Page 68 of Daughter of the Deep

‘Helm?’

‘Aye,’ says Halimah.

‘Dive?’

‘Aye,’ says Lee-Ann.

‘Comm?’

‘Aye, Captain.’ Virgil uses the title without a trace of irony.

‘Weapons?’ I ask Gem.

‘Uh …’ He stares at his console. ‘I mean … aye? Short-range Leyden guns, maybe. And this button apparently electrifies the outer hull, but whether it works or not –’

The panel sparks, shocking his fingers. ‘Ow! Okay, sorry,Nautilus. Weapons, aye.’

‘Right.’ I can’t believe I’m doing this. ‘Lines free. Hatches sealed … Helm, take us out. Ahead slow.’

‘Ahead slow, aye,’ Halimah says.

The floor shudders. A wake swells over the great domed windows. We begin to move.

‘Yes!’ Virgil cheers.

Halimah and Lee-Ann give each other a fist bump.

I can’t celebrate quite so easily. I’m afraid my next command will expose thousands of leaks in the sub and get us all drowned.

‘Engine room,’ I say, ‘rig for dive.’

‘Engine room,’ Nelinha responds, ‘rig for dive, aye.’

‘Weapons room,’ Dru Cardenas reports. ‘We are secured, Captain.’

‘LIBRARY,’ Ester’s voice announces. ‘DITTO.’

‘Library?’ I look around, realizing for the first time thatEster is not on the bridge. I guess I just assumed she would follow me.

‘Well, I have to be somewhere,’ Ester says. ‘Besides, Jupiter brought maple scones.’

Top barks, rattling the speakers. He’s probably saying,Yay for orangutans!

‘Ester, to the bridge, please,’ I say. ‘I need your help reading the ship.’

‘Aye, Captain.’ She sighs.

‘And bring me a scone?’

‘Me, too, please,’ says Virgil.

Halimah, Lee-Ann, Jack and Gem all raise their hands.

‘Six scones,’ I say.

‘Six scones, aye,’ Ester says. ‘Would you like any espresso drinks with that today?’

I can’t tell if she’s kidding. ‘We’re good, thanks.’

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