‘Yes, sir.’ Vann nodded curtly. ‘Zap Zap was trying to contact me, but he wasn’t able to find me.’
‘I hear you’ve been fishing. I would think being so near the ocean you’d be quite easy for them to find.’
‘I don’t think Zap Zap was looking in the boats, sir.’
‘Very well. And why did the fish people want to see you?’
‘They’re worried sir, they think Molk’s Master is coming to Coastside.’ Vann lied.
The Commander sat up straighter at that. ‘You mean something stronger than Molk?’
‘Very likely, sir.’
‘Surely the ehlkrid in the oceans would finish it.’
‘Perhaps. But the ehlkrid are not so common in the oceans as on land. That’s why we haven’t had many problems with them in the submarines yet. But even if Molk’s master doesn’t get here, Zap Zap wanted to warn us.’
‘Well, we’ll start preparing.’
‘Sir, I think… perhaps I could join the submariners again.’
‘You know I just put you on leave.’ The Commander said, his eyes brightening.
‘Yes, sir, I know.’
‘Well. I think we’d be very glad to have you back, submariner.’
Vann managed a smile. ‘Thank you, sir.’
‘Let’s start slowly, hmm? I don’t think we’ll be putting you on a sub right away.’
‘No, sir.’
‘That’ll be all, Vann. Go down to the blocks, your old bed has been waiting for you.’
Vann didn’t do quite that. He waited a bit for word to spread he was rejoining the submariners. And then he started collecting supplies. Food and water he could get from anywhere, but if he was going to be travelling outside of Coastside, he wanted some weaponry.
The next morning Vann went out on his fishing boat. He made some noise about wanting one last fish before this part of his life was over.
And he sailed out into the open. He had his supplies. He had a lightning rod and a SIGPEW. He’d also managed to get some extra charges and a recharger. He did not have to wait long after he was out of the bay for Zap Zap to show up.
‘Vann here!’ Zap Zap cried in pleasure.
‘I’m here. Let’s go Zap Zap. Lead the way.’
‘Yes! Vann follow!’
Zap Zap splashed off into the lead. Vann turned the boat. A moment later Zap Zap splashed back.
‘What taking Vann so long?’
‘Sorry Zap Zap, the wind isn’t so good.’
‘Ok. Zap Zap help. Give Zap Zap rope.’
‘What?’
‘Zap Zap pull Vann.’
‘You can’t pull my boat!’
‘Not alone!’
And then a half dozen other fish people bobbed to the surface.
Vann looked at them for a moment. Then he gathered some rope, tied it to his boat and threw it into the water.
In seconds he was speeding along.
Vann didn’t know how long they could keep it up, but the sooner they got away from Coastside the better.
Chapter 12
The fish people began angling back into shore, but away from Coastside. By the time they were near the shore Coastside was no longer in sight. They had not pulled him the entire way, but their stamina amazed Vann.
Once they were closer to shore Vann spotted a large group of fish people. Zap Zap swam over to them. When he returned Riley was with them.
‘Strong Swimmer, Riley, not strong swimmer anymore.’ Zap Zap said. ‘Keep him, her, close to shore.’
As Vann looked at the grey, slimy fish man that claimed to be Riley he felt a dangerous spark of hope. It couldn’t possibly be true. But if it was? If Riley was really alive?
Those thoughts were too hard to deal with, so he shut them away.
‘We go now, Zap Zap help Riley. Not all come with us. Too many attract danger. But if too few can’t defend if danger comes.’
They headed off again. About five other fish people accompanied them. It was difficult for Vann to count how many there were. They all looked very similar to him and kept darting away beneath the waves.
But soon they had to stop. Even with Zap Zap’s help, Riley really wasn’t a good swimmer. Occasionally she would show a burst of inspired, graceful swimming. Then she would be splashing about, nearly drowning. And she didn’t like to put her head under the water.
‘Try teach.’ Zap Zap sighed. ‘But she not good. Something wrong.’
‘Well, if it really isn’t her body.’
