The Neptune Project (19 page)

He pauses to fight for breath.
:Nere, there's something you have to promise me. When they hold another election and choose you to lead, you
have
to do it this time. You're their best chance of surviving. You'll be a good commander. You'll make some mistakes, but you'll do a good job. Promise me.:


Kyel's eyes stare at me, compelling me to answer. Even dying, he is one of the most formidable people I've ever met.

:I'll do it if they ask me,:
I promise.

:Good,:
he says, his mental voice growing weaker.
:Where's Thom?:


:I'm here, K-man,:
Thom replies, and Kyel searches for his hand. Thom reaches down and grips it.

:This is my final order. You are going to swim away from here and leave me to the fish and the crabs. I'm dead anyway, and I don't care what happens to my body.:


:All right. But we're not leaving until you're gone, K-man.:


:You always were one stubborn guy.:
Kyel tries to smile at Thom, but he coughs up blood instead.

:Ree? I can't see. Are you there?:


She bends over him and presses a kiss on his forehead, and I think he is saying something to her on a private send. She straightens up, and Kyel grimaces, as if he's facing one last enemy. Then his chest stops heaving and his body goes slack.

After Tobin checks Kyel's pulse, he gently closes his eyes.

:He's gone,:
he says simply.

Thom bows his head, and his big shoulders begin to shake. Ree slips an arm around his waist.

I bite my lip when I realize that everyone else is looking at me now.

:I NOMINATE NERE
to be our new leader,:
Robry says, his mental voice sad but firm.

Ree gives me a resigned look.
:I think Kyel nominated her first, right before he died.:


:Let's put it to a vote, then,:
Tobin says.
:All those in favor of Nere taking over as our leader, raise your hand.:


The vote is unanimous. A heavy weight settles on my shoulders. Is this how Kyel felt every day? I still believe that they are making a huge mistake, but I have to honor the promise I made to Kyel.

:All right, I'll do it,:
I say numbly.
:I know I have to make the hard decisions, and in emergency situations, you have to follow my orders. But I also want to hear your suggestions. I can't do this quite the way Kyel did. We're still figuring out how to make this work down here, and I know you're all going to have good ideas.:


As acceptance speeches go, it's pretty lame, but I'm too sad and weary to think up anything better. I look at Penn's averted face. With a sigh, I realize he's one of the first problems I'm going to have to solve.

:Thom, please go through Kyel's seapack,:
I say, trying to sound sure of myself when I'm really just winging it.
:Divide and pass around his equipment. I know Kyel didn't want a full burial, but I think we should do something for him before we leave here.:


I look at Ree's set face, and I add quickly,
:Ree, you can help Thom if you'd like.:


Ree sniffs and nods.

:And keep an eye on Thom for me, will you?:
I add on a private send.
:If he looks like he's about to go for Penn, don't let him.:


:All right, but I'd like to pound Penn's face in myself. Kyel's death is all his fault.:


I close my eyes. I can picture big rangy Ree taking apart Penn, who is slight for a guy.
:Try not to, okay? I think Penn understands that Kyel is dead because of him, and that's not going to be an easy thing for him to live with.:


:At least he gets to live. Kyel and my
querida
Pani didn't,:
Ree says bitterly as she goes to help Thom.

Starting to get a headache, I decide that our next order of business is eating.
:Dai, I want you and Ton to go find us some food.:


:We're on it, boss.:
Dai salutes me, but I don't think he means the salute disrespectfully. I realize now that Dai mocks everyone equally.
:I think shark's probably on the menu,:
he adds with a meaningful look at a large mako that is circling outside the cave mouth.

:Good. Everyone else, stay in the cave and try to rest up. We'll head out in a half hour.:


I swim over to the cave mouth. The sea has started to lighten. It's morning now. Robry comes to float beside me. I watch as Dai kills the mako with a single shot through its right eye. After the shark stops thrashing, he tows it away.

