“Hey there Mandy, how’s tricks?”
“Ashfield. What brings you here? Where do you get off, just showing up—out of the blue? You’ve got a lot to answer for.”
“Do I? Maybe so. But, how about we deal with first things first, Director? I believe there’s someone waiting for a response on the other end of your line—am I correct?” As Trip spoke Adili snatched the mobile out of Amanda’s hand, tossing it over to Trip. “Thanks so much. By the way, you don’t want to make things difficult for my big friend, trust me.” Trip placed the mobile to his ear and listened, shaking his head with a twisted half-smile. After a moment, he spoke into the receiver, “Lieutenant Martinez, this is Ashfield, Trip: HSA authorization, Yankee-Charlie-three-one-alpha. I am ordering you to abort this mission, over. Roger… Transmit that message in its entirety to my mobile. Out.”
“You are going to regret this, Ashfield,” Amanda whispered through gritted teeth. “Believe me, when I’m finished, this entire mess will all land in your lap. I swear to god.”
“Mandy, Mandy… If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times… practicality. You have got to start thinking more like a pragmatist. Now, what good would it have done me to leave a callous pack-climber such as yourself alone at the company store without employing a few security measures, hmmm?”
“Stop bluffing, Ashfield. You’ve got nothing.”
Trip leveraged himself off the desk with difficulty, and Amanda noticed that he walked with a limp. Trip looked through the office doorway and then came up behind her, pinning Amanda between himself and Adili. He brushed a wisp of Amanda’s disheveled hair behind her ear and leaned in closer to whisper, “Your assistant seems to be a little worse for the wear. Did you break up with your only friend, Mandy?”
Amanda shifted sideways, glaring at her nemesis while he played with her hair. Summoning her most confident tone, she said, “There is nothing left that can tie me to Revelations. Let Nelson Banks take the hit for this—release me and I’ll make it worth your while, Trip. I promise.”
Trip let the lock of hair run through his fingers before he turned and limped back to the desk. He looked over his shoulder, saying, “Well? Did it all transmit?”
“Oui, entièrement.” A female’s voice startled Amanda, she jerked her head in its direction and saw a young woman with jet black hair leaning against the wall. Garance held a tablet and was typing messages onto the screen. She met Amanda’s stare and then looked away indifferently, saying, “Christoph can decipher these files easily—he needs only a password.”
Trip crossed his arms and smiled at Amanda, “I see you made sure to remove the processor from your robot’s mainframe circuitry before you dismantled her in such an ungainly manner. That was good thinking. But—and here’s where that whole pragmatism thing comes in, Mandy… Did you ever think to check for external sensors? I mean, it only makes sense, right? If you want to eliminate loose ends and ensure no one can trace something this enormous—and this situation is rather enormous, isn’t it? Well, if it was me, I would’ve made sure to check for any external bugs on my automated personnel before smashing them completely to smithereens.” With that, he tossed the electronic sensor into the air one more time and pocketed it. Turning to Garance, he said, “Tell your hacker to try the password ‘Flora’ and if that works, then have him send the entire cache to the Department of Justice—oh, and what the hell, have him copy that goodie-two-shoes, Raj Kaleka, while he’s at it.”
Garance typed the five letters into her tablet. “Voilà! We’re in.”
Trip watched with amusement as Amanda’s attaché dropped to the floor. Adili retrieved it and placed his hand firmly on her shoulder, pushing her forward. Trip paused as Amanda was escorted past him. Bowing, he quipped, “Come, your helicopter awaits. What say we make a quick stop at the airport? There’s an agent standing by to escort you to DC. I hear that Secretary Gorton is anticipating your arrival. You two should have a great deal to talk about.” Trip pushed the elevator button labeled “rooftop,” and they filed inside. As the doors shut behind them, Trip closed his eyes for a moment, smiled and mumbled to himself, “Finally I can get away from these fucking trees.”
43 Returns
Old Massett. September 8. 2033
54°00'19.6"N 131°41'06.5"W
“Do you see them yet—any sign of their ship?” Ol’ Pa squirmed in his wheelchair and the wool blanket slipped off his lap. Marta shook the sand off it and placed it back on his lap, tucking the edges underneath his legs. “Quit your fussing and leave me be,” he mumbled, waving her away, his breath visible as he spoke.
