The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

Author:Polly Holyoke
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction - Young Adult
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide

AS I STARE AT EVERYONE staring at me, I decide that fighting a shark might be easier than trying to teach a big group like this. I reach out to Mariah and ask her to wait nearby to help. But I still can’t think of what to say. My stomach tightens and the awkward moment seems to stretch into forever.

Ree grins maliciously and leans her head closer to Lena’s. I bet they are exchanging thoughts about me on a private send. I feel my face start to flush.

:Maybe you could begin by telling us how you call the dolphins to you,: Tobin suggests with an encouraging smile.

:Well, it depends on who I need to call.: I focus on his face and pretend I’m just talking to him, and suddenly it’s easier. :With most of the dolphins, I just send them a feeling that I need them, but with Mariah, Sokya, and Densil, I actually tell them in words what I want them to do.:

Dai looks stunned. :Your dolphins can communicate to you in English?:

:Well, yes, mostly because of Mariah. She was orphaned as a calf and grew up with my mother, who is—I mean was—a strong telepath.: My cheeks burn hotter over my stumble, but I make myself keep going. :They played together all the time, and somehow Mariah learned our language from her. She taught it to Sokya and Densil. The other dolphins in the pod just don’t seem interested or able to pick it up. I use hand commands or send visual images to them.:

:Will we be able to communicate telepathically with Mariah?: Kyel asks me intently.

:We’ll have to try and see. I’m going to call Mariah down here, and one at a time, you can try asking her to come to you. She’ll let me know if she can understand your thoughts.:

I call Mariah and explain to her what we’re trying to find out.

:I hear the youngest female, and she understands me,: Mariah replies promptly as she swims down from the surface with Tisi at her side.

I look at Bria in surprise. :Mariah says she’s already been talking with you.:

Bria blushes and looks uncomfortable at becoming the center of attention. :I started hearing her words in my mind that first day when Kyel and I saw the shark. She told me the dolphins were my pod now and they would make sure I stayed safe.:

:This is great!: I tell her. :I’d like to start teaching you how to work with all of them right away.:

:I’d love to,: Bria says, her eyes shining.

Kyel looks pleased. He knows now that if something happens to me, he still has a way to communicate with the dolphins.

:All right,: I say, :let’s see if she can understand anyone else.:

One by one, different members of our group try to call Mariah to them. She hovers in the water next to me while Tisi plays with an orange puffball sponge nearby. Dai tries longer than anyone else, frowning with effort, but Mariah can’t understand him.

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