The Whale Song Translation: A Voyage of Discovery To Neptune and Beyond (29 page)

Dmitri tugged at his shirt collar. “And what?”

“I have a friend who could pilot the boat.”

“What are you suggesting, Lila?”

“If Chris doesn’t change his mind by tomorrow, my friend, Tony, could help us bypass the protestors’ barricade. We could approach and board the boat from the water under the cover of darkness. Tony is a master pilot who does contract work for various tour companies, so we won’t need Chris or Peter’s nautical skills. I’ve done whale song field research for over two years. I know their habitats, their behavior, and how to locate them. I’m an expert diver, and I can pilot a boat if necessary.”

“That sounds illegal to me.” Dmitri brushed away the beads of moisture tickling his brow. “Your boss would be hopping mad and probably press charges against whoever’s involved.”

“I know the real Chris Gorman,” implored Lila, “and he’s a complicated guy but a very good one. Right now his ethics compel him to protect us. But once we’ve made the decision for him, I know his passion for the humpbacks will prevail. He’ll find a way to forgive us. And reengage with us too.”

“Unless, of course, we encounter real trouble on the high seas and something terrible happens,” Dmitri said softly. “I’d be wracked with guilt the rest of my life.”

A spasm of emotion contorted Lila’s face. “PICES researchers on Molokai reported two more humpbacks washed ashore this morning.” Her cheeks and forehead had turned red. “To paraphrase Hegel, ‘The history of the world is a slaughter bench, because of actors that did not think and thinkers that did not act
.
’ For the sake of the whales, now is the time to act.”

After a prolonged silence, Seema sighed. “I agree with Lila. I think Professor McPinsky would want us to proceed.”

“Me too, boss,” said Andrew. “The potential rewards outweigh the risks.”

It was obvious to Dmitri that the fault line of opinion was generational. “And the children shall lead them,” he thought to himself.

“
Et tu
, Greg?” he asked.

Greg replied immediately. “You’re my compadre. Whatever you decide is fine with me.”

Dmitri locked the fingers of both hands over his head and began to pace around the table. “It’s all up to me then. I’ve never had to make a decision so agonizing.”

“I’m sorry I put you in such an awkward position,” said Lila. “Why don’t you think about it? Get a good night’s rest, and then tomorrow you can discuss the matter with our mutual friend. Melanie is the most supportive person I’ve ever known.”

Dmitri knew Melanie would be devastated by Lila’s news about the whales’ escalating death toll. He ceased his pacing. Realizing he couldn’t look Lila in the eye, he hung his head and stared at the floor.

“Oh, and one more thing,” said Lila, with a new air of authority. “With the exception of Melanie, not a word of what we’ve discussed leaves this room.”

Everyone was speechless. After all, what more could they say?

S
YMPHONY IN THE
P
ARK

Wailuku Public Park, Wailuku, Maui—the next day

“Meet me in Wailuku at the koi pond in Keilani Park, no later than 1:55 p.m. I’ve attached a link to a map of the area.”

After reading the last sentence of Melanie’s text message, Dmitri checked his wristwatch: 1:48 p.m. He stared at the creased map one more time. It was rumpled and smudged, appearing to have absorbed all of his recent tension. Confident he’d arrived at the right destination, he stuffed the printout into a back pocket and started walking down a cheerful bougainvillea-lined path. A pleasant stroll like this would normally set his mind at ease. This time, however, he couldn’t stop worrying about his current dilemma.

For the past twenty-four hours, he’d been paralyzed by indecision about the fate of the experiment. After yesterday’s debacle at PICES headquarters, Gorman had informed Padgett he’d suspended their investigation, citing safety issues related to the violent protests. The youngest members of the team, however, had again beseeched Dmitri to override Gorman’s edict and to sanction a stealth launch.

All morning, Dmitri had grappled with the tumultuous forces raging inside his head. Realizing he needed the counsel of the one person on the island he trusted most, he phoned Melanie. Once he’d told her about the latest developments, she’d juggled her work schedule for a rendezvous at her favorite public park. He’d been curious about her insistence to meet at such a precise time, and just to be safe, he had arrived a bit early.

