I stare down at my lap. As much as I’d love to see Cam again, the idea of swimming south to LA makes me shudder. My friends and I barely survived our long trip north to Safety Harbor because of ruthless Marine Guard divers and too many ocean predators who tried to eat us along the way.
I look up and meet Dad’s gaze. “Two of us died on that journey, and the rest of us were lucky to get here in one piece. I can’t imagine making that trip again.”
“Traveling here was hard on you and your friends, and no one will blame you if you decide not to go. As your father, I have to admit that I’d be much happier if you turned this mission down and stayed here.”
Dad pauses to take a deep breath. “But as one of the founders of the Neptune Project, I have to ask you to consider going. Because of the friendship between our families and because he cares about you, Cam is our best chance to connect with Ty Rath, and Ty Rath is our best shot at cultivating enough c-plankton to make a difference.”
“Has Thom already agreed to go?” I ask, stalling for time. Making that trip again terrifies me, but it sounds like they truly need me to talk to Cam, and I’d like to see for myself that he’s okay. Besides, life around here is pretty rough right now with Tobin and Dai barely speaking to me.
“Thom has already volunteered to go, and we are planning to send a small patrol of our best fighters and Sea Rangers as his escort. You and Robry could join them, but this group won’t be leaving for another week yet, which means you don’t have to make up your mind tonight.”
“Good, because I’d like to talk with Robry as well as Mariah, Sokya and Densil. I’m afraid if I agree to travel to the Southern Sector, the dolphins will feel like they have to come along, too, just to keep an eye on me.”
And I’d feel awful if something happened to them. A pang of sorrow shoots through me when I remember brave, sweet Pani, one of Mariah’s granddaughters, who was killed by the Marine Guard on our journey north.
“It would be safer than your last trip,” Dad says, reading the worry in my expression. “You’re used to the sea now, and we know a good deal more now than we did a year ago about how to keep you Neptune kids safe in it.”
“Nothing about a thousand-mile trip down the coast of the Western Collective is safe,” I retort.
“If it makes any difference to you, sis,” James says quietly, “I’ve already volunteered to go. Dad and I were just, um, discussing the details of that.”
I twist around to look at my brother. “But why do you need to go? You’re a researcher, not a fighter.”
“Because a Controller could prevent the Western Collective from reporting and arresting our teams if they notice any unusual activity at the warehouses we’re planning to use.”
I turn on my father, fear clenching my insides. “You haven’t told the other scientists in the Project about James, have you?”
“I haven’t told anyone,” Dad reassures me. “James would be going as my assistant. We three are the only ones who know what James is and why he’s truly going, and we’re going to keep it that way.”
“You’re going, too?” I ask in surprise. “But it’s crazy dangerous for you to go back there.”
“That’s part of what we were arguing about,” James says grimly. “If officials in the Western Collective find out that Dr. Mark Hanson, a citizen they presumed dead, is still alive, they’re not going to be happy, and he’ll end up in a prison camp or worse.”
“And you still have so much work to do up here in Safety Harbor,” I say, panicked at the idea of losing my dad, too.
“But our starting a new civilization under the waves isn’t going to do anyone much good if the planet keeps heating at its current rate,” Dad argues. “Your descendants will be fighting to survive in dying oceans full of jellyfish and tubeworms.”
“You’re that sure that this c-plankton can save our planet?” I ask, amazed that he’s willing to leave Safety Harbor and the kids he’s dedicated his life to.
“Idaine Kuron’s c-plankton is our last, best hope to stop climate change. It will take years for it to truly have an impact, but yes, I do believe this c-plankton, once it’s spread throughout oceans of the world, can sequester enough carbon dioxide to cool the Earth. And that’s why I have to return to the Southern Sector.”
I let go a sigh. Sometimes I forget that my dad can be just as stubborn as everyone else in our family. The itchiness in my chest reminds me it’s time I headed back to the water. I get to my feet. “I still want to talk to Robry and Mariah and her family and see what they think.”
“Speak to Mariah,” Dad says, “but please don’t talk to the rest of your friends about the LA option yet. We’re still worried that Ran Kuron may learn about our plans.”
“You can’t think that Dai would—”
“No,” Dad cuts off my indignant protest, “after everything Dai’s done for you, I don’t think he’s our leak. But that means that one of the other kids from Atlantea is feeding information to Kuron, and we need to consider what he might do if he finds out we’re trying to cultivate and spread the c-plankton his wife created.”
“I promise I won’t talk to anyone about your plans, but does Robry know yet that his brother’s alive?”
