The Neptune Project

by Polly Holyoke

  My eyes fly open at Dai’s cool statement. I clench my hand into a fist. I so want to hit him.

  :You think I don’t know that?: I manage to say instead. :I’m not a complete idiot.:

  Before I burst out crying, I turn away from Dai to face Robry. The problem is, of course, that Dai’s right, but I don’t want to accept that he’s right.

  :How’s it going over there, Robry?:

  Robry is watching me with worried eyes. I was speaking on a private send with Dai just now, but Robry is aware that something has upset me.

  :Other than the fact there’s a lump of rock pressing into my kidney, I’m fine,: he says after a moment.

  :Let’s take a look at those charts and see what we can find out about the waters around Santa Cruz,: I suggest.

  It takes some shifting around, and all the while I refuse to look at Dai, but at last I can reach into my seapack. Robry and I pore over the chart for the northern Channel Islands.

  :It looks like there should be a strong current heading west along the northern side of Santa Cruz,: Robry says after he reads some of the notations written by hand around the edges of the chart. Those notations, I realize with a start, are in my father’s handwriting.

  I still can’t believe Dad let me believe he was dead. I suddenly want to hit someone again, but I force myself to focus on the chart instead.

  :If we can get in close to the shore, and if that current’s still there,: I say to Robry, :we should definitely use it to shorten our travel time along the northern side of the island.:

  :I think it’s safe to go on now,: Kyel calls out to everyone. :The boat never slowed or changed course. I don’t think its sonar picked up any sign of us.:

  Just to make sure, I close my eyes and check in with Mariah. :Is the boat going away?:

  :yes.:

  :Is Tisi all right?:

  :he is still scared and stays close to me. tomorrow he will be brave again,: Mariah predicts with dolphin humor.

  :I am glad he’s all right. Thank you for helping us.:

  :the strong boy put himself between the shark and the young female and Tisi. we are all one pod now.:

  I open my eyes at her calm pronouncement. It’s hard to imagine that Dai, Kyel, or Ree could ever become my family here in the sea.

  While I’ve been talking with Mariah, Dai has unfolded himself from our hiding spot. Now he floats directly in front of it, refusing to move out of my way until I meet his gaze.

  His eyes are serious when I finally look at him. :Nere, just for the record, I don’t think you are an idiot, and Lena will never be my type.:

  With that, he turns away, and we go to join the others.

  AFTER EATING A QUICK MEAL, we head off again. Bria looks like she’s been crying, and Ree and Tobin stay close beside her. I contact Mariah.

  :The smallest female is still scared, just like Tisi. If a dolphin swam near her, she would feel safer.:

  :we will take turns swimming by her,: Mariah promises, and playful Pani appears a short while later. After Pani swims several tight circles around her, Bria starts to smile. Pani settles in to swim beside her, and the little girl looks much happier. Tobin sends me a relieved salute.

  I smile to myself. Then I realize Dai is swimming nearby, and he’s watching me. His expression is puzzled.

  :What?: I ask in exasperation.

  :You worry about Bria so much already, but you just met her yesterday.:

  :Yeah, so?:

  :So, how can you care so much about someone you just met?:

  :So, how can you be so irritating all the time?:

  :Being irritating is just one of my many gifts,: he says with a mental laugh. I’m relieved when he falls back and swims next to Thom instead.

  We draw even with the northeastern tip of Santa Cruz around three. During a brief rest stop I ask Robry to point out to Kyel that there should be a good current we can ride if we move in closer to the shore. Dai watches me with a knowing smile as Robry approaches Kyel with the chart. I think he guesses that I don’t want to keep pushing Kyel with my suggestions.

  :Nere and I found these notations on this chart,: Robry explains to Kyel. I wince when Robry mentions my name. :If we move in closer to the shore, we might be able to pick up a westward current that will help us.:

  Kyel’s cool gaze flickers to me. I think I see annoyance there, but all he says to Robry is, :That’s good. We’ll swim closer to shore, then. I’d like to reach that freighter by nightfall if we can.:

  We find the current just where my father’s notes said it would be. Even if we weren’t swimming, the water pulls us along at three or four miles per hour. Swimming with it, I figure we are probably traveling at six to eight miles per hour.