Zap Zap nodded dolefully. ‘Yes. Makes sense.’
‘Can she come in the boat?’ Vann suggested.
‘Mm…’ he splashed thoughtfully. ‘Yes, but have to keep her wet.’
Vann helped Riley, who was extremely heavy, up into the boat. Zap Zap jumped up too. He could jump surprisingly high out of the water.
‘What are you doing up here?’ Vann asked with a smile. ‘Getting tired?’
Zap Zap grinned, showing his pointy teeth. ‘Zap Zap help keep wet. Maybe watch. See how Vann swims.’
And so they kept going. Zap Zap leant over the side of the boat, splashing himself and Riley all the while. Every now and then he would launch himself from the boat and back into the water, leaving the boat rocking dangerously. He seemed to think that was funny. Then he would jump back in.
Eventually Vann handed him a bucket. ‘Zap Zap, I can’t sail and pail at the same time.’
‘Pail?’
‘The boat will sink if you get any more water in here.’ His supplies were in a relatively waterproof bag, so he wasn’t too concerned about them.
‘Really?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, Zap Zap help.’
And so he used the bucket to pour water that was already in the boat over Riley. Sometimes he’d chuck it out and get fresh seawater.
Night came. Zap Zap told Vann to rest. The fish people would look after them.
Vann thought there must be more not too far away, surely the fish people slept too?
And little by little, they approached Harsh Wave.
‘Zap Zap,’ Vann began on their third day out.’
‘Vann?’
‘What’s your fishperson name?’ he asked.
‘Oh. I was Smalltail of Broken Wave, then they made a new position, and I became Strange Sounds of Broken Wave.’
‘Position?’
Zap Zap nodded. ‘Yes. I was the Smalltail for Broken Wave. Riley is the Strong Swimmer for Harsh Wave. Though if she keeps swimming like this, she will have to change position.’
‘She hasn’t lost it yet?’
‘No. Don’t lose position if sick or something wrong.’
‘Wait, I want to know your name not your position.’
‘Same. Clans have positions, each clan has a Strong Swimmer and a Smalltail and a Fierce Fighter and Wise Speaker and Shinytail… many, many positions. Change over time. Clans made new position for Zap Zap, because he talk to humans. Strange Sounds.’
‘So you don’t have names?’ It was as if he was known only as Second in Command of the Bad Luck, and then was known only as Apprentice Fisher once he quit the submariners.
Zap Zap shook his head. ‘Not like Vann.’
‘Well, I think I’ll just call you Zap Zap then.’
Zap Zap splashed happily.
Vann glanced over his shoulder at Riley. ‘How are you going, Riley?’ He asked. She had spoken very little these last few days, and moved less. Zap Zap had forced her into the water a few times. She didn’t like it.
She didn’t respond.
Zap Zap nudged her. ‘How Riley? Vann want to know.’
Nothing.
Concerned, Vann moved away from what he was supposed to be doing.
‘Riley?’ He grabbed her slimy shoulders.
She didn’t even look at him.
He shook her, ‘Riley, say something, flap your tail!’
Nothing. Vann slapped her hard. When she still didn’t even blink Vann looked to Zap Zap. ‘What’s wrong?!’
> ‘She wet. Not that.’ Zap Zap replied.
Suddenly he grabbed her and launched himself over the side of the boat. Vann was nearly thrown overboard.
When he regained his balance he rushed to the side of his small vessel. The other fish people were near the surface, but there was no sign of Zap Zap or Riley.
He waited. Every second was agony.
Then they burst from the water.
His heart nearly burst in relief. She was thrashing and making angry noises. Zap Zap had a tight hold on her. How he managed to avoid getting his head knocked off, Vann didn’t know.
Eventually, she calmed down.
Zap Zap brought her over to the side of the boat. He didn’t look happy.
‘Need to focus, no going away.’
‘Riley, what happened?’ Vann demanded.
‘N-not… my… body…’ she rasped.
‘Make swim now,’ Zap Zap said, ‘make stay.’