“Not yet. I thought that was something you might like to tell him,” Dad says with a smile.
“You’re right about that,” I say, starting for the door, “and please let me know if Tsukwani’s people radio for help.”
I say goodnight to Dad and James and hurry back to the water. I hug myself as I stride across the topside clearing. I’m so happy to know Cam is alive. My best friend growing up, Cam always looked out for me. He never treated me like a freak even though I had lung attacks and my genetically engineered eyes were so weak that I had to wear dark glasses. Before he risked his life to help me get away from the soldiers, he swore that he would always love me. I’m dying to see him, but the prospect of making the long journey back to the Southern Sector makes my mouth go dry.
When I come to the lip of the sea cave, I stop for a moment to gaze at the craggy rocks and big spruce and cedar trees surrounding our topside facilities. I’ve come to love this gray and green Northwest, and I don’t want to leave here. But if Cam wants to see me again and if he can help convince Ty Rath to help us, I may have no choice.
Impatient to find Robry, I dive into the water, which is a breach of Vival’s safety protocols. At the base of the ladder, I’m startled to see Dav is just climbing up it in his scuba gear. He must have seen my dive, but he just sends me a wink and a smile.
Feeling sure that he won’t report me, I swim as fast as I can for the computer cave. Even though it’s late, I’m not surprised to find Robry tapping away on a terminal in the far corner of the lab. The other computer stations are empty.
:Hey, dartling, what’re you working on so late?:
:Hey Nere,: he says, summoning a tired smile, :I’m trying to crack the latest code Kuron’s been using to communicate with his investors and staff. He changes it every few weeks, but this is the toughest one yet. I’ll figure it out, soon, though. I always do.:
Robry’s grown up so much this past year. He looks less like a boy and more like a teenager. With his olive skin, curly black hair and bright smile, he resembles his big brother more and more. With a pang, I notice Robry’s eyes are red tonight and there are shadows beneath them.
:You’ve been working too hard again,: I scold him. Genius that he is, Robry understands how precarious the safety of our colony is. I just wish he had more time to be a kid.
:It will probably be all right if you don’t crack that code tonight,: I add.
:Yeah, but I’d sleep better if I could read these latest transmissions and be sure Kuron’s not planning to attack us in the next twenty-four hours.:
His tone is so grim, I reach out and place a hand on his shoulder. :At least I have some good news you can think about while you’re working. Cam is alive.:
Robry backs away from the keyboard and searches my face.
:Y-you’re sure?: he asks, his mental voice tight with emotion.
:I’m sure. My dad’s been communicating with him for several days.:
I open my arms and we hug each other, hard.
Robry pulls away from me and rubs a hand over his eyes. :I’ve tried to tell myself he’s too tough and too smart to die in a prison camp, but I know how awful those places can be.:
:Somehow he escaped after six months. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he’s working with Scarn Kasporov now.: As I say his name, I get goosebumps. I’ll never forget the cold and calculating smuggler I met the night Cam and I helped rescue two of his men.
:Cam’s a smuggler?: Robry’s eyes widen in disbelief.
:I had problems believing it, too, but supposedly he’s become Scarn’s right-hand man.:
Smugglers risk their lives to bring illegal luxuries like fancy clothing and fine wines up from the Southern Republic to be sold on the black market inside the Western Collective.
:He must have had a good reason to become a smuggler,: Robry says loyally.
:I’m sure he did,: I say, even though I wonder how Cam could join Scarn Kasporov’s gang of cutthroats who only care about profits.
:Why’s your dad been in touch with him?:
:I’m sorry, dartling, I can’t tell you that. Not yet.:
:Right,: Robry says, his gaze narrowing. :I bet it has something to do with your dad’s plan to cultivate the c-plankton.:
I shrug my shoulders. Robry’s such a capable hacker, he’ll probably find my father’s communications with Cam within a few hours.
:You’ll tell me if you hear anything more about Cam?: Robry says, suddenly looking younger.
:That I can promise.:
:Then I’d better finish cracking this encryption,: he says, straightening his shoulders and turning back to the computer.
:’Kay, but don’t stay up too late.:
Robry’s already focused on the screen in front of him, determined to read Kuron’s transmissions and keep Safety Harbor safe. At least now there’s a smile on his face.
~~~
Someone shakes my shoulder the middle of the night. I jerk awake, my heart racing. Am I still a captive on Kuron’s sub? When I realize Janni’s peering down at me, I relax a little.