“Chanáa, I’ve already told you, the code speakers said the ship left Bella Bella this morning. I’m sure it’s an extremely fast boat that this rich Kaleka fellow owns, but it can’t fly. They’ll be here soon—and you’ll know just as soon as the rest of us—we’ll be able to see it once it rounds Rose Point.”
“Sounds like you’re anxious to see your granddaughter again, Ol’ Pa.” Ooligan called out as she and Reba joined them. “Me, I’m dying to lay eyes on that huge mega-yacht this fellow owns. Adili said it’s bigger than four soccer fields put together! Can you believe that?” She shook her head, handing Marta her sweater.
Reba offered Ol’ Pa a mug of steaming hot gángk'an and gestured to a plume of spray in the bay. “I see Saka has beaten them home.”
Marta nodded as she zipped up the sweater. “That crazy whale showed up two evenings ago, splashing and jumping like when he was a just calf. I’d say it’s pretty clear that Saka’s glad to be home again.” They stood together on the beach, watching the orca’s antics. A crisp autumn chill languished in the air but the sky was a brilliant blue. A pair of ravens circled the tree tops on the edge of Naikoon forest. Hearing their calls, Marta smiled, “I wonder if Dot’s old raven will arrive before her as well?”
Reba looked up and slowly shook her head. “No Marta, Monk won’t be returning to Haida Gwaii.”
Ooligan glanced over at the chief, considered asking Skaukw what she meant but thought better of it and sipped her hot tea in silence. Just then, a white ship appeared in the distance.
With a prolonged blast of a horn, its prow made a gradual turn toward Massett Bay. “I’ll be gosh darned, that’s quite a sight,” Oolie whispered.
By suppertime, the entire town of Old Massett—and a good portion of Skidegate’s village—had gathered to welcome their heroes and gaze upon the famous billionaire. The great doors of the longhouse were open wide, despite the brisk autumn temperatures. A warm light spilled into the front lawn, illuminating the watchful totems. Music and laughter filled the air, competing with the sounds of excited children and barking dogs. Archer lay calmly at Táan’s feet, his thick winter coat had come in early, making his wolf ancestry even more prominent. He hadn’t moved far from his master since Táan had stepped off the Monita’s tender earlier that day. Now, he curled next to the chair, lids half-closed, a satisfied canine smile on his face. As Táan conversed, he occasionally reached down to rub the dense ruff of Archer’s neck.
“That’s quite a noble animal you have there, Táan,” Raj commented as he passed by with a large plate of butter clams. “Whatever you do, please don’t tell Lilu-ye that I’ve complimented another dog—she seems to think that Karl and I are soulmates now.”
Táan shook his head and laughed, “There’s no point in disrupting Lilu-ye’s version of reality, Mr. Kaleka!” He watched Raj move from table to table, speaking to the townspeople and friends from the Greenwood with ease. Try as he might, Táan couldn’t get used to seeing such a worldly figure in Old Massett. Kijii had phrased it well when she noted earlier that, “Our worlds have collided.” Táan scanned the room for any sign of Dot—it had been difficult to find time alone once they’d arrived on shore; what with his brothers pestering him for stories and his mother constantly offering him food. Ol’ Pa and Marta had practically absconded with Kij’ as soon as her feet touched sand, and after
that, everyone on the island wanted to hear her speak for the first time. At last Táan spotted her standing beside Pasha and Adili in the corner of the lodge. He pushed back the chair, causing Archer to yawn and shake his head. “It’s alright boy, I’ll be back. You stay put.” Táan meandered through the tables, pausing to shake hands and receive hugs from neighbors. It felt good to back home again. He passed by the great table near the center of the room. Reba and Kai were seated together, surrounded by Ol’ Pa, Marta and several of the elders. Kim sat with his family at the far end of the end of the table, and nearby, Douglas animatedly conversed with Ooligan and Garance.
“Hey, cuz—heads up!”
