“Marshall.” “Still here, Sir.”
“Alfred.” “No
worse for the wear, Sir.”
“What in blue blazes was that?” “Jacque.”
“Aye Sir, still got me hold on the old life line.”
“Well don’t just stand there. The water’s trying to take us down. Man your stations and check those lines,” the
captain ordered. The captain cut the
wheel hard right and plotted a course away from the mysterious site where he’d
been inexplicable drawn.
Moments before, his vessel had flipped upside down in
the dark waters then righted itself.
Miraculously no one was lost to the sea.
Unknown to the captain was that he’d gained a passenger, a stowaway,
during the ordeal, an Aqua Defender fleeing for her life.
Bebe had propelled herself from the bottom of the
ocean and an untimely end, to the top of the Reaper’s mast in an effort to
escape fellow Aqua Defender, Feng and the king’s evil son, Dagon. Feng was committing high treason when he and
Dagon had conspired to launch the attack on Aquatica. Who
knew what else they planned to do. They
certainly intended to end her life.
A gesture she was not about to forget any time soon.
Wind ruffled the red canvas sails on the disheveled
Herring Drifter. Bebe’s long black hair
swirled in the breeze as she clung to the top of the mast hoping that the
sailors would not notice her perched among the rings used to hoist up the
massive sails. They traveled several nautical
miles under fair winds and calm seas.
Bebe had to be certain Feng hadn’t followed her before summoning another
ride from the deep.
She replayed the night’s events over in her head. Feng had tossed her at the feet of Dagon like
a rag doll. Just wait until I get back to Aquatica, Bebe whispered to herself,
clinging to the mast. Sensing the worst
was over Bebe put two fingers in her mouth and let out a high pitched whistle. She called for Eagala, a sweeping manta ray
with wings that soared through the water.
In just a matter of minutes, Eagala burst forth amid shouts from the
crew.
“What magic is this?” the captain shouted. Everyone stood frozen on the deck. Men shielded their eyes as they looked up at
the manta ray. Its massive wing span blanketed
the ship and cast an impressive shadow across the deck of the Reaper. It gracefully soared through the air and
circled the Herring Drifter. Bebe
mustered her strength and let out a freeing cry as Eagala made its pass over
the red sails. She ripped the golden
beads from her wrist and swung her lasso round the manta ray leaving her perch
on the vessel that had saved her life. Sailors stood in awe on the wooden planks looking at the magical sight, a siren of the sea and her beast flying off into the sunset. Bebe headed towards the Isle of Sculpin to bide her time with the natives until it was safe to return to Aquatica and reveal Feng for the traitor that he was.
Bebe’s manta ray skimmed the surface of the water, tipping its wings into cool emerald green waves breaking off the coast of an island. An exotic, lost world with savage villagers, or so Feng had told her. At this point, the fact that Feng was afraid of the island and the Selachii Tribe was cause enough for her to fly towards it. She needed a safe haven, a place to hide out for a while. Treachery was afoot and danger entered the tight Circle of Trust, once again.
Glittering shards reflected on the ancient coast under the setting sun. Bebe could see a huge bonfire and a loose ring of villagers dancing and chanting to their sea gods in the watery heavens. “Trona,” Bebe patted the neck of Eagala. Her manta ray touched down in a protected cove. She slid off the ray’s back and looked around. The cove appeared man made as it was enclosed with black porous lava rocks. Natives must have brought the lava rocks down from Mount Molo,thought Bebe, a volcano that lay at the heart of the small island.
She waded through the primitive enclosure as villagers stormed the beach. Screeching voices were yelling “Shok! Shok!” Many were frantically swinging their arms over their heads.
Bebe was taken by surprise as she was snatched up and hauled to the shore by two seemingly angry villagers. They released her arms and began speaking in swift foreign tongues. A village boy approached and introduced himself as Yemi. He would echo the words of his brothers in a language that she could understand.
Yemi pointed to the cove, “Danger lurks there,” he explained. Nothing as the danger I just escaped, thought Bebe. The Selachii Tribe he said, were shark charmers. Bebe’s water eagle landed just as the villagers had summoned a mighty beast into their shark arena. Bebe’s eyes quickly darted through the water until she spotted a great white shark, weighing about a ton. The creature was waking from a trance and shook its head from side to side then honed in on the manta ray. With a sudden burst of speed, the shark made a beeline towards the unsuspecting ray and opened its wide jaws.
