Journey to the Heart of the Abyss by London Shah

Author:London Shah [SHAH, LONDON]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Bergen is mesmerizing.

Beside me in the submersible Papa twists and turns in an effort to take it all in as we follow the wedding invitation’s directions through the evening water toward the ceremony.

I’ve kept quiet about what I discovered with Ari earlier: that we share a memory of the same moment from years ago. It’s not only that Papa would definitely worry, but I can’t handle it myself either. Not right now. Ari and I agreed we’d keep it to ourselves until we have more time to make sense of it. We had to return almost as soon as we found out, or we’d be late for the wedding. I really, really want to forget everything for a few hours. It’ll still be waiting for me afterward anyway. I straighten in my seat, determined to enjoy my very first amphi ceremony.

We’re headed for the station as there aren’t enough hatches at the venue hired for the wedding. All guests must park at the station and make the rest of their way via public transport. My pulse races as I process everything I’m seeing.

Bergen is a dense, urban city sprawled across a mountainous landscape. It’s full of high-rises and domes, and so much of it is interconnected. See-through tunnels stretch through the deepest-green waves, both just above the seabed and also crisscrossing higher up to connect the looming towers. The place is so vibrant and I love it! Ledges glow with sleek, modern buildings, and ropes bearing phosphorous business signs and directions stretch between rock faces. Lights blink and beam from the homes and the water glows with color and illumination. People are busy with their lives and dart by in submersibles. It’s dazzling!

“There, Pickle.” Papa points to a lengthy see-through structure that has endless tunnels leading off: the station.

A school of shimmering pink salmon scatters out of my way as I approach one of the countless hatches on the side. I turn my head, and my eyes widen at the sight of someone in the water, casually working away on the hatch next to ours. She wears a bright neon vest and grins and waves over at us before continuing to replace the watertight seal. She has an ease about her I’ve not seen in a single other amphi. I can’t believe it. An entire city of amphis, and all of them living out in the open. Wow, this sight would be unthinkable back in London.

We park the sub, and as we make our way down to the terminal, several people turn to stare at us, causing me to tense. Captain Sebastian declared us Britain’s most wanted and had our pictures plastered all over the news. Papa turns to me now, a reassuring look on his face as he shakes his head softly.

“They’re admiring your outfit.” He smiles.

I glance down at my lehnga. I only wear traditional desi clothes on special occasions because though I adore how they look, I do spend an awful lot of time fiddling with the outfit.

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