Táan spun around in time to deflect a wadded-up jersey thrown from Kai’s direction. “What’s this?” Táan shouted.
“Just read it,” Kai called back, “I picked it up for you before we left.”
Táan unrolled the wrinkled shirt and, holding it in front of him, read the text aloud, “New Seattle—City of Subdued Excitement.”
“That’s choice, ay?” Kai laughed.
“Oh yeah, definitely subdued.”
“You heading over to see Dot? Grab me a beer outta the chilly bin then, chur.” Kai threw his arm back around Reba’s shoulders, rejoining the conversation.
As Táan approached, Adili bowed his head and Pasha extended his hand saying, “I’m glad to have you back with us. You’ll make a great fetcher, Táan. I would be honored to have you as partner.”
Adili laughed, “I think Pasha is tired of paddling with Ooligan.”
“Da, there is that.”
Táan poured a beer for Kai and one for himself then moved next to Dot. “Does it feel good to be home?” he asked.
Dot smiled and nodded out of habit, then as an afterthought used her voice, “Yes, it does. I never realized how much I belonged here until I went away.”
“It still doesn’t come natural—you talking, huh?”
“Not yet. Plus, I kind of like the peacefulness in my head that comes with not speaking. I’ll get used to it though, I’m sure.”
Táan smiled and nudged her shoulder, “I don’t mind it. I know what you’re thinking most of the time anyways.”
Dot looked at him sideways and smiled, “Yeah. You do.”
A tap on the window startled them. Dot saw Lilu-ye in the side yard, jumping up and down, hands clasped underneath her chin. Opening the window, Dot asked, “What’s got you so excited?”
The girl replied, “You’ve got to come see this—In my whole life, I’ve never seen so many—come see!” With that, Lilu-ye tore off down the road, waving and yelling, “Hurry!”
Dot called after her, “Where are you going? …You’ve never seen what?”
“Come on!” Lilu-ye’s voice grew fainter.
Táan looked at Dot and said, “Well, what have we got to lose?” He set the mugs of ale on the table and walked with Dot toward the door. Pasha and Adili followed them through the crowded room.
Reba noticed their rush and touched Táan’s elbow as he hurried past. “Where are you off to now?”
Táan held up both hands and replied, “No idea— Lilu-ye’s all excited about something.”
Kai looked at his wife and shrugged, “I’m game, how about it?” He pushed his chair away from the table and slipped on a jacket. The pair excused themselves, and joined their companions outside the lodge.
The northern stars sparkled against the backdrop of a velvet night sky. Dot and Táan wandered up the street, looking for where Lilu-ye had gone. Soon enough, they heard Karl’s unmistakable barking from the beach. Archer appeared in the doorway and, upon hearing Karl in the distance, raced down the path to join him. “Well, we’re all out here now. Let’s go see what Lilu-ye’s discovered,” Reba said.
They reached the shore and spotted the little girl’s silhouette next to the rocky point. Karl and Archer paced back and forth several paces beyond; their tails erect, noses to the water. Kai called to Lilu-ye, “Right, you got the lot of us down here, ay. What’s got you throwin’ a wobbly, cuz?”
Lilu ye looked over her shoulder and whispered, “Shhh! Take a look—way out there!”
Dot squinted into the darkness and discerned the shimmering dorsal fins of orca—maybe thirty or more. The sounds of spray through multiple blowholes was heard over the swashing of the tide. “Anana—ka pai! How many are out there?” Kai asked.
“Too many to count, I’d think,” Táan answered. “But, where’d they come from? We haven’t seen sgáan since the chíin left—almost…”
“Ten years ago,” Dot murmured.
“Right.”
“Look Dot—there’s your whale!” Lilu-ye exclaimed. They followed the little girl’s gesture and observed Saka spy hopping. “What do you think he’s up to?” she asked.
