When Robry and I surface in a quiet cove along the south side of Catalina Island, it’s a beautiful, starlit night. We’ve come to say goodbye to Cam before we begin the long trip back to Safety Harbor with the rest of our team.
A few minutes after we arrive, the Phantom glides into the cove. I’m startled when Cam dives off the bow into the water beside us. The dolphins surround him in a heartbeat. He takes hold of Mariah’s fin, and the dolphins tow the three of us to shore. We race across the tops of the gentle waves, a warm wind blowing in our faces while the dolphins’ wake shines silver in the starlight.
“I forgot how much fun a dolphin tow can be,” Cam says with a grin as we wade through the surf side by side. For a moment, he looks more like the boy I used to know. Robry comes to stand beside me on the rocky shore, and Cam’s expression turns serious.
“I’m grateful to you both,” he says. “When I dumped that first barrel of c-plankton into Lucinda Bay, I felt good for the first time in a long while. I’ll still design boats and sails for Scarn, but I’m not going to smuggle for him anymore. Instead I’ll smuggle supplies for your dad’s c-plankton nurseries.”
“Dad said he’s putting you in charge of managing all of the c-plankton production here in LA,” I say. “I guess that means you’ll have to continue coordinating between the Rathenistas, Scarn’s smugglers and the scroungers while keeping an eye out for government soldiers and ships.”
“It won’t be easy,” Cam admits, “but it feels like the right thing for me to be doing.”
“I’m glad,” I say simply, and I am. His new job will be dangerous, but smuggling for Scarn was dangerous, too. At least now Cam is risking his life for something worthwhile.
“So you’re leaving now,” he says, his voice gone husky as he stares at us.
“The doc’s decided to rotate teams of us down here to pitch in when we’re needed,” Robry says. “The water along this coast is so polluted, it’s tough on our bodies and lungs. But Nere and I should be back here again in a year or two.”
“I guess this is goodbye for now.” Cam steps forward, his arms go around me and I lean my head on his shoulder. “I never liked those stories where some poor sailor or fisherman falls in love with a mermaid,” he says, his voice a deep rumble beneath my ear. “They seldom have happy endings.”
My eyes burn with tears. “It’s hard when landlivers and mermaids exist in different worlds, but I hope they can stay friends.”
Cam tightens his arms around me, kisses my cheek, and steps back. “I will always be your friend. If you ever need help, send for me, and I’ll come.”
Looking a little impatient, Robry wades into the surf. “Laki and I will race you guys back to the Phantom,” he challenges us, and he and Laki win easily. By the stern ladder of the sailboat, Robry gives Cam a final round of messages to pass on to his mother and brothers, and they hug one last time. Just as Cam turns to climb the stern ladder, Mariah bumps up against him, asking for a goodbye rub.
“You take care of yourself, old lady, and take good care of Nere and my little brother for me,” he tells her gently. Then Cam climbs up the ladder and stands at the stern rail.
“And you take care of yourself, Cam Cruz,” I say as I tread water. I smile when Ara moves to stand beside him, and he puts an arm around her waist.
“I always do,” Cam replies. Sokya, Laki and Nika leap from the water in perfect unison and land on their sides, drenching the back deck of the Phantom. Cam laughs as he wipes seawater from his eyes. Ara smiles, too, and they both wave to us as we slip beneath the waves.
Robry and I kick for the mouth of the cove. Our entire team waits for us there with the tows loaded and ready. Dai swims to meet me.
:You okay?: Dai asks, searching my face. I’m touched by the concern in his dark eyes.
:Yeah, I think I am. How about you?:
:I’m still coming to terms with everything my father did,: he admits, :but I’m doing better.:
It probably will take Dai some time to absorb that he wasn’t responsible for his mother’s death, but already I sense more peace and less anger in him. I swim forward and take Dai’s hand.
:Let’s go,: I say.
Tisi swims around us in a tight circle. :let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,: he gleefully echoes my words and makes me laugh.
The rest of the dolphins catch his excitement. They swirl about us as Janni and Thom start up the tows and point them north, toward home.