:Sorry to startle you,: she says in her blunt way, :but we don’t have much time. The wind shifted, and the Kwawaka’wakw village is in danger. We’re sending a boat and a tow with volunteers to help, and your dad said you’d want to come.:
:He’s right,: I say as I slip from my hammock and grab my seasuit.
:The Bus is leaving from the hub in ten minutes,: Janni calls back to me as she hurries from the girls’ dorm cave.
:What’s up?: Ree asks sleepily as I dive into my seasuit.
:That fire on Allman Island is getting close to Tsukwani’s village.:
:I’m coming, too,: Ree says, waking up in a hurry.
:And me,: Kalli declares.
Ten minutes later the three of us arrive at the hub. We just have time to grab on to a tow loop before Janni sends the Bus speeding after a zodiac loaded with topside staff. Sokya, Densil and several dolphins from the Safety Harbor pod swim beside us, excited by so much unusual night-time activity.
Janni pushes the tow as fast it can go. As we speed through the black water, I pray the wind will shift, for Tsukwani’s sake. We surface just offshore from her village. Choking gray smoke fills the air, and flickering light from the orange and yellow flames reflects off the dark waves. The wind blows offshore, driving the raging fire toward the tidy collection of ten small cabins near the water’s edge.
Our helper staff beach their zode and run to help the Kwawaka’wakw who are throwing buckets of water onto their cabin roofs. Several of their younger people race to load containers of food and belongings into an array of kayaks, canoes and fishing boats along the shore. Dav swiftly sets up a hose and pumping system to pull water from the sea.
I hurry up the shingle beach, searching for Tsukwani. I find her trying to help the other young people loading the boats, but her little sister Lenia clings to her leg.
“What can we do to help?” I ask her.
“You could watch Lenia,” Tsukwani replies. “She’s so frightened, she won’t let go of me.”
“Will you come with me?” I ask the little girl gently. Lenia is a beautiful four-year-old with big dark eyes. “We could go look at the dolphins. Sokya would love to see you again.”
Lenia’s eyes brighten at the mention of dolphins, and she lets me take her hand. We retreat to the water’s edge, and I help her into her sister’s canoe. Soon Kalli, Ree and I are doing our best to entertain three small Kwawaka’wakw children in the canoe while their families race to save their homes and belongings.
As the fire roars closer, the air becomes hotter and hotter, searing my lungs. Kalli, Ree and I take turns dipping under the water to breathe while one of us stays with the frightened children.
When their belongings are all loaded, Tsukwani wades into the water and stands next to me. She coughs and her eyes are red from the smoke. “We’ve been wetting down our cabins all day, but I’m afraid they still may catch fire.”
The fire races across the tops of the trees. A cry goes up when the cedars closest to the village burst into flames and burn like huge orange torches in the night. The roar of the fire is so loud, I can hardly hear Tsukwani right next to me, and the heat forces Ree, Kalli and me into the water.
“Everyone get back!” Hemasaka bellows just before a massive cedar topples into the heart of the village, sending up a spinning column of flames and sparks, crushing three cabins and setting fire to several more.
The last of the Kwawaka’wakw retreat to their boats, and from the water, we all watch their village burn. Tsukwani crawls into her canoe and scoops Lenia into her arms. They hold tight to each other.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Tsukwani, my eyes burning from smoke and tears. It seems like such a lame thing to say to a friend who has just lost her home.
“We can build again, someplace else,” Tsukwani says bravely, “but we don’t have time before the snow flies. We will have to winter with my cousins up near Namu. At least we got most of our food and smoked fish out, so we shouldn’t be too much of a burden on them.”
It’s so like Tsukwani to try and find some good in her situation. Sokya surfaces beside me, and she flips a little water at both First Nation girls.
“I think Sokya wants to say goodbye to you,” I say.
As Sokya swims closer to the canoe, Tsukwani’s eyes brighten a little. She leans over and gives Sokya a rub and then she looks at me. “I will miss you, dolphin girl.”
“I’ll miss you, too. Maybe the dolphins and I can come visit you at your new village.”
“I would like that. Thank you for watching our little ones.”
Hemasaka calls out that his people must leave, and Tsukwani reaches for a paddle.
As the skies lighten in the east, the weary Kwawaka’wakw head north in a ragtag convoy of canoes, kayaks and fishing boats. The tired helper staff pile into their zode and head back to Safety Harbor.
As I stare at the charred, smoking remains of the Kwawaka’wakw cabins, a painful lump clogs my throat. How many more people will lose their homes to fires and rising seas as our planet heats?
There’s no doubt in my mind now. I have to go to LA and help my father find a way to cultivate the c-plankton.