Dot silently watched Saka appear and slap his flukes against the waves. She responded as if answering herself, “He’s communicating. He understands them. Maybe they’re his family, back at last.” Wordlessly, Dot walked over to the tlúus that were lined up at the edge of the woods and started to drag one toward the water. The tlúu was heavy—rainwater had gathered in the bottom of its hull. Dot leveraged the boat to empty its contents and was startled when it rotated so easily. She looked up to see Reba holding the other end of the kayak at shoulder height.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Reba asked.Dot poured out the remaining water and they hauled the boat to the shoreline. The empty tlúu bounced up and down on top of the surf. Reba straightened and put her hands on her hips. “Shall I come with you?”
“Yes, I think so,” Dot replied, handing the chief a paddle. The two women climbed inside and Dot pushed its keel off the sandy bottom. Reba took several long strokes and they were away. The rest of the group were unaware of their departure, still riveted by the orca pod.
Táan turned to make a comment and realized that Dot had disappeared. Scanning the beach, he caught sight of the kayak heading toward the pod. He tugged on Kai’s sleeve, nodding in the direction of their tlúu. With a wink, Kai replied “Right. I’m in, let’s go.” The pair ran toward the other boats.
Just then, Ooligan appeared with Kim and Jun trailing behind her. She asked the remaining spectators, “What’s so all-fired awesome that you lot are willing to freeze to death out here?’
“I found a bunch of sgáan in the bay—we think they might be Saka’s pod!” Lilu-ye answered. “The others went out for a closer look.”
“Whoa, check it out! There’s so many,” Oolie exclaimed. “Hell, I want to go too. Who’s with me? ...Pasha?”
“Nyea. I’m cold enough right here, spasibo.” Pasha pulled the collar of his coat around his chin as he spoke.
“Fine, you pussy pinko commie, suit yourself.” Ooligan shifted her attention to Adili who signified his aversion to her plan with a single arched eyebrow. Ooligan sighed, “Yeah, I thought not. Well, science man… Whad’ya say—once more for old time’s sake?”
Kim shook his head doubtfully, but then, just as Ooligan turned to depart, he said, “Wait—wait a minute! Yes, I’ll go too.” Ooligan gave him a short salute and sprinted away. Kim smiled and, bowing his head toward Jun, said, “Excuse me nephew, I need to go see about a whale.”
It took only a few minutes for Dot and Reba to reach Saka. Reba’s strong paddle strokes allowed Dot the opportunity to reach overboard and tap her blade against the hull. Before long, they heard the familiar sound of Saka’s breathing next to their tlúu. Dot leaned over and addressed the whale as it appeared from out of the waves. “Saka—has your family come back for you? Are you happy to see them?” As if in response, Saka opened his mouth, displaying rows of ivory teeth. A series of rapid clicking sounds came from his blowhole as he dipped his head in and out of the water. Reba quietly watched the two of them interact. Finally, Dot set her paddle on the sole and, turning to face the chief, said, “It’s time.”
“Perhaps it is.”
“Hold t
his, would you?” Dot pulled her arms out of her Cowichan sweater and scrambled over the combing. Reba laid the sweater on her lap and braced herself against the side of the tlúu as Dot slid into the water. Rolling onto his side, Saka slapped his pectoral fin as if beckoning. Reba’s breath caught in her throat at the sheer size of the whale—having never been this close to a live ska’ana before, she marveled at how Saka dwarfed the young woman swimming next to him. Dot held onto Saka’s wide pectoral fin, appearing doll-like—a miniature version of herself.
The other kayaks came near, gliding to a stop just behind Reba, alone in her tlúu. “What in the hell?” Ooligan muttered. Reba held up her hand without turning away from the scene unfolding in front of them. Táan put his blade into the water and turned his boat toward the whale. He prepared to push forward when Kai placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head, whispering “Hold off a sec, mate.”
Oblivious to all else, Dot hugged Saka’s fin and caressed his face, staring into the black eye that regarded her with gentle cognition, and whispering words that only the whale could hear. Eventually, Reba dipped her paddle into the water and inched the boat closer. Resting one arm on the cockpit’s rim, she reached out to stroke Saka’s skin—it felt smooth and solid to her touch. Dot looked up and smiled. Reba noticed a finality in the girl’s expression.
“What are you doing, Dot?”
Shivering with cold, Dot returned her attention to Saka and calmly replyied, “I’m saying goodbye.”
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