Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 177. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page, and my finger fell closest to the word “business.” This is our prompt.

Business by John W. Howell © 2026

“None of your business.”

“But that is a beautiful catch.”

“Yeah, I know, and where I found it is my business, not yours.”

“Okay. Be that way then.”

“It’s just that if I tell you, word will get out and before I know it all of them will be gone.”

” That is absolutely silly. Why would I share something that you and I need kept secret?”

“It’s the nature of things to want to impress others with what we know.”

“But in this case, we need those food sources to be kept on the down low.”

“I still think I should keep it to myself.”

“I’m really hungry and can’t locate a decent meal.”

“I suppose if you are hungry, that is a different situation.”

“And the fact that I’m your mate should mean something too.”

“Got me there. Okay, the abalone bed is where that pile of rocks lies underwater after the landslide.”

“I know that spot.”

“Of course you do. We met there.”

“We used to slide down that bank.”

“That’s the one.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t trust me.”

“Well, you can now go and get yourself lunch.”

“For an otter, you are certainly a strange one.”

“I guess it’s because I learned a long time ago that trust is fine. Control is better.”

“You are sleeping in the brown kelp tonight.”