Gramps looked at her and his eyes twinkled. He was really enjoying this tale of the octopus.

"I was just a young fellow and my friends and I took it apart after killing it, there's a gland near its liver."

Bonnie said, "Liver?"

"Yes," he chuckled, "they have a liver which secretes a black fluid, and I'll tell you that octopus really squirted this fluid or ink like material. He turned the water black all around him."

Bonnie could see he was finished, she quickly said "Grandpa, I saw an octopus in the water a few minutes ago but," she spoke too late.

Gramps was tired so he went inside and lay back in his favorite chair and taking one of the many naps he took.

Bonnie could hardly wait for Nick that night, she was glad when he came out of the water and she ran to him, "Nick I had a terrible scare today. I'm so glad you are alright," and she told him how she tried to follow him and about the octopus.

Nick turned and looked at her in the moonlight, his arms dropping from around her waist, "You must not ever follow me again," he warned her, he was stern, his voice harsh.

Bonnie looking at him for a fleeting moment, felt a resemblance in Nick with that octopus, she brushed it aside. Her beautiful Nick, how could she!

Bonnie told Nick now "I'll be afraid to go into the water; Gramps told me all about them."

Nick said, "No! You have nothing to fear, I know the octopus, it has a love for you, and it would never hurt you."

"How can you say that?" Bonnie cried out, "it's horrible, the most horrible creature I have ever seen."

Nick turned and walked toward their blanket, Bonnie had spread it on the beach, and his shoulders slumped as if he was tired.

"What's the matter Nick?" she asked.

"Nothing," he answered as he sat down staring at the water.

"Yes there is, what have I done? Are you mad at me for something?" she asked.

"No! I love you and I have some disturbing news to tell you, now on top of it, you tell me you are afraid of one of the inhabitants of the lake. I want you to go in the water like you always do, it will not hurt you, I promise, and I doubt very much if you will ever see it again." His voice had a deep sadness in it she had never heard before.

"Nick, what is it? What are you trying to tell me?"

"Before I tell you, promises you will swim in our beloved water as you always have done."

At this point Bonnie would have promised anything. She put her arm around his shoulders and nestled close to him.

"I promise and I'll be careful and not go in too deep, now are you happy?" she asked.

He clasp her to him and the love making that night was surpassed by all other, he clasped her to him at times so tight she moaned and he would relax his grasp. It was as though for the last time.

After it was over Nick said, "I have to talk to you, I won't be here tomorrow."

"Why," she said.

"I have to go away and I don't know for how long."

"Where? Why are you going?" Bonnie was now in tears saying, "You don't love me anymore?"

Nick said, "How can you say that after the love we just shared?" and he kissed the tears from her eyes.

"I have to go on a fishing trip with my folks, there is no way out, and we leave at dawn tomorrow."

"Did you tell them about me?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes," he smiled and his whole face lit up.

"Will I get to meet them some time?" she asked.

"Yes you might but not now, the mother loves you now."

"You mean your mother don't you?" Bonnie said.

Nick just smiled and nodded. Nick stayed with Bonnie all night, it was turning dawn when he left, and it was a tearful goodbye and Nick told her, "One day I will surprise you and here I will be."

Bonnie told him, "I hope you get over that sensitivity to the sun so we can once more lay on the beach and swim together."

He convinced her it was almost gone and when he came back he would be normal again and his old self once more. He again made her promise she would go swimming and not be afraid, as he knew nothing or no one could hurt her.