The seals started barking insults and taunts.
The volcano belched a cloud of smoke bigger than it was. Please hurry, Murel said.
Okay, but tell the seal side of your family not to worry. We'll be back.
Murderers! the seals shouted.
Don't go into the water with them now, Murel, the elder told her. They're ready to eat seals. I wouldn't trust them.
They eat otters too, Sky told her. Those are otter-eating whales. He did not seem happy. Some of the seals were regarding him in the same way the whales had been regarding them.
Murel waited until the orcas were heading toward the north side of the volcano before sliding into the water, Sky close behind her.
Thanks, seals, she told them. You were great. There's one more thing…
It doesn't involve more whales or sharks, does it? the elder asked. Because we can use a rest.
No, it's about my brother. Did any of you happen to see that odd-looking city near the volcano?
We've seen it. It's always been there, Pork said. It's where the deep sea otters live.
Well, it's not there now and my brother is inside of it. If you see it anywhere else or hear reports about someone else seeing it, please tell me. I think they have to live near volcanoes. So if there are other active ones in the sea right now, they may have moved there.
Near the fjord the humans call Perfect Fjord there are more sea chimneys, the elder told her. Maybe they moved there.
Thanks, she said. As soon as we get everyone else to safety, we'll check it out.
The sea otter cousins will look too, Murel, Sky told her. They will like to find a new place with giant white clams and no sharks.
CHAPTER 20
YANA, PET CHAN, Raj Norman, Ke-ola, Keoki, and Sinead huddled on the volcano's shuddering hem, hoping rescue would reach them before Petaybee's labor pains resulted in a further eruption of lava. Sea turtles bobbed just offshore.
Yana watched Ke-ola and Keoki squatting at the edge of the water, apparently consorting telepathically with Honus, until Ke-ola turned back to the others.
"The Honus say they would keep us afloat if Dr. Shongili and Murel don't find the whales," he said. "They are very strong and fast in the water. Two of them supported Keoki and me out here."
"Yes, but you'd have frozen to death in the water without Murel's and Ronan's dry suits," Yana said. "The water near the volcano may be warm enough to swim in, but closer to the land it's starting to freeze already. I'll survive by wearing my wet suit. Sinead is a native Petaybean and would probably survive as well, but those of you from offworld certainly wouldn't. And the turtles would have to carry us out of the warmer waters to escape the eruption."
"She's got a point, Ke-ola," Keoki said. "And also, the Manos might be a little careless about keeping their pledge to take us off their prey list if they thought they could pick us off with no survivors, no witnesses, no one of their relatives to tell the tale. And they will be back as soon as they've delivered Puna's people to the rescuers. That water back landward is too cold for Manos too."
Keoki still wore Ronan's dry suit. "I have this on. I could go with the Honu to try to get help too."
"Missus is the one who should go." Ke-ola nodded toward Yana.
"I could do that," Yana agreed, "but I think our best chance is staying together and waiting for Sean or Murel to find the whales. I have complete confidence in them."
Her chin jutted as she looked each of the others full in the face, as if trying to inject them with her own faith and resolve.
"I'm sure you're right, Yana," Sinead said, "but I'm still thinking we should be ordering more wet suits from Corps surplus once we get home. With all these new sea creatures to keep track of, we'll be after needin' an update to our planetary fashion statement of mukluks, snow pants, and parkas."
Pet Chan, her youthful almond-eyed face scrunched up between balled fists, said,
"Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why didn't we prepare for this? We should have had them on board before we left Space Base. I'm getting rusty is what. Versailles Station is usually so secure I've relaxed, forgotten how to be alert and prepare properly for things. I'm resigning as soon as we get back."
"Marmie won't accept that, Pet," Yana said. "I was prepared to dive because I know my family. Whenever they get into trouble, water is almost always involved.
You were prepared for a copter rescue-"
"No, no, she's right," Raj Norman said. "It was inexcusably careless. I didn't think about getting in the water myself. It's been a while. I brought all those armaments and forgot basic survival measures."
Beneath their feet, Petaybee rumbled and bellowed, and this time the smoke carried a spray of fire.
"Boy," Raj said to Keoki, "I suggest you give your suit up to Miss Sinead or Miss Chan. We men can take our chances with the cold."
"He's a kid, Raj," Pet said.
"I think Yana's right," Sinead said, ignoring the implication that she was helpless merely because of her gender. "I'm thinkin' I could make it with the Honu as far as the fishing boats. They'll surely be entering the warmer waters by now. But the young newcomers aren't used to Petaybee's extremes at all."
"So what you're saying is you think it's time I hop the nearest turtle?" Yana asked.
But the Honus were no longer there. Instead, like an attack fleet of black-sailed boats, the dorsal fins of the orca pod knifed through the waves, heading toward the beach.
Murel and Sky swam around the volcano to the spot where they'd left her mum and the others. By the time they reached their destination, the air was filled with smoke and fiery sparks. The sea was very rough. Swimming underwater was easiest.
The whales swam offshore, back and forth, while the people looked on.
What are you waiting for? Murel demanded. Can't you see that the volcano is about to erupt?
We can see that fine, Bitfin said. Can't you see that if we swim any closer we'll beach ourselves and be even more stranded than your people are? You didn't mention suicide mission when you asked for your little favor.
Which you tricked us into, don't forget, one of the females added.
Don't be such big babies! Murel said. This is important. Of course, I don't want you to commit suicide. She felt extremely cross, but not so much with them as with herself. It hadn't occurred to her that the people on land might not realize the whales could not swim close enough for them to simply hop on and ride without endangering themselves.
She swam closer to the shore. The smallest Honu poked its head out from under a lava ledge. We can help, Murel, he said. Ke-ola and the others may hang on to our shells and we will swim them out to the whales if you will make sure the whales know Honus are not for eating.
Murel swam back to the whales and explained the plan.
Can't eat sharks, can't eat seals, can't eat otters, can't eat turtles, can't eat humans. You got a lot of rules for a minnow morsel, the leader said. We orcas are big people. We need our nourishment.
Get on with ye, Murel said in a prodding tone she'd heard her aunt Sinead use. Two of the species you mentioned are new to the planet and you never had them to eat before, nor have you seen that many humans. You have tons and tons of fish to eat like everyone else. Then she added, pleading, Come on, please. My whole family will spend the winter catching fish for you if you'll just help.
Oh, very well, but don't worry about fishing for us. You're so slow we'd starve before you'd caught enough to keep one of us alive for a day.
Once the Honus were reassured, they conveyed the plan to Ke-ola and Keoki.
Keoki set the example, under the Honus' direction. One of the turtles swam close enough for him to grab on to the sides of the shell. The Honu then ferried him out beyond the lava shelf. Murel felt its trepidation as it faced the pod of whales, but the leader dived and came up under Keoki's lower torso and legs. Keoki released the Honu's shell and instead held on to the whale's dorsal fin.