:Thanks for the nomination, kid,:
I tell Robry on a private send.
:Remind me to do the same for you someday.:


:I know you don't want to do it, but Kyel was right. You're the best choice for the job.:


:Well, I meant what I said about the suggestions, especially from you. You're twice as smart as I am.:


Robry snorts at that.
:I'm smart enough to know you're going to make some mistakes, and you're going to beat yourself up over them.:


:I'm counting on you to give me good ideas, and then maybe I won't make as many mistakes. So:
—I force myself to add on a lighter note—
:did I sound leaderlike just now?:


:Absolutely, Commander Nere,:
Robry says with a grin.
:I almost saluted you, too.:


:I'm really glad you're here.:
I want to give him a hug, but I know that would embarrass him in front of the others, so I punch his shoulder lightly instead.

:I'm glad I'm here, too,:
Robry says. He looks away from me and studies the sea floor beyond our cave.
:You know, it's been harder down here than I thought it would be, but it's also more beautiful.:


I follow his glance. The early morning sun shines down in rippling gold and greenish beams through the water, highlighting a rare group of purple hydrocoral growing on the rocky sea floor. A school of ocean whitefish swim by, their yellow tails glinting in the sunbeams. I'm glad Robry helped me to see how pretty this place is. I needed to see something pretty right now.

I call the dolphins and check them carefully for injuries. Kona has a spear-dart graze on her tail that I treat with antiseptic cream from my seapack. The dolphins are in a subdued mood.

:Mariah, I'm so sorry about Pani,:
I say.

:I miss her. we all miss her,:
Mariah says as she rests her head on my arm, and Tisi crowds in close for a rub.

Dai returns to our cave with some mako fillets and hands out strips of shark meat. I have no appetite, and I really don't like shark, but I make myself eat several bites, since I'm the leader now.

Kalli calls to Ree and Thom, who stop their sad work to join us.

:What is this, anyway?:
Thom asks as he takes a strip from Dai.

:Shark,:
Dai replies.

:Hey, it's nice to take a bite out of one of them for a change.:


We all smile at Thom's joke. I appreciate the effort he's making to cheer us up.

When we finish with our simple meal, Thom tells me,
:We're pretty much done back there.:


:All right. Would you like to say something? You knew him best.:


Thom grimaces.
:I'm not so good with words.:


:You'll do fine.:


We move to the back of the cave and see that they've piled some rocks on Kyel's body. Someone, maybe Ree, made a
K
on top of the pile with several white shells.

:He'd want me to keep this short,:
Thom says,
:so I will. Kyel was one of the toughest, bravest guys I've ever known. In a fight, he'd always have my back. I'm going to miss you, K-man. I hope someone's got your back, wherever you are now.:


:Can I say something?:
Bria asks.

:You bet.:
Thom nods to her encouragingly.

:I'm alive right now because of Kyel. I can't replace him, but I will do my best to be a useful member of this group. I…I'm never going to forget him.:


Penn looks up from the pile of rocks, a muscle ticking in his cheek.
:I gotta say something, too. I know I screwed up, and Kyel's dead because of me. I realize you guys may want to toss me out because of what I did, and I won't blame you.:


Penn looks at Thom.
:I'm sorry. I didn't think any of us would die when I mined that boat. I…I just wanted to make them pay for what they did to Sara.:


:That's right, you didn't think,:
Thom says angrily, and he starts across the cave toward Penn.

Tobin and Ree grab Thom's shoulders. He lets them hold him back from Penn—for the moment, anyway.

:We'll vote tonight on whether or not Penn gets to stay with us,:
I say, hoping I sound more confident than I feel.
:But the only way this group is going to survive is if we can depend on one another. If we vote to let Penn stay, you
all
are going to have to forgive him for what he did.:


I look straight at Penn.
:And you need to think about whether you can live by our decisions. Kyel was strong enough to do that. He gave up on attacking the Marine Guard vessel when we voted against that plan.:


I want to add,
And you didn't, and now Kyel's gone, and
they're stuck with me trying to lead them.

I suck in a deep breath.
:All right, it's time we headed out.:


I look at Kyel's rough grave a final time. I wonder how many more of us we may leave behind in lonely sea caves like this one.

Wish me luck,
I think to Kyel.
I'm just beginning to under
stand what a hard job you had.

