Sequoia Coast sea lion tusk

set for jan 29 late afternoon

he had gone swimming among the frigid waters and floating ice; he had slept; he had eaten. already they had taken cormorants farther along the beach; he had smoothed their black feathers, flashing the iridescence, and thinking of how beautiful a feathered suk would look on each of his wives.
now he took @Matteo to the end of the snow-white beach, where it ended in cold water. "i will tell you what i said to raiyuk. go under. you will want to gasp, to take a large breath, but you must not. i will be here with you. stay down until you can open your eyes. but do not force yourself to stay down. your chest will tell you when you must rise."
a pause, a moment, and then the seal hunter had entered the sea and gone down beneath the surface.