“Shok! Shok!” the villagers howled.
Bebe thrust her fingers in her mouth and whistled, signaling the ray to leave. The shark was closing in and leapt up as the ray took flight. Baring its jagged teeth in a sinister grin, it bit into the air but missed its mark. The menacing beast stared into the distance and hit the water hard as the ray flew off. The manta ray tipped its wings then dove into deeper waters and was gone.
Bebe let out a sigh of relief. Yemi introduced her to Zenato, a fierce warrior, shark charmer and slayer extraordinaire. Zenato held a battle scarred club with several shark teeth embedded into the tip. Yemi explained that each tooth represented a victory for Zenato. He was the best slayer in the village. The more Bebe thought about it, it was the perfect place to hide out from that treacherous betrayer Feng and his tiger shark, shape-shifting self.
Zenato paced back and forth along the shore. He worked himself into heated excitement. Night descended as the high priestess carried a flame to the shark arena and lit several torches along the coast. Beating drums pounded around her as those from the bonfire made their way to shore. Yemi explained that the priestess was the tribes’ Kahuna ‘Ana ‘Ana, a woman of great power ~ able to speak to the living and the dead, keeper of the secret knowledge. The old woman was draped in animal skin and wrinkles. She anointed Zenato as he prepared to enter the arena and battle the mighty beast he had summoned. Berries stained Zenato’s skin in strange circular patterns as ‘Ana ‘Ana painted various symbols on the warrior’s chest and arms that were to protect him from the shark.
Zenato let out a fierce battle cry as he ran to the water’s edge. The villagers chanted from the shore. Drums beat faster and faster. ‘Ana ‘Ana’s loud crisp voice rang out and spoke of the deep respect their ancestors had for the Queen of Sharks. Zenato slipped into the arena, pinching his nose as he dove beneath the dark water. He crouched below the breaking waves and gripped his spikey club. The shark circled the warrior, unaware that it was facing a battle hardened shark slayer. Two shadows danced under the rolling tide. Black eyes studied its prey. The current pulled at Zenato’s feet. His weight shifted and he found himself struggling for balance. That’s when the shark darted in and rammed Zenato with its thick snout. He came up for air, spouting sea water mixed with blood. The sweet smell of injury was too great for the beast and within seconds, the warrior and the shark were tangled in a life and death struggle.
Zenato muscled his way to the surface, swinging back his head as his thick locks slung water into the air, and gulped down a breath just before going under, again. He thrust his club along the underside of the shark and sliced into the unprotected belly of the beast. Blood spilled in the water, but this time it was the shark’s own blood. The two continued to spar in the muddied waters. At the next pass, Zenato pushed his hand through the wound and yanked out the creature’s heart. The tail of the shark jerked back and forth as it writhed in pain, slowly dying.
Zenato stepped out the pool, dripping in blood stained water. Streams of crimson trickled down the warrior’s back from his woolly hair. Villagers shouted praise as several rushed the arena, pulling the shark to the rocky edge of the enclosure. The village children ran curious fingers along its slick back all the way to its tail. Zenato placed the still beating heart on an offering table by the sea. The high priestess chanted a sad melody, sending the shark’s soul back to the Queen.
Yemi explained that the shark was a mighty warrior ~ just like Zenato. He died so that they might live. It was a noble death and now the shark had a place among the heavens. Yemi pointed to the midnight sky and a cluster of stars. He smiled and ran over to the arena and slipped in the crowd that had gathered around the slain shark, for the sight captivated the villagers. As Bebe looked up at the distant stars, she couldn’t help but notice the outline of a shark glowing.
Several villagers struggled under the weight of their catch. The shark was heaved onto the shoulders of at least a dozen men and carried back to the village, where the huge fish was placed on poles that hung over the massive bonfire. Beating drums, tribal dancing, and happy excited chanting filled the air. Bebe sat in the soft sand beside the tribal Chieftain, Kahuna ‘Ana ‘Ana, and the tribal elders. It was a place of great honor and they shared it with Bebe, the Aqua Defender. Yemi strung together several razor sharp teeth from the slain shark and presented it to Bebe. The boy bowed his head as held out the necklace. Bebe smiled and slipped it over her long black hair.