As we leave the cave and start swimming in our travel formation, I look back at the people who follow me. I think I know what Kyel would say. I have to take this job one day at a time. My goal for now is to keep everyone alive until nightfall.

WE TRAVEL STEADILY
for three hours, and then the dolphins sense a Marine Guard vessel approaching. We have enough warning to hide under a rock overhang until the ship passes. Before the sun starts to set, Dai and Ton discover the wreck of a tugboat that's in good enough shape to protect us from predators.

After Tobin checks Penn's and Ree's wounds, we eat on the deck of the old tug. Kalli gathered some wakame, which actually tastes pretty decent combined with the lobsters we caught scuttling around down in the bilge. Still, I'm too worried about Penn to have much of an appetite.

:All right,:
I say tiredly when we finish eating.
:Let's get this meeting over with. I guess we need to vote on whether or not Penn should stay in this group.:


I glance at Penn. He's trying to look like he doesn't care what we decide, but I sense that he's scared to death. He's had all afternoon to think about trying to survive on his own. I consider everything I've learned so far about Penn, and I know how I'll vote.

When no one says anything, I realize that my companions are waiting for me to begin. I sit up straighter and hope I can find the right words.
:I think Penn made a mistake, but I vote to let him stay with us. He held his own in our fight this morning, and we all saw how hard he fought to keep Sara alive.:


I look at Penn.
:I believe that you are brave and loyal. If you can be loyal to us, I know you'll be a valuable member of this team.:


We go around the circle, and each person votes. Bria, Robry, and Kalli vote in favor of letting Penn remain with us. Then it's Ree's turn.
:You put us all in danger, and Kyel died because of you. I vote no,:
she says stonily.

Thom is next.
:No,:
he says, his gaze smoldering as he stares at Penn.

Lena gives Penn a long look.
:I know you loved Sara, but you shouldn't have risked our lives. I vote yes, but if you go against the group again, I'll say no next time.:


:I agree with Lena,:
Tobin says.
:I saw how hard you fought to save Sara. I vote yes for now.:


:You're too much of a hothead. You'll put us in danger again. I vote no,:
Dai says flatly.

I let go the breath I'd been holding, and Penn relaxes as well.
:That's six votes to three,:
I tell him.
:Which means you can stay with us. Think about what we said tonight; and those of you who voted no need to remember that most of us want him to stay.:


I pause and make an effort to lighten my tone.
:There's one more change I think you're going to like. We won't take turns keeping watch all night long anymore. The pod will stay near us. Dolphins sleep with one half of their brains awake, and I know they'll give us plenty of warning if they sense a big predator nearby. We're going to be traveling hard for the next several weeks, and we need all the rest we can get.:


Kalli grins at me.
:That's an
outstanding
change. Now I know why I voted to make you boss.:


:Right.:
I smile back at her, feeling awkward.
:Well, this meeting is over. Let's get some sleep. We'll leave right after sunrise tomorrow.:


I stop Thom with a private send as the others leave.
:Can you deal with the way this turned out?:


Thom turns to face me.
:I'm never going to like Penn, but I won't cause trouble, if that's what you're asking.:


:Thank you, and I'm so sorry about Kyel.:


:So am I. He was my best friend since I can remember,:
Thom says, a bleak look in his eyes, and then he swims away.

I see Lena, Kalli, and Ree go off together, and Robry and Bria. Suddenly I feel like I'm Freak Girl back in school. Sighing, I go to say good night to the dolphins. Their happiness at seeing me cheers me up a little.

When Tobin approaches us, Kona, Ricca, Mali, Halia, and Sokya dart in circles around him, and Mariah looks on tolerantly.

:I noticed that Kona had a cut on her tail,:
Tobin says.
:Do you want me to look at it?:


:That'd be great. I've been worrying that maybe it needs stitches.:


I call Kona. Tobin puts his hands gently about her tail, his expression thoughtful as he looks at her wound. I can see why the dolphins like him. There's something very comforting about being around Tobin.

