Bright Lights and Loud Noises
The bright lights and loud noises emitted from the casino boat prove the rowdy and chaotic atmosphere that is gambling. As Noah attempts to uncover secrets held by Dusty and the problems that he is causing, he is sometimes bombarded with such stimuli as a reminder that Dusty and his casino business is much more powerful than a single boy.
Food Dye
Food dye is one of the most important elements of the novel, as it helps Noah and the Coast Guard discover that Dusty was indeed dumping sewage into the marina. The imagery of the food dye and the foul smell of the sewage it mixed with were a clue of the atrocities of pollution that Dusty and his crew were committing.
Lice Peeking
Author Carl Hiaasen uses specific diction to portray the visual details that are connected to the character Lice Peeking. Not only does the name Lice have gross connotations, but the description of this man that goes missing for most of the novel gives most of what we know about his character. His persona is described as "damp", his flesh as "raw" and "peeling". This gives an image of an old man that doesn't want to deal with the chaos of the world.
Dusty Muleman
Like Lice, Dusty's name and his description throughout the book paint a sinister image of his personality and looks in the reader's mind. The name Dusty gives the impression of old things, and may conjure up images of an antiquated object. Dusty is described as heavy-set and cigar-smoking, allowing the reader to picture him as a sort of stereotypical mafia leader. While he is not, he does do sinister things and descriptions of him and his comrades play into the evil character that is Dusty Muleman.
