“The waters of the world contain millions of species we haven’t even identified yet. Millions. There are plains, mountains, and trenches under the seas we haven’t mapped. And we’re destroying them….”
He shook his head, unable to finish. When he got his emotions under control again, he said, “Elisabetta graduates law school next year. Then she can continue our father’s work—taking marine polluters to court. I graduate in three years—if I can ever get back to school—and then I’ll do my part to document the damage, make people sit up and take notice. Maybe my generation can achieve what my father’s couldn’t. I hope so. It’s the only chance the ocean’s got.”
Becca was moved by Marco’s passion—and surprised by it. She’d had no idea that there were terragoggs who cared so deeply for the seas and their creatures. Nor had she any idea that she could care for a terragogg.
As a friend, she hastily told herself. And why wouldn’t I? He saved my life, and he and Elisabetta have been so kind to me.
The waves had carried them back to the boat. Becca heard footsteps on deck and looked up. Elisabetta was standing in the bow, binoculars raised to her eyes.
“See anything, El?” Marco shouted to her.
“A manta ray and a school of sea bass,” she shouted back.
Marco spotted the ray about twenty yards away.
“Come on, let’s race. Last one to the ray is a rotten squid egg!” Marco said.
They dove. Becca streaked to the manta, certain she’d reach it first, but Marco was right behind her. The ray saw them coming. In no mood for their games, he flipped his tail at them and sped off.
Becca laughed. Then she remembered that Marco was human, not mer, and looked at him, worried that he might need to surface. He understood the concern in her eyes, shook his head, and gave her a thumbs-up.
A movement to her right caught Becca’s attention. Something loomed toward them out of the depths. It looked as if a seamount had broken off from the ocean’s floor and was floating by.
Becca grabbed Marco’s hand. She pointed with her other hand. Marco’s eyes grew huge in his face as he followed her gaze. He grinned from ear to ear.
The blue whale was so magnificent and her song so beautiful, that Becca’s heart swelled. She felt Marco’s hand tighten on hers and knew he felt the same way. She turned to him, but Marco wasn’t looking at the whale anymore, he was looking at her. He was still holding her hand and was floating close to her now.
Becca suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe, but in a good way. Then she saw that Marco looked like he couldn’t breathe, either—but in a bad way. She sped to the surface, pulling him after her. Their heads broke the water and Marco inhaled a gulp of air.
As soon as he caught his breath, he took both of her hands in his, and said, “Becca, I need to tell you something—”
His eyes had that same intense look they’d had earlier. And Becca once again felt that his gaze held something more than friendship. Her heart started to race. Because she felt something more than friendship, too, but she didn’t want to. She knew that anything more than friendship between a human and a mer was a bad idea. A very bad idea.
“What is it, Marco?” she asked, almost fearfully.
“I think—”
But the rest of his answer was cut off by shouting, urgent and fearful. “Marco! Becca! Back in the boat now!”
Elisabetta was running to the captain’s chair.
“Two speedboats off the starboard bow. Mfeme’s!” she yelled.
“Go, Becca! Hurry!” Marco said, pushing her toward the boat.
Becca dove, swam under the boat, then shot onto the narrow platform hanging down from the hull. She positioned herself just as Marco had taught her to and pressed a green button. The platform was pulled up inside the boat, sealing the hull. Becca slid open another hatch above her, hoisted herself into the saltwater tank, and slid the hatch closed.
“She’s in!” Marco shouted. “Go, El!”
Elisabetta tore off. The seas were choppy and the boat smacked against the waves.
“Marco, it’s me they want,” Becca said. “Open the hatch. I’ll swim out and disappear.”
“No way. That’s exactly what they’re hoping for,” said Marco. “I’d bet any amount of money they have death riders on board their boats ready to swim after you.”
As they spoke, they heard Elisabetta open the throttle.
“She’s trying to outrun them,” Marco said.
Becca crouched down in the tank. Its clear sides allowed her to see the ocean out of a window. The wind had grown stronger and the waves had risen higher.
Marco poked his head out of the hatch and swore. “It’s no good,” he told Becca anxiously, as he returned to the tank. “They’re blocking us. They’re trying to cut us off.”
“Hang on, everyone!” Becca heard Elisabetta yell. “It’s about to get bumpy!”
The engines were roaring now. The Marlin was going much faster than it should in rough seas.
“Marco, what’s happening?” Becca asked fearfully, gripping both sides of the tank. Water was sloshing over them now. “Where are Mfeme’s boats?”