The Neptune Promise by Polly Holyoke

Author:Polly Holyoke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, genetic engineering, dolphins, sharks, climate change, ocean, survival, dystopian teen, undersea colonies
Publisher: Polly Holyoke

chapter eighteen

Safety Harbor remains on high alert in the weeks after our return from the Storm Petrel salvage mission. Dad and his staff are afraid Kuron may try to attack and punish us for taking Idaine’s computer. The good news is that the preliminary tests on the c-plankton, which our science staff engineered by following Idaine’s genetic recipe, have gone well. The c-plankton appears to be even more effective at sequestering carbon dioxide than Idaine realized.

“We’ve sent that recipe and our results to governments and scientists around the world and given Idaine full credit for her research,” Dad explains to me one night at his cabin. “So there’s no point in Kuron trying to steal her notes back from us now that the genetic code for her c-plankton is freely available to every country and scientist on the planet.”

“He might still try to come after our colony out of some twisted desire for revenge,” James points out.

“It’s certainly a possibility, and we’ve prepared for that as best we can. The entrance to our main inlet is too shallow for his big sub, even at high tide. Captain Gonzalez just sent us more sonar buoys that we can use to monitor the approach to the bubble wall. It’s also good to know Kuron has only six shredders left under his control.”

“But Whitey, Wasp and Sham combined with six shredders could do a lot of damage,” I say. A shudder goes through me at the thought of them attacking Safety Harbor.

“Which is why we’ll be watching those sonar buoys 24/7,” Dad says, “and our Sea Rangers will continue their patrols.”

Our loyal dolphins will be on the lookout for trouble as well.

I stop by sickbay to check on Dai. Rohan is the chief medic on duty. He rolls his eyes when he sees me because this is the fourth time today I’ve been here. But then he smiles and lets me slip inside Dai’s cubicle.

He’s sleeping, which isn’t a surprise because he underwent another surgery yesterday. Dai heals so rapidly that Doc Iharu has been able to space the operations much closer together than he could with a normal human kid. In a series of delicate procedures, he’s been rejoining severed nerves and muscles in Dai’s shoulder and arm. Dai’s own metabolism is helping by re-growing nerve connections and pathways at a phenomenal rate. At first the doc thought Dai might never regain use of his arm, but already he can move it.

As I watch Dai sleep, I talk to him quietly.

:You know, it’s totally unfair for a guy to have such great eyelashes.: His spread like fine black fans against his pale skin. :I’m still getting used to seeing you without your braids, but no matter how long your hair is, you turn me inside out.:

He’s risked so much twice now to save my life. It’s humbling to have someone care about me that much. And we both know what it’s like to be alone and to be different, at least in part because of our driven parents.

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