Most of the turtles escape through excluding devices. Before dawn the town is peaceful once again. The mullet have been driven back the St. Mark's, while the tankers have dispersed to various lakes and ponds to return their slippery contents. The turtles circle the capitol one last time before angling south, except for a few who are confused by the bright lights and make for Atlanta. The television vans pack up and leave.
Citizens return to their routine.
Sales of cooking oil and bread crumbs rise for a while then taper off as the last unfortunate stragglers are served up with cole slaw and cheese grits. And as they cruise the muggy air above the spring boils far upriver the mullet frown their eternal frowns and nibble at honeysuckle blossoms as they ponder their next move.