The Neptune Challenge by Polly Holyoke

Author:Polly Holyoke [Holyoke, Polly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781484719442
Publisher: Disney Book Group

WHEN WE REACH the mess hall, Dai and Wasp aren’t there, which is fine by me. This time when the shark crew attacks their food, I follow Sunny and Shadow’s example and look away, trying to concentrate on talking to the kids closest to me. I’m still jumpy from being shocked, and it’s hard not to stare at the two cameras in the room that constantly track us.

I notice that the shark crew rarely speaks to the rest of Kuron’s kids, and vice versa. It’s like there’re two separate cliques here.

After we finish eating, the shark crew heads out, except for Mako. He lingers after the rest, sending me sideways glances, the muscles twitching around his right eye again. Quickly I fill in my team on what we saw and what happened at the shredder tank.

:I’d like to give those keepers a big zap,: Ree says angrily when I finish.

:Yeah, me too,: I admit, thinking of the guy who laughed after he shocked me.

:So, you wanna come see my greenhouse now?: Mako sidles closer and finally meets my gaze.

:Maybe,: I reply, thinking fast. He looks so hopeful that I’m torn. Mako reminds me of Robry and the way he can get excited and eager about things. But I can’t forget the moment Mako almost bit Tobin.

Tobin contacts me on a private send. :I don’t think it’s a good idea. Dai didn’t want you to go with Mako, and he must have had a reason. It might have something to do with the kid almost taking my arm off when I touched him.:

:So I’ll make sure I don’t touch him,: I argue. :If we ever want to get out of here, we need to start making allies.:

:Mako’s not a good ally for anyone. There’s something really wrong with him.:

:I promise I’ll be careful.:

:Here’s a better idea,: Tobin says, looking obstinate. :Hey, Mako, would it be okay if I came along, too? I’d really like to see your plants.:

Mako jumps when Tobin speaks to him. Then he looks from Tobin to me, never quite meeting our eyes, his tic more noticeable than ever.

:I just want to take her,: Mako says and starts pulling at his hair.

:That’s okay,: I say. :Maybe Tobin can come next time. I’d love to go see your greenhouse right now.:

Tobin scowls at me. :Contact me if you have any problems,: he says on another private send, :and I’ll get Shadow to take me there.:

:I’ll be fine,: I tell Tobin. I hope I’m right.

As Mako leads me toward the landward side of the fortress, I’m careful to keep my distance from him. He swims so quickly, I have problems reading all the door plaques we pass, but I do see one labeled MARINE CHEMISTRY LAB, which looks promising. After he takes me up to a dry-deck access, I climb out of the water and look around cautiously.

Dry Deck One looks remarkably like the submerged ones, with long gray corridors that seem to stretch forever. It’s very clean and new, and the lighting here is low enough that I don’t have to squint.

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