The Neptune Project (8 page)

SHOULD I CALL
the whole pod to help us? The dolphins would be easy targets for Marine Guard divers in the daylight. But we're easy targets, too. The divers are starting to spread out in a large circle around us. Densil and Sokya drive through the water, towing us south now, where the divers haven't had a chance to close the circle.

Suddenly, a large dolphin appears in front of us. I blink when I realize it's towing an older boy who's wearing fins but no dive gear, just like us. His dolphin stops in front of me, and the boy takes a seapack from his back and pulls something from it.

:You look like you could use a little help,:
he says with a cocky smile.

I stare at him in astonishment. He has dark eyes, pale skin, and long black hair caught back in braids.

:My friends are coming, but this should give those airbreathers something to think about in the meantime.:


After punching a button on a round metal device, he places it in his dolphin's mouth and points upward. A second later, the dolphin darts toward the boat.

:Come on!:
the strange boy calls as he starts swimming away from the divers and the cutter, back in the direction he came.
:We don't want to be here when that magnetic mine goes off. Your dolphins don't, either.:


As I follow him, I warn Sokya and Densil,
:Swim away from here, fast! There's about to be another explosion.:


:we go!:
Sokya cries, and she and Densil dart away.

:Who
are
you?:
I ask, while I struggle to keep up with him.

:We'll have time for introductions later,:
the boy says, and fires his speargun at the first diver to close in on us. The boy's weapon has greater range than mine. His dart takes the diver in the belly.

I glance back. With a cold rush of fear, I realize Lena has fallen behind us. Another diver with a tow is closing in on her fast, and his speargun is trained on her.

:Lena, dive!:
I cry, even as I kick upward to get a better angle for a shot.

Startled, she twists downward, and I shoot, praying I don't hit her. I catch the diver in the arm, and he veers off. Robry wounds a third diver in the leg, and the rest retreat for now.

:Nice shooting.:
The boy grins at Robry and me both, revealing white, sharp teeth, and then he glances at a watch on his wrist.

:Cover your ears,:
he orders. I just have time to cover mine before I hear a muffled roar from the mine detonating. I'm spun upside down. My ears ache and all I can see for a very long minute is air bubbles.

:Whew, what a ride!:
The strange boy sounds excited rather than scared.
:That should teach those landlivers not to mess with us.:


:Is everyone all right?:
I ask Robry and Lena.

:I'm still here,:
Robry reports shakily as he floats up beside me.

:I think I'm here, no thanks to this maniac,:
Lena says sharply as she joins us. I can tell the moment she gets a good look at the boy, though, because her resentful expression disappears in a heartbeat.

I leave Lena to her staring while I search the waters around us for divers. I'm relieved to see they're surfacing. I hope the cutter has a big hole in its hull and its crew will be heading for shore shortly in lifeboats.

:more swimming humans like you are headed your way,:
Sokya warns me.

Swimming humans like me? I love my dolphins, but sometimes I wish we could communicate more clearly. I look to the south, and I spot a group of kids swimming toward us. I reload my speargun and raise it just in case.

:Those are the friends I mentioned. You don't need to be frightened,:
the strange boy says to me.

:I'm not frightened,:
I say, lying through my teeth.
:I just like to be prepared.:


:That is always a wise thing to be in the sea,:
he says solemnly, but when I glance his way, I see laughter in his eyes. Nothing about this situation seems the least bit funny to me.

When they draw closer, I see they are equipped much like we are, with fins, seapacks, seasuits, and spearguns. The group seems to be swimming in a set formation. Quickly, I count two girls and three boys.

While the rest hang back and eye us curiously, a muscular, stocky boy who appears to be their leader swims forward. The closer he gets, the tougher he looks. He has cool, pale blue eyes; his blond hair is cut short; and he has a livid red scar across his right cheekbone. This boy's skin is tanned, as if he'd lived much of his life in the sun. Even without reading his thoughts, I can tell he's furious.

:You used another mine, didn't you, Dai? Now we only have four left.:


:At the time, it seemed like a good idea.:
The dark-haired boy looks bored.

