Sah'ot drew a breath.
* Look here!
A monogamous
* Miracle!
* A pair of lovers!
Silhouetted against
* The wide sky. *
Gillian clapped her hands and laughed.
Thomas Orley only smiled briefly. But apparently he had things on his mind.
"I'm glad you two fins are back," he said. "Gillian and I arrived here last night, she from Streaker and I from the site where Toshio's tsunami ship crashed. Jill brought you folks a monofilament cable, so you can stay in touch with the ship. She'll work with you for a few days on this vital matter of the Kiqui. Also, I understand there are some folks back at the ship who'd like to ask you to collect some data for them. That right, Gillian?"
The blonde woman nodded. Word of Charlie Dart's demands had not delighted Toshio and Dennie.
Orley continued.
"Jill's other purpose in coming here was to deliver some gear to me. I have to go away this morning. I'll be using a solar glider."
Keepiru sucked air. He started to object, but Orley raised a hand. "I know, it's risky. But there's an experiment I have to try in order to see if the escape plan we've put together will work. And since you people are the only ones available, I'm going to have to ask you for your help."
Sah'ot's tail thrashed under the water. He clamped down to hide his feelings, but it was hard. So hard!
So they were truly going to try to escape! He had hoped for better from Orley and Baskin. They were intelligent and experienced, almost-mythical agents of the Terragens Council. Survivors.
Now they were talking madness, and expected him to help! Didn't they realize what they were up against?
He swam up next to Keepiru, wearing the mask of a faithful, attentive client. But inside he felt a turmoil as he listened to the crazy "plan" that was supposed to save them from the bug-eyed monsters.
29 ::: Takkata-Jim
"The ship's council meeting was a disaster. It is worse than I thought," the vice-captain sighed.
* They plan deception
To fool deceivers,
* And veils
To cover whales!
K'tha-Jon tossed his great blunt head in agreement.
"I hear the codeword for thisss project is the 'Trojan Seahorse.' What does that mean?"
"It's a literary allusion," Takkata-Jim replied. He wondered where the bosun had gone to school. "I'll explain some other time. Right now I must think. There must be another way than this suicide plan Creideiki and Orley have devised.
"I had hoped Creideiki would see reason. But now, I just don't know."
"He didn't lisssten?"
"Oh he's very polite! Blowfish Metz swam in my wake point by point, and Creideiki listened so nicely to both of us. The meeting lasted four hours! But the captain decided to go with Orley's scheme anyway! The Baskin fem has already left with supplies for him."
The two Stenos drifted quietly for a long moment. K'tha-Jon waited for the vice-captain.
Takkata-Jim's tail slashed. "Why won't Creideiki even consider broadcasting the location of our find and have done with with it! Instead, he and Orley want to try to trick sophonts who have been trapping each other for millions of years! We'll be fried! Compared with this plan, even your idea of blasting forth with all guns blazing is better. At least we'd be able to maneuver!"
"I only offer a gloriousss alternative to his mad venture," K'tha-Jon said. "But I would go with your plan. Think, if we were the ones to find a way to save the ship and crew, would not the benefits go beyond simply preserving our livesss?"
Takkata-Jim shook his head. "If I were in command, perhapsss. But we are led by this mad, honor-bound genius, who'll only guide us to doom."
He turned away, deep in his thoughts, and swam silently down the corridor to his quarters.
K'tha-Jon's eyes narrowed as they followed the vicecaptain. The bubbles from his blowmouth came out in tiny, rhythmic pops.
30 ::: Akki
It wasn't fair! Almost everybody who counted had been allowed to go with Hikahi, to go join the crew working on the Thennanin wreck. The repairs to Streaker were nearly completed, and he was still stuck here, where nothing important was happening at all!
Akki drifted at his study-station, under an airdome near the top of the central bay. Bubbles from below passed unhindered through the pages of a holo-text displayed in front of him.
Of all the dumb ideas! Making him study astrogation while the ship was stuck at the bottom of an ocean!
He tried to concentrate on the subtleties of wormhole navigation, but his mind wandered. He got to thinking about Toshio. How long ago had it been since the two of them had had time to pull off a decent prank? It must have been over a month since they'd stolen Brookida's glasses and replaced them with Fresnel lenses.
I sure hope Toshio's okay. But at least he'd doing something. Why did Creideiki insist I stay here when they need every decent engineer out at the wreck?
Akki tried one more time to focus on the text, but was distracted by a sound. He looked down toward a noisy altercation at one of the food stations. Two fen were taking turns swatting at each other with their flukes while a circle of others watched.
Akki backed out of the airdome and dove toward the disturbance.
"Stop thisss!" he shouted. "Cut it out, now!" He struck out with his own flukes to knock Sth'ata and Sreekah-jo apart.
The observers backed away a little, but the combatants ignored him. They bit and flailed at each other. A kicking fluke struck Akki in the chest, sending him spinning.
Akki gulped to catch his breath. How did they find the energy to fight in oxywater?
He swam up to one of the observers. "Pk'Tow… Pk'Tow!" He bit the fin on his flank and assumed dominant stance as Pk'Tow whirled angrily. It wasn't easy to face him down; Akki felt very young. But Creideiki had taught him what to do. When a fin reverts, make him focus!
"Pk'Tow! Stop listening to them and use your eyes. Look at me! As a ship's officer I order you to help me break up this fight!"
The glazed expression faded from Pk'Tow's face. He nodded. "Aye, sssir." Akki was amazed by the fellow's dullness.
Drops of blood diffused into a pink stain as the combatants slowed down, trading blows, their gill-lungs gasping for breath. Akki collected three more crewfen, swatting and shouting at them to get them focused again, then he moved in. He got the Stenos and the cook separated at last, and led them under guard toward sick bay. Dr. Makanee could keep them isolated until he reported this to the captain.
Akki glanced up and noticed the bosun, K'tha-Jon, pass by. The giant petty officer didn't even offer to help. He probably watched the whole thing, Akki thought bitterly. K'tha-Jon wouldn't have needed to cajole the onlookers. He could have intimidated the brawlers with a growl.
K'tha-Jon was headed swiftly for the outlock, his expression intent.
Akki sighed.
Okay, maybe Creideiki had his reasons for keeping me around, after all. Now that Hikahi has left with the engineers, he needs help taking care of the dregs that are still aboard Streaker.
He nosed Sreekah-jo to keep him moving. The Stenos squawked an almost Primal curse, but obeyed.
At least I've got an excuse not to study astrogation, Akki thought, sardonically.
31 ::: Suessi
"No! Stop it! Back off and try it again — this time more carefully!"
Hannes Suessi watched skeptically as the dolphin engineers reversed their heavy sleds and hauled the beam back out of the chamber.