Skink—No Surrender

Richard and the barge captain find the houseboat empty. They do see Malley’s swimsuit and hoodie, confirming that she has been staying on the boat. Richard tells the barge captain where Skink buried the shoebox, and the captain leaves him at the houseboat.

Richard finds more of Malley’s belongings, including her busted laptop. As he waits for Malley and Online Talbo to return, Richard falls asleep. He dreams about golfing with his father and Trent on a course overrun with turtle nests. When he wakes up, it’s to the sound of two voices approaching on the river—in the canoe that Skink chased the night before.

Richard recognizes Malley and Online Talbo on the canoe. He hides in a hatch under the boat’s floor, but the small, musty space is too unpleasant. He moves to the boat’s bathroom. Malley and Online Talbo are arguing when they board the houseboat. Talbo approaches the bathroom where Richard is hiding; Richard shakes the rattle that Skink gave him as a gift. This deters Talbo only long enough for him to grab Skink’s hatchet from the canoe. While he’s gone, Richard sees Malley. Her hair is an unnatural black, and she sits handcuffed to the boat’s steering wheel.