Riley didn’t reply, but she was still moving. So that was enough.
For the next hour Zap Zap forced her to swim. Then he allowed her back into the boat for less than half that time. He talked to her the entire time. He made her respond, when she didn’t he poked and nudged and hit her. Then he took her back in the water.
They did that the entire day.
When night came Vann took over. He told Zap Zap to rest. Fish people towed the boat, and Vann talked to Riley.
Talking wasn’t always enough. He had to be increasingly violent to her.
Riley complained, saying she wanted to sleep.
Vann didn’t think they could risk that.
The next day was better. They didn’t have to hit her as often or as hard. By the end of the day, talking was enough.
Night came again. Vann didn’t really sleep, he needed to keep Riley awake.
They were looking up at the moon. Well, Vann was looking up at the moon.
They were having a rather pointless, and one sided, conversation about faces in the moon.
‘What about a submarine, do you think it looks like a submarine?’
Riley grunted in response and flapped her tail to appease him. This was not the kind of conversation she liked.
‘I think it looks like a submarine. What do you think it looks like?’
‘A… moon….’
‘Besides that.’
Vann fervently hoped they arrived soon. He didn’t know how long he and Riley could keep this up. At least he could nap sometimes when Zap Zap took over, Riley though… she had to be awake all the time.
The lap of the water was peaceful. Maybe he couldn’t be a submariner anymore, but that didn’t change his love of the ocean.
‘Riley?’
‘A…moon!’
‘I’m going to keep asking til you give me a different answer.’
The boat wobbled as she thrashed her tail vigorously.
‘Alright, what do you want to talk about?’
The boat wobbled again.
‘Riley! You can’t complain about the topic of conversation and not give me a new one.’
‘Wasn’t… me…’
Vann was on his feet in seconds. He looked around. Small waves, the moonlight gilding them in silver. The flash of fish people tails.
‘Zap Zap?’ he called.
Vann carefully bent down. His lightning rod was on his belt. He fished his SIGPEW from its protective wrappings.
A fish person suddenly swam over to them. Vann realised the boat was moving solely on wind power now, the fish people were no longer pulling them.
The fish person had what looked like a spear made from coral in its hand. It made a few jabbing movements. Then it disappeared.
In alarm, Vann whispered to Riley, ‘I think we have a problem.’
The look she gave him was priceless.
‘I see you’re getting the hang of that face.’
The look did not get any friendlier.
Vann stood. His feet were apart, steady. He wasn’t going to be thrown overboard.
The ocean was silent, except for the sounds of the waves. Seconds ticked by.
‘Riley, talk to me.’ he whispered.
‘Why…?’ she rasped quietly.
‘So I know you’re still there.’
‘About… what?’
‘Anything.’
She was silent for a moment. He glanced over at her.
‘Thick leaves… three tip grass… river mud…’
‘What’s that?’ he asked.
‘My… recipe… for mud… roll…’
He shot her a scandalized look.
‘It’s… good… for you…’
‘How do you know?’ he hissed.
‘The… big… animals… eat … three tip… grass… they’re big…’
‘Is that all?’
‘How… else… do… you know?’
Vann didn’t reply for a moment. ‘Do you have any other recipes?’ he whispered into the silence.
‘I haven’t… tried… the… others.’
At his nudging Riley whispered the ones she wanted to try out into the night.
His heart was pumping fast. The fish people still hadn’t returned.
‘…mud…’
‘Do they all contain mud?’
‘No… some… had dirt.’
‘I think that’s the same.’
‘Everything grows… from… dirt…’
The ocean exploded. The boat rocked. Vann just managed to hang on. He was soaked. He caught sight of Riley, still in the bottom of the boat.
At least she’s wet now, he thought. And then that thought died.
Before him rose a great being. It was like a grey, shiny snake with rubbery arms. It crashed down, grabbed the bottom of the boat.
Riley! But she didn’t move!
He fired the SIGPEW at it. Light exploded, connected. He didn’t let go. The light pulsed, connecting him and the creature.
