Page 84 of Return of the Nine

Inside the underbelly of her ship, the wet entry opened at her touch. It was an octagon fifteen feet wide and a bright UV light was aimed at the opening.

“The Nitka puts out a repulsion field that keeps the entrance clear. No predator will follow anyone who is not us under the ship. Weelar, is that understood? If you just want to look around, stay under the ship.”

Weelar nodded.

“With the mask in my mouth, I won’t be able to speak and I don’t have time to teach you the hand signals that I have worked out, so go out, do what you have to and come back to the ship.”

Rivvin knelt and assembled the gun that would fire the trackers, putting the spares in a net bag tied to his thigh. He nodded. “Understood. Weelar will be able to find me if I end up getting lost.”

Emharo smiled, “As will I. Don’t make me come looking for you.”

He grinned and jumped into the water, circled and then swam away.

She put her tanks on her back and sat at the edge of the entry. “Coming?”

Weelar nodded. “If you can do it, I can do it.”

With her mask and respirator in place, she tipped backward into the cool embrace of the ocean.

A splash next to her brought Weelar into sight.

Smiling around her respirator, she pointed and led him through the water and toward the reef teeming with life.

The bright colours of the fish were a delight to Weelar. His face was expressive and his hands were curious. She stopped him several times when he reached out for something poisonous, and he hopefully read her warning in what was visible of her face.

Out in the column of the current, Rivvin flashed and flickered as he moved around and found his target species.

She pointed out several edible species to him, including her personal favourite, sugar fish. What the Nine called them, she had no idea, but the meat was sweet and had a hint of citrus. She loved them.

When the first predator swam past, Weelar froze in place. Em showed him the calm pose to take and the beast disappeared into the distance.

He let out a stream of bubbles as he sighed.

A ping on her wrist warned her that her oxygen was low, and she patted her tank and pointed back to the hull of the Nitka.

Weelar was disappointed, but he accompanied her back to the ship with slow and easy motions.

Em stepped on the hydraulic lift while Weelar boosted himself out of the water. Her hands unbuckled the tanks, and she peeled off her mask. “So, did you have fun?”

“There is so much to see.” Weelar’s voice was amazed.

“There is. I have been down a hundred times and still haven’t seen it all.” She grinned and hauled her tanks to the filter and compressor.

“Is this area pressurized?”

“Of course. If you want to go up to the deck, step on those stairs, seal the tube that will come around and walk up the spiral staircase to the deck. The hatch will open and seal behind you so that I don’t drown.”

He nodded and sat down. “I will wait for you.”

She chuckled and worked to purge and fill her tanks again.

“You always refill them immediately?”

“Yes. If I have to return to the water, I need to be able to act immediately. Waiting to refill the tanks could cost a life.” She grimaced.

“I understand. Are you going to mate with Rivvin?”

She paused. “I don’t know. I think so. I am not sure what is involved.”

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