:I'll say.:
I'm not surprised to hear Lena speak up for our rescuer.
:We had a cutter and eight Marine Guard divers after us, and they were about to shoot us full of spear darts.:


:Well, maybe it was necessary to use that mine,:
the stocky boy admits after a long moment,
:but don't disobey my orders again.:


Dai sends the blond-haired boy a disdainful salute, which makes his face tighten.

:My name is Kyel,:
he says to us, all business.
:We're members of the Neptune Project, and we're heading for the rendezvous point off Santa Cruz Island. We'll be safer if we travel together. We can talk on the way there, but we need to get moving before more boats come.:


He stares at the bandage on my leg.
:Are you bleeding? We can't afford any shark attacks along the way.:


Does he think I'm a complete idiot? Kyel is starting to annoy me.
:I've got this cinched down pretty tightly,:
I tell him shortly.

:All right, then. I'll lead off, and we'll swim in a close formation. If we hear any boat traffic, we scatter to avoid sonar detection. You:
—he nods to me—
:swim beside me and tell me about your group.:


I want to salute him like Dai did. I feel as if I've just joined the military.

Kyel leads off, I swim beside him, and the others follow in a diamond formation behind us. Lena and Robry join the rest, and Dai brings up the rear, his big dolphin swimming at his side. I am impressed with how carefully everyone in the new group seems to be keeping an eye out for trouble.

:are you safe now?:
Densil asks me. I can tell from the weakness of the contact that he is some distance away.

:We are fine. Thank you for helping us save Robry. Please, go hunt and play with the others.:


:we will tell you if more boats come.:


:How long ago did you complete the transformation?:
Kyel asks me just as I finish my private conversation with Densil.

:Maybe we should start with some more names.:
I'm surprised to find myself countering him.

Kyel's mouth twists in impatience.
:All right. You know I'm Kyel, and you've already met Dai. That's Thom back there.:
He motions to a big, strong, homely boy with short brown hair and large hands who is swimming next to Lena. Thom smiles shyly at me, and then his gaze is drawn to Lena, who, of course, is busy peering back at Dai.

:That's Tobin swimming across from Thom.:
I look over and meet the thoughtful gaze of a redheaded boy with green eyes, who is studying me just as carefully as I'm studying him.

:Then there's Ree, and Tobin's little sister, Bria.:
Kyel gestures carelessly to the two girls. Is he going to be one of those boys who thinks girls are worthless?

Ree stares back at me with cool dislike. She's a striking girl with a strong nose, broad shoulders, and muscular arms. She wears her long black hair in multiple braids. I'd guess her ancestors came from Old Mexico. I wonder what I've done to have antagonized her already. She and Lena are going to get along great. Tobin's sister, a pretty little girl about Robry's age, with long brown hair and big hazel eyes, smiles at me brightly.

I glance back at Kyel and realize he's waiting for me to tell him our names.
:I'm Nere Hanson. That's Lena McFadden and Robry Cruz,:
I add.

Kyel is studying me more intently than ever.
:You wouldn't happen to be related to Mark Hanson, the guy who's building a colony up north for us, would you?:


:He's my father.:


:So you must know all about the Neptune Project.:


:Actually,:
I say tightly,
:I only found out about it two days ago when we went through the transformation. Before that, I swear I'd never heard a word about the Neptune Project.:


Kyel looks like he doesn't believe me, but I'm relieved that he doesn't press me further.
:Did you have any trouble after you transformed?:


:Soldiers came when we were still on land. We got away, but my mother was killed.:
I have to pause for a moment. I still can't believe my mother is dead. Every time I have to talk about her, I'm afraid I'm going to fall apart.
:We've been dodging Marine Guard boats and divers ever since. What about you?:


:We transformed twenty days ago down in San Diego. We've been working our way north up the coast since then.:


I blink as I absorb his words. So these kids have been in the sea for almost three weeks now, and they had to travel past the drowned city of Los Angeles, with all its polluted water and dangerous debris. I'm impressed they've survived this long.

:Were there more of you originally?:
Kyel asks me next. Maybe it's just his way, but I'm starting to feel like I'm being interrogated.