He couldn’t see Riley over the glow. All he knew was the creature.
A high pitched squeal erupted from it. The boat was tipped, the bow rising from the water.
And the light stayed
And then he saw something, in the shadow behind the creature. A fish person. A spear.
More of them! They jabbed and fought. The light pulsed.
‘Riley!’ Vann cried above the squeal, ‘are you there?!’
If there was a response he didn’t hear.
And then… then it was falling. Vann dropped the SIGPEW. He lunged forward. The creature was coming down.
Fall backwards! He prayed.
Riley was in his arms, slippery and slimy but there!
And there was a huge splash. The boat rocked. An alarming amount of water came in. He saw then that he was looking out at ocean. Part of the back was missing.
‘Riley?’ he said. Was part of her missing too?
‘I… like… dirt…’
Vann was speechless for a good few seconds.
‘What?’ he finally asked weakly.
‘It’s… nicer… than.. cave mould.’
‘Riley, darling, getting hit by a lightning rod is nicer than cave mould.’
Vann was hugely relieved when Zap Zap returned near dawn to tell him what had happened.
‘Ehlkrid.’ Zap Zap said. ‘Warriors fought. It strong. Tried to lead away.’
Vann wasn’t surprised to learn it hadn’t been a gemeng. The SIGPEW was fully drained.
‘Is everyone alright?’ Vann asked.
Zap Zap shook head. ‘No. But fish people used to fighting things stronger. Together, clan is strong. Vann helped. Zap Zap!’ and he grinned.
‘Yeah…’
‘Vann’s boat broken?’
‘Yeah. The ehlkrid grabbed it. We’re sinking.’
‘Vann seems a bit closer than usual.’
‘You think so?’
‘Vann not worry. Fish people help. Easier to splash now.’
‘I don’t think you need to splash now.’
But with the fish people dragging the boat, they managed to stay afloat. Vann moved his things to the driest section of the boat. Riley had to concentrate now to stay in the boat and not fall out. And he and Zap Zap kept talking to her.
And soon, Vann recognized mountains far away, on the land. And the coastline changed from beach to cliffs.
And they were at Harsh Wave.
Chapter 13
When Adila showed up at their beach Aerlid was surprised and horrified.
‘Adila!’ he greeted her, trying to keep his alarm from his voice. ‘What brings you here?’
‘I could ask you the same thing.’ she said as she looked around the beach. ‘Maelid felt something terrible happen to your mountain. He’s quite upset. He wanted to come examine it himself, but Rose said no. So I am here.’
‘That was nearly two months ago!’
‘I know… it took a while for Maelid to tell us.’
Aerlid sighed. ‘The mountain caved in, Adila. I don’t know what happened, but most are dead. You mustn’t tell him.’
‘I will not. But how? And the Queen’s daughter, she must be alright!’
‘I… I’m not sure.’ Aerlid rubbed his eyes. ‘I… maybe I need your help.’
‘What is it?’
‘Adila, I think I need to make her a new body.’
‘What? Is she so badly injured?’
‘My skills are not what they used to be. I’ve tried healing her, I’ve tried making a new body. But there were so many others injured. She is alive, but perhaps I focussed on others when I shouldn’t have.’
‘No, do not say that. Certainly, I can try and make a new body.’ she frowned. ‘What you ask is very difficult. Are you sure what I make could be any better than what she has?’
Aerlid nodded.
‘Perhaps I can help you heal her.’
Aerlid shook his head. ‘She’s in a very delicate state, she wishes no one to see her. Even my presence upsets her.’
Adila sighed. ‘Very well. I will try for you, Aerlid.’
‘Thank you.’
Aerlid returned to the cave.
Seta’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘Send her away.’ she hissed.
‘But she can help, Seta, please, I think I need help.’
Seta gazed at him darkly. ‘Very well.’ her eyes flicked to the gemengs. ‘Will she talk to them?’
‘Not unless they approach her.’
‘Will they?’
The Broken Kingdom Page 5