  The light is just starting to fade when the dolphins become agitated. I hear them whistling and sawing excitedly. I feel the hair rise on the back of my neck. They only act that way when they sense danger nearby.

  :Mariah, what is it?:

  :there are humans in the water ahead, and many sharks.:

  :Keep Tisi close to you. Can you send Densil to scout and ask the rest of the pod to swim with us?:

  :he goes. we come.:

  Dai moves up beside me. His face is strained.

  :There’s blood in the water up ahead—human blood.:

  I look at him in surprise. How does he know there’s blood? Ton couldn’t have told him, because dolphins can’t smell. :Densil is on his way to see what’s happening.:

  :You’d better warn Kyel,: Dai tells me.

  :Why don’t you?:

  :Because he likes and trusts me even less than he likes you,: Dai says tersely.

  When the dolphins suddenly surround us, our companions look worried.

  I suck in a deep breath. :Kyel, I think we may be about to run into trouble. The dolphins are upset. They say there are sharks and people ahead of us.:

  :Everyone hold up.: Kyel snaps the command. We all stop swimming. The relentless current, though, carries us onward.

  Swiftly, I explain to the others what Mariah has told me.

  :They could be other Neptune Project kids in trouble,: Tobin says. :We’re not that far from the rendezvous point now.:

  :Densil says there are three young humans ahead of us.: I relay the information as he reports it to me. :Two are females and one is male. One girl is badly hurt and bleeding. The other two are fighting off several sharks.:

  Kyel hesitates. :Will your dolphins fight the sharks if we try to help these people?: he asks me.

  I bite my lip, afraid that what I say next could get my friends hurt or killed. :That’s exactly what they’ve been trained to do,: I admit.

  :All right, then. Everyone, make sure your spearguns are ready to fire and that you can get to more darts easily if you need them. Nere, ask your dolphins to tow us, but let’s swim in a tighter formation with Bria and Robry in the middle.:

  :If it comes to close-in fighting, sharks’ most sensitive areas are their eyes, gills, and snout,: I can’t help adding. :If you can hit one in any of those places with the butt of your dive knife or speargun, the shark might back off.:

  My advice earns me an irritated look from Kyel while the dolphins start towing us quickly along with the current.

  :Densil, we’re coming. You be careful,: I tell him. My stomach tightens. I couldn’t bear it if he got hurt.

  :hurry! there are many sharks.: Densil’s mental voice sounds strained.

  I concentrate hard, trying to make contact with the frightened kids ahead of us. Suddenly, I touch the panicked mind of a boy I’ve never sensed before.

  :Kalli, I’m out of spear darts!: I can hear him yell at his companion.

  :Hang on! Help’s coming,: I call out to him.

  :Hurry! We can’t last much longer.:

  :There they are,: Dai cries, and he and Ton forge ahead of the rest of us.

  :Dai, don’t go charging off on your own! It’s too dangerous,: Kyel calls after him angrily, but Dai’s already disappeared into the darkening oce
an.

  A minute later the dolphins bring us to the edge of a desperate fight. A dozen sharks, big and small, are circling around three figures in the water. A girl is wildly firing spear darts at the approaching animals while a boy slashes out with a dive knife at the ones that come in close. An injured girl, her eyes closed, floats between them. I wince when I see the spear dart protruding from her shoulder.

  Ton and Densil are already fighting the larger sharks. Our dolphins leave us and quickly join the fray, all except for Mariah, who hangs back with little Tisi at her side.

  Gripping my speargun tightly, I sprint after the dolphins. I realize Dai has already shot three of the biggest sharks. Two makos he wounded are thrashing about, and a long blue is sinking toward the ocean floor. A few smaller sharks follow it downward and start tearing it to pieces. Other sharks keep trying to get at the injured girl.

  Robry and I are faster than the rest. I’m first to reach the boy. I shoot an eight-foot great white in the mouth, but it keeps coming, close enough for me to look into its cold, dark eyes. I hit it hard on the snout with the butt of my speargun at the same time that Densil rams it from the side. The shark swims off, my spear dart sticking out of its mouth. I reload, and Robry shoots a small mako before it can bite the injured girl. Kona rams it in the belly, and the mako struggles away. The other girl is still firing wildly. I knock her speargun upward before she can shoot at Kona.