:We're the only kids from Goleta, if that's what you mean.:


:I was told there would be at least fifty of us, but you're among the few we've encountered so far.:


:It's a big ocean. There could be dozens of us heading toward Santa Cruz, and we might not find one another until we get there.:


:Or the others didn't get away. We know that a group of kids from Vista didn't make it.:


:How do you know that?:


:Because we found one of them dying outside the harbor there. Soldiers came before the Neptune transformation was complete, and executed the kids and the scientists in charge of them. Before she could tell us any more than that, the girl died of her solar wounds.:


I shiver when I remember how close Robry, Lena, and I came to meeting the same fate. Kyel starts to ask me more about our first two days in the water, but I sense a commotion behind me. I stop swimming and look back.

Lena is curled up in pain, and Tobin is at her side.

:She has a bad leg cramp,:
Tobin tells the rest of us.
:I think she's pretty tired.:


:We don't have time to wait for her if she's not strong enough to keep up,:
Kyel declares.
:They could send another ship this way anytime.:


:We can't just leave her,:
I contradict him indignantly.

:If you travel with us, you place yourself under my command,:
Kyel says, his face starting to flush. He raises his speargun until it's pointing directly at me.
:And I say we leave her.:


I'M AWARE THE REST
of the group has clustered around us, watching the confrontation between Kyel and me. My blood is hammering in my ears. I scan the faces of our new companions, but it's hard to tell what they're thinking. They can't agree that Kyel is right to leave Lena behind! Robry shifts until he's floating beside me. I draw comfort from his quiet support, as Kyel continues to point his speargun at me.

:It's obvious she isn't as strong as the rest of us,:
Kyel says coldly.
:She'll just slow us down. I say we leave her behind.:


:Maybe you should just shoot her yourself, Kyel,:
Dai suggests, looking bored again. Lena stares at him in horror. I think Dai's kidding, but I'm not absolutely sure.

Thom, the big, homely boy speaks up.
:Maybe we could go a little slower.:


:All the way to Santa Cruz? She's a liability. I'm fairly sure these two can keep up with us:
—Kyel gestures to Robry and me—
:but she can't.:


I don't really want to stand up for Lena, but someone has to.
:We need to slow down or let our dolphins give Lena a tow. We aren't as fit as you are. We haven't been traveling in the sea for weeks like you have.:


Kyel stares at me.
:You have dolphins?:


:Well, yes. They're off hunting right now.:


:That changes everything,:
Kyel says, and lowers his speargun.
:If your dolphins help her to keep up, she can stay with us.:


I didn't realize until then that I'd been holding my breath.

:Lena,:
I say to her quickly on a private send,
:do you think you're strong enough to take some tows from the dolphins?:


:Yes!:
she replies, her face pale.

I call Kona and Mali and ask them to help Lena. In the meantime, Tobin massages Lena's cramping calf muscle.

:How many dolphins do you have?:
Kyel asks me. His expression is cool and calm again. I can't believe he's going to act like that confrontation never happened. I decide to follow his lead, but from now on, I know that I'll never be able to trust him completely.

:We have twelve, but one is just a baby.:


:The kids from Vista had a pod, but the Marine Guard slaughtered them all. I've never worked directly with dolphins, but I see how they could be a big help to our mission.:


Kyel looks like he's thinking hard. I'm afraid that he's imagining all the ways he can use the dolphins, but the idea of Mariah and her family being under his control gives me the chills.

Kona and Mali streak down from the surface to join us. Even though they are two of our older dolphins and are both mothers, they still have lots of energy. They come and swim happily around Robry, Lena, and me before they greet and investigate each of our new companions. I can tell they are watching Dai's dolphin, but they don't interact with him. Maybe his sheer size intimidates them.

:Our dolphins are ready,:
I tell Kyel curtly. It's hard not to stare at the speargun he had pointed at my guts just a few minutes ago.

We start off again. The dolphins alternate pulling Lena and swimming to the surface to breathe.

Kyel asks me about our escape from Goleta, and I tell him and his companions everything that's happened to us in the past two days.