He hadn’t been to a park in a long time, and as he surveyed the landscape, he realized he needed to spend more time outdoors instead of cloistered in a laboratory. The brilliant sunshine illuminated a vivid floral tapestry, framed by blue sky and green grass. A distant figure waved to him from a bench next to a lily pond. Dmitri raised a hand in greeting. He saw Melanie surrounded by the purple clouds of a flowering jacaranda grove and a magenta ground fog of bougainvillea.

As he approached, his pulse quickened. Her lithe figure was graced by a jade-green, silk cheongsam. To Dmitri she looked like the spectacular centerpiece of an impressionistic painting. He inhaled the perfumed scent of ginger and was greeted by the serenade of hundreds of Hawaiian songbirds and whistling mynahs. They sounded like little music boxes hidden in the branches. The melodious chorus lifted his spirits. He sat down next to Melanie and held his breath. A black and gold butterfly adorned her hair, flexing its wings like a decorative fan beating the air.

“You arrived just in time.” The butterfly took wing.

“For what?” he replied.

“You’ll soon find out. How are you holding up under the pressure?”

“Before I forget, I want to thank you for arranging such a wonderful picnic of color and sound.” He reached for her hand. “I already feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The bird symphony is as mesmerizing as you are.” She didn’t hesitate to respond, embracing him. He pressed his cheek to her satiny hair and inhaled the scent of jasmine.

Melanie turned and their eyes met. “It’s a very calming sound. I come here to relax on hectic days, and I’m so glad it’s helping you unwind.” She peeked at her wristwatch. “Now get ready for the next song on today’s program.”

From across the park, Dmitri heard the clarion call of a school bell. The avian chorus instantly evaporated into the sweet-scented air. After a brief silence, he heard a crescendo of exuberant chatter from a nearby playground.

He gave her a quizzical look. “It’s uncanny that the birds stopped just as the children’s voices began.”

“It happens every time. I think the birds are entranced by the children’s playful twittering.”

“Human white noise.” He smiled. “It’s such a peaceful sound, and soothing, like your voice.” She squeezed his hand.

“For me it’s inspirational. It reminds me of my childhood hopes and dreams. And the chameleon-like quality reflects my moods. How is it affecting you?”

“It’s hard to tell,” Dmitri replied, “but you’re right. Their voices take me back to my childhood. In some strange way, I’m sensing something about my past is the reason I’m struggling now.”

She nodded. “Maybe we can figure it out.”

“I’m a pretty lucky guy to have you as my guardian angel.” Dmitri brushed his fingertips across her cheek. “I’m also recognizing a theme emerging from your orchestration of this concert in the park event. First, the chorus of birdsong followed by the celestial children’s choir—”

“And remember the songs of the humpback. So what theme are you referring to? What’s the binding tie?” Melanie’s smile sparkled in the natural light.

“You’re a magician,” he exclaimed. “You can add song therapist to your resume. Yes, yes, I know Lila is right. Except for the fact that a wildcat launch is probably illegal and obviously usurps Gorman’s authority, taking a risk for the whales makes a lot of sense. What to do? What to do?” He looked up to the sky and shook his head.

“I know it sounds corny,” answered Melanie, “but sometimes when I need even more inspiration, I visit my neighborhood elementary school playground when nobody’s there.”

“How—”

Before he could continue, she placed her soft palm upon his lips. “I sit on a swing and visualize the thousands of children who’ve played on that field. I imagine their spirits have been absorbed into the ground. Then I begin to kick my knees like I did as a child and swing wildly. When I’m completely giddy and accelerating toward the earth, I summon all my willpower to channel that same spiritual energy out of the ground and into my mind and body. To me, that schoolyard is more of a cathedral than any church. Maybe we can go there sometime.”