  :THE DOLPHINS ARE ON OUR SIDE!: I yell at her. :If you can’t tell the difference between a shark and a dolphin, stop shooting!: Then I hit a persistent little whitetip on the snout with my gun. I glance at the others.

  I’m shocked when Dai plunges his knife into one of the big injured makos. Sharkskin is incredibly tough. Dai must have a sharp knife and be phenomenally strong. He spins away, as graceful as an old-time ballet dancer, and guts the other one, easily staying clear of its thrashing tail and wicked teeth.

  Abruptly I realize we have killed or chased off all the sharks, except for the ones that are busily tearing to pieces the dead and wounded sharks beneath us. It’s hard not to stare down at the frenzy. Even Kyel looks stunned and fascinated by it.

  Dai swims up to us, his hands covered in shark gore. He’s breathing hard, and his gaze is wild. :More sharks will be here any moment. You’ve got to stop her from leaking blood:—he jerks his head toward the injured girl—:or leave her before you all get torn to shreds.:

  :We can’t just leave her here,: the strange boy says angrily. I realize that he looks Asian and is maybe a year or two older than me.

  :I can stay with her and bandage her wounds, but I’ll need some time,: Tobin says with a calm that helps to steady all of us.

  :The dolphins can’t fight off sharks for us all night long,: I protest.

  :I’ve sent Ton to find shelter,: Dai says quickly. :If you can get inside a protected place, you can hold off the sharks while Tobin tries to save her. When Ton gets back, he and I can lead the others to the freighter. It’s just five miles from here.:

  Dai’s so comfortable in the ocean, I’m surprised he isn’t volunteering to stay with the injured girl through the night. It’s going to be dangerous for whoever ends up helping her.

  Kyel glances toward the surface and then seems to make up his mind. :We’re losing the light quickly now. We’ll follow Dai’s plan. Who’s willing to stay and help Tobin?:

  :I’ll stay with Sara,: the strange boy volunteers at once.

  The other girl looks like she’s about to fall apart. :I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry, Penn, but I just can’t. I want to go with the others.:

  :It’s all right, Kalli,: he says.

  There’s a long, awkward moment while Kyel waits for someone else to volunteer.

  I see Robry straighten up beside me. I don’t need to read his mind to know what he’s about to do. Before he can volunteer, I say quickly, :I’ll stay.:

  :I’ll stay, too,: Thom offers immediately after, his face pale but determined.

  :That’s decided, then.: Kyel nods.

  Ton comes rushing back and bobs his head at Dai. We follow the big dolphin closer to shore, Thom and Penn towing the unconscious girl between them. Ton leads us down to some sort of vessel lying on the ocean floor. As we draw closer, despite the sea growth covering it, I can tell it’s a large yacht.

  :Don’t stay in any rooms with windows,: Dai warns us. :A big shark can break the old glass easily.:

  :If we can close off a big cabin or stateroom, this should work well,: Tobin says.

  :You be careful tonight, Nere,: Robry tells me in a private send, his expression worried.

  :I will be,: I promise him. :You be careful, too. I know Nika is going to keep a close eye on you for me.: I see Tobin go hug Bria, who looks very unhappy that her big brother is staying behind.

  :Good luck,: Kyel says briskly. :We’ll come and check on you first thing in the morning.: He turns his back on us and heads for the freighter.

  Robry follows the rest. I watch him go, suddenly feeling very lonely. Then I spot two long, narrow blue sharks swimming their sinuous way toward us across the bottom. I swallow hard and turn toward the sunken ship.

  AS THE OTHERS LEAVE, I contact Mariah and tell her what we’ve decided to do. She sends a third of the pod to protect the group traveling to the freighter. I’m not too worried about them now, having seen Dai in action against the sharks. He and Ton are like a small army in themselves.

  I’m much more worried about us. I ask the rest of the pod to keep sharks away until we can get settled safely inside the old yacht.