:You did well, particularly for such a small group,:
Kyel admits when I finish.

His praise gives me enough confidence to make two suggestions.
:If we could swim a little closer to the surface,:
I say quickly,
:the dolphins won't use as much energy going up to breathe. And the rest of the pod has found a strong current heading northwest a little to the north of here. If we could ride that, we'd make better time.:


Kyel's face tightens at my suggestions, but I'm relieved when he heads closer to the surface and leads us north. Soon we hit the current Mariah told me about, and for a few hours we double our speed until the current peters out.

Three times that morning we hear boat engines in the distance, but no boats come within sonar range of us. We stop at midday in a rocky canyon, where there are plenty of places we can hide if a boat does appear. Ree and Thom go off foraging and return with two large kelp bass they shot for our lunch. I'm not thrilled about our menu, but I don't want to hurt Thom's feelings. So when he offers me a slice of very fresh bass, I take it. His face falls when Lena looks disgusted by his offering and pointedly starts eating a fish bar from her seapack.

Our new companions have developed a practical system for eating. Any sort of food in the ocean instantly attracts dozens of live hungry fish, and sometimes they can't tell the difference between dead fish and human fingers. I see four of Kyel's group eat while the other two watch for scavengers and keep them away.

Lena nibbles at her fish bar just a few feet away from me. Robry drifts over and joins us as we eat. The raw kelp bass actually tastes so good, I devour it in several bites.

:Thanks for standing up for me back there,:
Lena says grudgingly.

:You would have done the same for me.:
I shrug off her thanks while I wonder if that's true.

:I can't believe Dai suggested they just shoot me.:
Lena sends Dai an angry glare, but he's oblivious. He's sitting by himself while he eats, a remote look on his face.

:I'm pretty sure he was making a joke,:
I say, and at that instant, Dai looks over at me, his expression quizzical.

:I didn't think it was funny,:
Lena says.

:Me neither,:
Robry offers.
:But I think he was trying to help you, in his own twisted way.:


:Twisted is right. I'm not sure I like him or Kyel much,:
Lena says darkly.

:I'm not sure I like Kyel, either,:
I admit.
:But he is right about one thing. We are safer if we travel together.:


:Until he points a speargun at you. If he threatens any of us again, I vote we make our own way to Santa Cruz,:
Robry declares, and Lena nods.

:I totally agree,:
I reply.

We start off again as soon as we finish eating. The dolphins take turns helping Lena keep up. We travel throughout the afternoon until my legs are burning from kicking constantly. I notice that Bria is starting to look as tired as I feel. Even though I don't want to tangle with Kyel again, I'm just about to suggest we rest when Ree asks him to stop.

Kyel frowns, but when he looks back at Bria, he agrees. While everyone gets food from their packs, I swim over to Bria. Ree looks at me suspiciously, but I ignore her and smile at the little girl.

:Would you like some help from a dolphin?:
I ask. I noticed her face lit up when she met Kona and Mali earlier.
:My friend Ricca is one of our gentlest dolphins, and I know she'd be happy to give you some tows. I'll ask Mariah to come, too, and you can meet her calf.:


Bria brightens, but she looks to Tobin for permission. I can tell they are exchanging thoughts on a private send. Then Bria beams at me and says,
:I'd love to meet Ricca and let her pull me, if she doesn't mind. I can't believe I get to swim with a dolphin. I'm going to feel just like a mermaid!:


:You already look like one.:
I smile at her. With her big eyes and delicate features, Bria reminds me of the mermaids in one of my mother's rare old picture books. I reach out to my dolphin friends, who have fed well on a large column of sardines they found a few hours ago. Mariah is eager to see me and happy to ask Ricca to help Bria.

This time the entire pod comes along with Mariah and Ricca, curious about the other humans Robry and I have met. Wanting to start off on the right foot with the rest of our companions, even if Kyel and I haven't, I make a point of introducing everyone to each member of my dolphin family.

