scotland.com
Email: info@loch-ness-scotland.com
National Trust for Scotland (Culloden Battlefield and Inverewe Garden)
Web: www.nts.org.uk
Email: information@nts.org.uk
Jacobite Cruises, Inverness
Web: www.jacobite.co.uk
Email: info@jacobite.co.uk
Discover Loch Ness, Inverness & Loch Ness
Web: www.discoverlochness.com
Email: tony@harmsworth.com
Scottish Clans and Castles Ltd, Nairn
Web: www.clansandcastles.com
Email: alastair@clansandcastles.com
The Castle & Gardens of Mey, nr Thurso
Web: www.castleofmey.org.uk
Hotels
Drumnadrochit Hotel, Drumnadrochit
Web: www.loch-ness-scotland.com
Email: info@loch-ness-scotland.com
Loch Ness Lodge Hotels Ltd, Drumnadrochit
Web: www.lochness-hotel.com
Email: info@lochness-hotel.com
The Boat Hotel, Boat of Garten
Web: www.boathotel.co.uk
Email: holidays@boathotel.co.uk
The Waterside, Inverness
Web: www.thewatersideinverness.com
Email: info@thewatersideinverness.com
Muckrach Lodge, Dulnain Bridge
Web: www.muckrach.co.uk
Email: info@muckrach.co.uk
Claymore House Hotel, Nairn
Web: www.claymorehousehotel.com
Email: claymorehousehotel.com
The Columba Hotel, Inverness
Web: www.crerarhotels.com
Email: thecolumba@crerarhotels.com
Rental Car
Sharps Reliable Wrecks, Inverness
Web: www.sharpsreliablewrecks.co.uk
Email: enquiries@sharpsreliablewrecks.co.uk
Attention Secondary School Teachers
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