:I don't think it's deep enough to need stitches,:
Tobin says.
:I saw that you put some ointment on it earlier.:


:It's an antiseptic cream my mother created that seems to help dolphins heal faster. For now, I guess we'll just keep an eye on her.:


Tobin's dolphin partner, Mali, crowds in close, thrusting her head under his arm.

:She's jealous. I think she's got a crush on you,:
I tease him.
:In fact, all the girls in the pod seem to really like you.:


Tobin laughs at that, but he blushes, too.
:It's nice to know I have some fans. I think they're pretty amazing, too.:


:How's Bria holding up?:


Tobin turns away from the dolphins.
:She's much happier since we met up with you. Some tough things have happened, but she really likes you and Robry, and she loves the dolphins.:


:She has a real gift for working with them.:


:She's not the only one with gifts. Nere, I hope you know that you did fine today.:
Tobin's gaze is warm as he looks at me.
:I'm happy you helped convince everyone to keep Penn.:


:Thanks,:
I reply. Gazing back at Tobin, I wish he'd put his arms around me. I ache inside over Kyel and sweet Pani, and I need a hug.

:I'd be happy to give you a hug,:
Dai says, breaking in on my thoughts.
:If you wait for him to make a move, you're going to have gray hair.:


:Stay out of my head!:
I twist around to find Dai hovering nearby, that familiar mocking expression on his face. Tobin looks from Dai to me, and the warmth in his eyes fades.

:Guess I'll go find my hammock now,:
he says quietly, and moments later, he's slipped away.

:Look, there are some basic rules to being a telepath,:
I hurl at Dai,
:and I'm tired of you breaking them all the time!:


:Who said there are rules?:


:My mother taught me that you only read thoughts sent to you. You've got to stop reading my surface mind. It's rude.:


:My father didn't teach me any such thing. He taught me that telepathy is a weapon, and I have every right to use it when I want to win a fight.:


:But there's no fight here.:


Dai moves closer, his mocking expression vanished. Instead, there's this serious look in his dark eyes that makes my heart thud.

:Nere, you don't really get it, do you? He likes you, and I like you, but you don't know yet who you like. That's our fight and I'm going to make sure I win it.:


How arrogant can he get? I cross my arms.
:I don't know what you're talking about.:


:Keep telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better.:
His ironic smile is back.
:Tobin's right, you know. You're doing fine as a leader, even though I think it's a mistake to keep Penn around.:


A chill steals over me when I remember Dai asking Kyel if he should execute Penn.

:Would you have killed him if Kyel had ordered you to?:


Dai searches my face.
:I don't need to read your mind to know you'd be more comfortable around me if I said no, but I want to give you the truth. I would have done it. He could have gotten us all killed, and therefore his life was ours to take. That's how it works in the world I come from.:


There it is again, the strange, flat note I hear in his tone when he talks about his past.

:Can you tell me more about that world?:


:Maybe, but not tonight. You're almost asleep floating there. It's time for our new leader to get some rest.:


He places both hands on my shoulders. I think he's about to turn me around to send me back to the tug and my hammock, but first he dips his head. Before I can push him away, he kisses me. I find myself leaning in to the kiss even while my mind is screaming,
This is a big mistake!

Just when I'm about to shove him away, Dai raises his head.

I glance at the tugboat. I
really
hope no one inside just saw what Dai did.
:Don't do that again,:
I tell him fiercely.

:I can't promise you that, but I can promise I won't do it again tonight. I just wanted to make sure you dream about me.:
His words are smug, but his eyes are wistful.

I wish I could think up some crushing comment, but I'm too shaken. Instead, I whirl away from him and head for the tugboat. After checking to make sure that everyone but Dai is settled for the night, I pull my hammock from my seapack and find a spot to tie it near the rest of the girls, who are already sleeping.

As I stare up at the dark ceiling of the wreck, I find myself touching my lips. I wish I could just fall asleep, but Dai made that impossible. Every bit of me seems wide awake and tingling. I can't help thinking of my first and only kiss with Cam, and how different it was than Dai's. Cam never made me feel confused and furious all at once.

I remember what Ree told me, that I should just have fun with Dai. I'm not sure I can do that. Dai may drive me crazy, but already I care about him.