:This is Mariah. She's the leader of this pod. She was a calf when my mother was a little girl, and the two of them grew up together. This is her youngest calf, Tisi. Mali, Mona, and Ricca are her nieces; and Sokya, Halia, and Kona are her daughters. Pani, Nika, and Laki here are her granddaughters, and Densil is her son.:


I can't help but notice that everyone is grinning as the dolphins come in close. Dolphins just have that effect on people. Even Kyel cracks a smile as little Tisi swims around our group upside down in the water, showing off in his excitement over meeting new people.

Because Kyel is smiling, I decide to go for it and risk another suggestion.

:Most of the dolphins are fed and rested right now. Maybe we could practice taking dolphin tows. I can make sure the pod pulls us in the direction we need to travel. I think we should only use the dolphins to help those of us who are the most tired. But in emergencies, the dolphins can help us all get away from danger much faster than we can swim on our own. Hanging on to a dolphin, though, takes some practice.:


Kyel frowns as he considers my idea.

:Very well,:
he says at last.
:We can all practice as long as we don't get distracted from watching out for trouble.:


:The dolphins will let us know if there's any danger heading our way,:
I promise him.

Quickly, I pair each person with a dolphin, trying to match personalities and strength. Because he's the strongest and the biggest, I assign Densil to pull Thom. Our next strongest dolphin is steady Kona, and so I ask her to tow Kyel. Since Mariah already knows Lena, I think they'll make a good team. Then I assign happy Pani to Ree, hoping she can handle Ree's attitude. Mali, who is both strong and quite a flirt, is excited when I ask her to tow Tobin. Nika, one of Mariah's younger granddaughters, is playful and sensible at the same time. She has been friends with Robry for years, and I know she will take good care of him. Gentle Ricca makes Bria grin when she tickles the little girl with her beak.

Since I'm used to Sokya and her tricks, I ask her to tow me. Dai already has his big dolphin, and I have a hunch the two of them could teach me plenty about dolphin handling. After I show everyone the best way to hold on to the dolphins' dorsal fins, Sokya and I lead off to the northwest, with Tisi, Halia, Mona, and Laki swimming in circles around us. I look back and see grins on everyone's faces as they practice being pulled by their sleek, powerful dolphins.

As Sokya tows me swiftly through the sunlit sea, I realize I'm grinning, too. I've always loved dolphin rides at the surface, but being towed below the waves is like flying through a whole new world. Sokya pulls me up and over rock ribs and past the edge of a kelp forest. We skim across a sand flat, startling a large torpedo ray hiding on the bottom. Minutes later we cut through a big school of salema and send the surprised fish flashing away from us in glinting swirls of gold and silver.

With the pod's help, we make good time over the next hour. Then I send them off to rest, except for Mariah and Ricca, who stay to help Lena and Bria. Working with the dolphins has helped to cheer up everyone. I notice, though, that the tension in our travel group increases as the light in the ocean fades.

:Dai,:
Kyel suddenly orders,
:send Ton out to search for a place where we can spend the night.:


I watch Dai give a series of hand signals, and the big dolphin speeds off. It never occurred to me to ask the dolphins to help find us shelter. With their ability to echolocate, they probably can do a better job of finding caves and overhangs than we can.

Kyel orders us to swim in a tighter formation and to keep our spearguns at the ready. I can tell my new companions are frightened as the sea darkens. Although I feel uneasy, too, I wish I could make them understand that the dolphins fear the same predators we do. Mariah and the rest of the pod will warn me if something dangerous approaches us.

:These people haven't spent as much time in the sea as you obviously have,:
Dai says, suddenly breaking in on my thoughts.
:I tried to tell them that Ton would warn us of danger, but they don't believe me.:


:It'll probably take some time before they learn to trust the dolphins.:


:That's their problem,:
Dai says with a shrug. Before I can ask him how he came to work with Ton, the big dolphin comes back and bobs his head at Dai.

:I'm going to check out what Ton found for us,:
Dai tells Kyel.

Dai heads off, kicking incredibly swiftly for someone who just spent his whole day swimming through the sea.

The group draws even closer together after that. Everyone is on the lookout for sharks, which do become more active at night. Ree and Bria in particular keep glancing around them, their faces pale. It's hard for me not to feel tense when everyone seems so scared.