Precipice: The Beginning by Kevin J. Howard

a long sniff of the California air. The smell of the coast made her happy. They had departed Disneyland to spend three days at the ocean. The kids had never seen a real ocean before. Not one with tide pools and warm sand. But surprisingly their trip, weather wise at least, has slightly soured on their third day. Dark clouds had rolled in and turned from a sad grey to pure black. They’d remained above them, like a black cloth thrown over a bird’s cage. Thankfully no rain—until this moment.
    “Figures,” Lori sighed, sticking her hand out the window to catch the big drops.
    “The beach will still be beautiful,” Ron said with a little more pep to his step than normal. He knew his usual comments would only take away from their family fun, so he pushed himself. This trip was not about him. “I bet they’ll have tons of starfish in the tide pools.” Ron looked up into the rearview, smiling at two boys that were not paying attention. Ron turned back to the road, forcing a smile.
    They sat in silence as they drove through the Laguna Beach Canyon, looking up at the rich houses sprinkled along the hillside.
    “Do you know how many of those fall from mudslides?” Lori stated, nodding as if they’d all answered in unison.
    “Or to fire.” Ron looked back to the rearview. “Every year there are fires in this canyon.”
    “Why don’t they just move?” Ben asked, never taking his attention away from his 3D-Wand. He was currently playing against his friend Simon. Holding a flute-like instrument in his hands while two holographic figures fought each other in mid air.
    “I guess it’s worth the risk to live in such a sought after place.”
    “Pretty stupid,” Ben said absently, trying to set up a punch-kick combination.
    Ron didn’t approve of the word stupid, but he nodded in agreement. He himself didn’t feel too sorry for the people that always settled down in the most dangerous places. Lessons to be learned from those that perished so long ago in the city of Pompeii. Still, they sure had some lovely homes.
    Ron exited the canyon and took them along the beach, parking in a lot a few blocks from the ocean. He figured it was worth the walk if it saved them money. The entire walk from the car to the beach Ron had expected several digs from Lori about how cheap he was, but she’d kept quiet. Maybe this trip was what they needed. Like a refresher course on why they’d gotten married in the first place.
    “What’s going on, dad?” Ben asked, standing on his tiptoes at the crosswalk to try and see over the large group of onlookers standing shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalk, looking motionless toward the ocean.
    Ron just shook his head. He took hold of Jonas’ hand and hurried across the street, pulling them through the crowd. Ron’s face took on the same stunned expression of the other onlookers as he stepped onto the sand, looking out at an endless stretch of damp earth. He’d forgotten about the rain as he stood there.
    “Where’s the ocean?” Jonas asked with his voice small.
    “I don’t know.” Ron shook his head.
    Police sirens were closing the distance, some units driving down the sand. Lifeguards were standing all over the beach, looking down at thousands of dead fish and other marine life as they flopped helplessly on the shore.
    “Look daddy!” Jonas pointed off to their left. “It’s a whale.”
    Ron saw the great beast in the distance, laying there in pain.
    “What is this? Pollution or the moon?” Lori placed a hand to her mouth.
    “God only knows.”
     
     

15
    W ilbur Peters was completely clueless when the phone rang, waking him from one of the most erotic dreams his boring mind could conjure at the most critical moment. His dick may have retired but his mind still plugged away. Some creation of multiple research assistances and a few celebrities, mixed here and there with some pop singers and a tennis player, then he had her. The most beautiful woman. More importantly than