Page 14 of Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm

“Of course, Miss Mystic. We’re happy to have you,” Tamara said. “All right, everyone.” The scientist gave a brisk nod and started walking up the ramp toward the ship. “Follow me.”

For the next hour, Shinji and Lucy received the grand tour of theSeas the Day, with Phoebe trailing along behind them. It was a huge ship. There was a specimen lab and a metal shop, a chart room and a chemistry station. They walked through the galley and said hello to the crew cooks, then visited the doctor in the medical bay. Dr. Grant then showed them the bridge, where they could look out over the glittering ocean and see where it touched the sky.

“And this is the cargo hold,” she explained a few minutes later, pushing back a large metal door. “This is where we

keep theSeabeetle, which is the submarine we’ll be using to explore the shipwreck when we get there.”

Standing next to Shinji, Lucy gave a gasp of delight and rushed into the room. In the center of the hold, sitting on a wooden platform, a bright yellow submarine gleamed under the fluorescent lights. It wasn’t long or torpedo-shaped like the subs Shinji had seen in the movies. This one was sleek and modern-looking, with twin propellers at the back and a glass bubble up front to permit passsengers to see everything around the sub. It did remind Shinji vaguely of a beetle or some kind of bug, but it was also one of the coolest things he had ever seen.

“I’ve heard about these,” Lucy exclaimed, stepping back from the submarine with her hands clasped beneath her chin, as if she really wanted to get close but was afraid to touch it. “They’re super high-tech and really amazing. They can dive to depths most personal submarines can’t even touch, and have retractable legs to better move along the ocean floor.”

Tamara Grant smiled at her excitement. “You know your stuff,” she told Lucy, who beamed. “That is correct, although this is SEA’s own creation. Safer than any underwater exploration vehicle ever assembled, thanks to its patented design. TheSeabeetlealso comes with two remote-controlled drones for underwater surveillance. They can get to places even theSeabeetlecan’t reach, so we will be well prepared once we arrive at the shipwreck site.”

“That’s so cool,” Lucy breathed. “Can I…?” She

hesitated. “I mean, I don’t want to get in the way, but is it possible to see the schematics?”

Dr. Grant chuckled. “They told me you were somewhat of a tech wiz, Miss Frost. One moment.” Raising an arm, she beckoned to someone on the other side of theSeabeetle. “Hayley,” she called. “Would you come here a moment, please?”

A young woman walked around theSeabeetle, wiping her hands on a rag. “This is Hayley Frye,” Dr. Grant said. “She’s the one who keeps theBeetleup and running, who knows it inside and out. Hayley, this is Lucy Frost.”

“Hi there,” the young woman greeted Lucy. “Nice to meet you.”

“Would you be amenable to showing her theSeabeetle? I think she has some questions for you. That is”—Dr. Grant turned to Lucy—“if you don’t mind staying here and missing the end of the tour. All that is left is to show you your quarters and join the captain on deck when we cast off. But I can have Ms. Frye take you there later if you really want to stay.”

“Could I?” Lucy’s eyes widened. “That would be great! Um, if that’s okay with Shinji.”

“Fine with me.” Shinji knew if Lucy didn’t get to stay, she would either be so distracted she wouldn’t hear anything else, or she would talk about theSeabeetlethe rest of the night. Or both.

“Thanks.” Lucy turned back to the mechanic. “I’d love

to hear more about theSeabeetle,” she said eagerly. “Is it anything like the Nemo or Pisces subs? What depths can it dive to? How does the hull withstand the pressure of the ocean past two thousand meters?”

Shinji rolled his eyes as the two walked off, already talking about submarine engines and mechanics and things that made no sense to him. If he knew Lucy, she would likely be here until dinnertime. He probably wouldn’t see her for the rest of the night.

Shinji crossed his arms.Good,he thought. He was still a little mad at her for spilling his secret earlier. He’d told her that he couldn’t control his powers, and she let that slip in front of everyone. Worse, she’d let it slip in front of Phoebe Mystic, who was standing next to Shinji now, smiling down in a way that made him slightly nervous.

“All right,” said the chief scientist as Lucy and Hayley disappeared around theSeabeetle, “let’s get you to your quarters, and then we’ll nearly be ready for castoff.”

Shinji’s quarters were tiny and cramped, with a narrow bed set into the wall, a desk, and a set of drawers, with barely enough space to walk between them. It was strangely comforting, as his room aboard theGood Ternwas much the same. He was used to small ship quarters and easily maneuvered his way around the room. Dropping his duffel bag on the floor, he sat on his cot, leaned back, and listened to the faint sound of the waves lapping against the sides of the ship.

A sharp knock on his door jerked him out of his doze.

Thinking it was probably Lucy, Shinji slid off the cot, making sure to duck his head to avoid the low ceiling, and walked across the room to open the door.

It was not Lucy.

“Hello, Shinji!” Phoebe beamed at him through the frame. He stifled a groan. “I was thinking,” she went on, “since Lucy is busy and Oliver is with the captain, this would be the perfect time to talk about your magic problems.”

“I don’t have problems,” Shinji said. “I’m doing fine. I can handle it on my own.”

“Of course you can,” Phoebe said matter-of-factly. “And I want to hear all about it! That’s the first step in figuring out the solution to a problem after all. Let’s make use of the ship’s library we saw earlier, shall we? It will be the perfect quiet spot to talk about your magic. With any luck, we’ll have this figured out by dinner.”

She wasn’t giving him any opportunity to back out. Shinji could’ve claimed he was tired and not feeling well, but that would only delay this meeting to a later time. Phoebe wasn’t going away, and unless he wanted to dodge her the entire trip, he was going to have to talk to her sometime.

“Sure,” he muttered with a shrug. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Wonderful!” Phoebe beamed. “Just give me a few minutes to retrieve some things from my room. I will meet you in the library in ten minutes.”

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