Zenato motioned for her to stand and join in the celebration by dancing for the shark Queen. Chanters told the story of the shark Goddess that protected the Selachii Tribe. Villagers joined in a ritual dance that was marked by shark charming rattles clanking in hollow gourds and in rings around their ankles, sweeping hand gestures, and pounding feet that left the senses swimming.
The next morning, bones littered the sandy stretch where the villagers had feasted. Tan children gathered them up for use as needles, hair pins, and rough tools. Yemi took Bebe to the cave of the high priestess. ‘Ana ‘Ana hovered over a small fire, talking in her native tongue. She tossed powder into the flames. The orange fire glowed green and blue. “The spirits are talking to her,” Yemi explained. Bebe sat cross legged on the other side of the fire, while Yemi rocked back and forth on his knees. “She says your Papa speaks of the betrayer, as one you know.” Bebe hung her head; it was true. The one who had betrayed her was her mentor and a fellow Aqua Defender.
“She also says that he has betrayed the trust of many. Be thankful to have escaped his clutches. Your father was not so lucky,” Yemi said slowly.
“Huh!?!” Bebe gasped. “Did Feng kill my father?”
‘Ana ‘Ana spoke softly. “Yes,” Yemi replied. Her words hastened as Yemi tried to translate those flying out her mouth. “There is more. The shark devil will destroy all you know. You must stop him. The Queen of Sharks demands it.”
But how? thought Bebe.
“And you must do it without the help of your magical beads.” Yemi looked down at golden beads wrapped around her arm.
“No. She must be mistaken,” Bebe said, shaking her head. She placed a hand over the beads her father had given her. It was all she had left of him.
Yemi looked into her big brown eyes. They were filled with worry and dread. He looked so young and yet spoke the words of an ancient. “You will have the ability to place him under a trance when the time is right. Our best shark charmer will show you the mystic ways of the call.”
But why do I have to give up my beads? Horrible thoughts pounded in Bebe’s head.
“You must return to the underwater city and give your beads to a water child, disguised as a groundling. He will need them if he is to survive the journey that awaits him.”
Bebe knew instantly that ‘Ana ‘Ana spoke of Sabin Seager, the newest and youngest Aqua Defender to join their ranks. What could he do? He didn’t even know the Defenders existed a couple of weeks ago and besides Sabin barely knew their ways, she pouted.
“He is the key. He alone will unlock the power of the Holy Stone,” ‘Ana ‘Ana’s serious tone broke as she chuckled. “Never send a man when a child will do.” Yemi smiled and sat up straight and tall as he shared the words with Bebe.
Sabin was Lady Em’s grandson. Bebe remembered her kind words of encouragement after her father died. She was a shoulder to lean on and showed her how to harness the fire within. A flash of orange brought Yemi to his feet. He backed away from the fire, toward the mouth of the cave. Bebe started to stand when ‘Ana ‘Ana grabbed her arm and rattled off a mystical enchantment. Their eyes met. Somehow Bebe knew she would never see the Kahuna again. She smiled at the old woman and slowly backed out of the cave.
That night, Bebe looked down at clanking shells that wrapped around her ankles. Spirals of green and gold swirled atop brown shells. Zenato spoke of a magic melody the snail shells made when jingled just right. The clanking shells would enable Bebe to charm sharks, put them in a trance or call them to her, if she wished. She would be protected with every move she made. Or so Zenato claimed. She wished she could understand his words, for she felt something was lost in the translation by Yemi. The village boy did his best to find words she would understand. Still, Bebe knew the villagers were not only shark charmers; they were shark hunters, stealthy killers of their prey. As the sun set on the second day, Bebe stood on the glistening shore and called to Eagala. She was scared but knew she had to face her father’s killer, the devil shark, Feng. But more importantly, something bigger than that was happening. Sabin Seager would need her help to ensure the destruction of Aquatica did not come to pass.
Eagala burst forth from the emerald green waves and soared into the air. The villagers cheered and rushed the shore, sending Bebe off with a loud farewell. Kahuna ‘Ana ‘Ana stepped out her cave and waved at the Aqua Defender circling the Isle of Sculpin. Bebe let out another freeing cry and the waves quickly carried it away. The siren of the sea and her mighty beast flew off into the setting sun.