The sound of a familiar musical jingle punctured Dmitri’s reverie. Sounding like the tintinnabulations of a music box melody, the tune reminded him of the bell-ringing announcement on his father’s ice cream truck. Long ago, he’d composed a tribute to his dad to this very jingle. He hadn’t thought about it for many years. He had called it “The Song of My Father.”

Dmitri stared into space. When a single tear slid down his cheek, Melanie reached out and clutched his shoulders. “I’m so sorry.” She shook him gently. “I didn’t realize you’d be . . .”

Her voice and her touch brought him back. He turned to face her. “How did you know I should hear that?”

“The last time you visited me, you mentioned your father’s accident. I wanted to help you so badly, I—”

Just as she had done earlier, he touched his fingers, ever so gently, to her lips. “After school, the kids streamed into the street to my father’s ice cream truck and his beckoning jingle. It was a mob scene of pure delight. All of my classmates danced around him, waving their quarters, and begging him to be first to receive their treats. They adored him and so did I. Despite the drudgery of a low-paying job, I could see how happy he’d been to bring joy to so many kids. I was so proud to be his son.” Dmitri choked back emotion, pausing to regain his composure. “Those were the happiest moments of my childhood, maybe even of my entire life.”

Melanie leaned closer, until they were face-to-face, and grasped his hands. “I know your father would be very proud of you—a scientist in the quest of breakthrough discoveries. If he were with us now, you’d probably be asking for his advice instead of mine. So what do you think he’d want you to do? While you’re thinking about it, close your eyes.”

Dmitri did as instructed and soon felt Melanie’s soft caress upon his temples. While she massaged his scalp, she’d begun to hum the lyrical melody of “Greensleeves.” He luxuriated in the soothing sensations of her tender strokes and floated upon the gentle swells of her voice. As he purred and smiled, the vexing thoughts that had clouded his mind gradually dissipated. Like a fog dissolving to reveal a marvelous hidden landscape, his mind’s eye gazed upon the images of both his true father and his adoptive father figure. Although it was too late to save Michael Dmitri, David Dmitri could still “rescue” McPinsky. To his amazement, the goddess of the mountain had once again transmuted sound and vibration into illumination. He opened his eyes to the sight of her radiant smile.

“Hey, buster.” Melanie poked a finger into Dmitri’s chest. “Don’t think for a minute you’re going to launch that floating Speakeasy Lab without the assistance of your neighborhood speech therapist.”

Dmitri responded with a crisp military salute. “Permission granted. All aboard ship.”

Melanie saluted back. “By the way, Captain, when do we sail?”

“Lila said we’d better sneak aboard and launch a couple of hours before sunrise. Her pal is piloting the boat. So tell me, how are you interpreting the sounds from the playground right about now?”

“Like an
Ode to Joy
,” she whispered, and planted a lingering kiss on his lips.

A few moments later, Dmitri heard the ringing of a school bell. With a glance at her wrist watch, Melanie said, “Recess is over.” When the joyful buzz of the children’s chorus subsided, she waved an imaginary baton up into the trees and winked. Within seconds, the mynah bird symphony resumed at full-throated intensity.

W
INDWARD
S
EA
F
LIGHT

Kihei Boat Harbor, Maui—pre-dawn, the next morning

“Don’t splash so loud!” Lila’s fierce whisper pierced the night.

Frozen in mid-stroke, Dmitri clutched an oar and listened. The once distant voices were much closer now. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“Shhh, be quiet,” Lila commanded.

Clad in black, their faces shadowed by dark makeup, the seven coconspirators stealthily rowed a pair of rafts along the quay. Dmitri shared the lead raft with Lila, Melanie, and Greg. Seema, Andrew, and Lila’s friend Tony, who was to pilot the
Research in Paradise
experimental vessel, followed in their wake. Concealed by the cloak of a new moon, they navigated toward the floodlit glow of the PICES boat dock. Dmitri watched the reflections of onshore lights shimmering on the water. The undulating images conjured up reflections of recent events.