  The others look at me expectantly. I’m annoyed that they seem to want me to decide what we do next. :All right, two of us should probably check out the yacht, and two should keep watch and take care of Sara.:

  Tobin looks me straight in the eye. :I need to talk to Penn about how she was hurt and how long ago.:

  That makes sense, and I don’t think Tobin is trying to dodge the dangerous job of checking out the wreck. He was the first from our group to volunteer to stay with Sara.

  :Okay, Thom, I guess that means you’re with me,: I say as I start looking for a way into the yacht.

  :And Nere, the faster I can bandage her shoulder, the better,: Tobin calls after me. :She’s lost a lot of blood.:

  :I know, but we need to make sure there’s nothing living inside this thing that could hurt her worse.:

  Thom and I split up to find an opening into the yacht. Looking at the amount of algae, seaweed, and barnacles growing on her hull, I’d guess this yacht sank just twenty or thirty years ago. If Ton hadn’t found her for us, though, we probably would have swum right over her and never guessed she was here. As I study the yacht, I realize I’m looking at her top deck. She must have sunk upright and settled on the bottom, leaning against some rocks.

  :Nere, I think we can get inside through this hatchway,: Thom calls to me.

  I swim over to the open hatch he’s found forward on the yacht. I hesitate while I stare down into the black interior. Robry and I have explored dozens of wrecks together, but they always give me claustrophobia. And I meant what I said to Tobin. You never know what you are going to find living inside a wreck.

  :I can go first,: Thom offers, but I can tell from the way he’s gripping his speargun that he’s nervous.

  :Have you ever been inside a wreck before?:

  He shakes his head.

  :I’ll go first, then. Make sure that you have your speargun ready, and that you can get to your dive knife in a hurry. Even some smaller fish can get territorial.:

  My heart beats faster as I force myself to swim down through the narrow hatch, and then I’m in a long, dark passageway. I head slowly toward the stern until I reach a large, open room. Suddenly I’m enveloped in a blinding silver cloud of sardines!

  Most of the small fish dart toward the stern and disappear, but a stream of fish slips past me toward Thom. I hear him swear behind me in surprise, and then the school is gone.

  Looking around the big room
, I realize we must have reached the main dining salon. There is a big table along one side and the moldering remains of sofas and chairs.

  :I can’t believe the money they must have had, to own such a big boat,: Thom comments as he swims up beside me.

  :Maybe they were corrupt government officials,: I say, studying the layout of the salon. :We could put Sara on that table and let Tobin work on her here, but this salon has too many windows.: I turn around swiftly. I know she may be running out of time. I swim toward the stern and find a large open hatch that leads to the top deck.

  :This must be the way that school of sardines just escaped. This opening also means sharks can reach us, unless we barricade ourselves inside a cabin somehow.:

  :Let’s try the cabins toward the front,: Thom suggests.

  :I’ll check the upper ones if you’ll do the lower ones.:

  :All right,: Thom says simply.

  I’m starting to like Thom very much, I decide as I swim my way toward the bow. I can tell he’s scared, but he’s still doing what needs to be done. Carefully, I check out each of the dark cabins. A big crab startles me when it scuttles across the floor and slides from sight under a sagging bunk.

  :The cabins on this upper deck all have big windows,: I call out to Thom.

  :Crikey!: I hear his mental exclamation, and then I hear a muffled thump.

  :Thom, are you all right?:

  My pulse racing, I twist around and kick my way as fast as I can down to the lower passageway. There’s a commotion in a cabin on the left. Through a cloud of sediment I see Thom is literally wrestling with a big gray grouper. The wide, ugly fish already has one of Thom’s spear darts sticking out of its mouth. Even as I watch, Thom gets his dive knife out and stabs the big fish in the belly. The grouper twitches several times as it sinks to the floor of the cabin.

  :That thing almost scared me out of my skin,: Thom admits shakily as he pulls his knife free. :It charged the second I looked in the doorway.:

  :I told you some fish get territorial. Usually groupers aren’t aggressive, but he must have thought this cabin was his.:

  :That’s a grouper? That is one ugly dude. He’s even uglier than me,: Thom tries to joke.