He explained every turtle in a whisper and went silent for one

Someone said the turtles were coming to Ostional beach, so I walked down in the middle of the night. A man beside me on the sand spoke in a very low voice the whole time, explaining what each turtle was doing, and when one reached the dry sand he went completely quiet. Forty of us watched in the dark with no lights. I counted nine turtles. I have never been so aware of my own breathing. I did not know the man's name. I did not need it. I have kept my voice low since.