Part 50 (2/2)

CACHALOT.

215.

on Vai'oire, Cora thought. That's absurd, she cor- rected herself. Any such call would have been inter- cepted and reported by the orcas, if not by the detection equipment on the s.h.i.+p.

”What for, Great Brother, you kill human-people?”

Mataroreva asked, taking over the process of question- ing from Wenkoseemansa. ”Human-people Great One's friends. No attack, no threaten. Great One's self or children. What for Great One and Cousins do such terrible-bad thing?”

Slowly, with unexpected pain, the sulfur-bottom replied, ”This Great One don't know. Subject hard to consider.”

The orcas could not frown, but Cora received the same impression from the puzzled chatter that circu- lated among them.

”But you did partic.i.p.ate?”

”This One did.”

”Did kill?”

”Did kill,” the blue agonized. ”Don't know why.

This One no know. No inner-sawy why This One attack. Hard think-back.”

”Something-someone convince you attack?” Mata- roreva pressed. ”What say?”

”No savvy.”

”Great One attack-kill human-people, what cause Great One do so? Who tell Great Ones do so? Try savvy.” Mataroreva stared over the railing as if he could will the great whale to answer.

”Savvy . . . hard is. Hard think-back. Dark waters.

No can straight savvy.” He shook his head slightly.

Sudden swells rocked the suprafoil, and those on board grabbed for support. ”Hard think-back. Mind hurt bad. No sense makes.” Again the head twitched and the entire body shuddered, throwing water over the low deck of the nearby s.h.i.+p. Clearly the immense creature was becoming frustrated and upset. ”No can remember!”

216.

CACHALOT.

The whale spun and the foil threatened to capsize In the water the orcas fought hard to hold their posi- tions against the powerful swell. Cora hung on tight to the rail with one arm and wrestled to reduce the vol- ume on her translator. The blue's voice was growing deafening.

”Attack-kill-no like! No choice but. Had to do.

Ordered to do. Think-back hurts! Leave now This

One!”

Up went the great flukes, like some huge gray bird.

Down went the head as the whale arched his back.

of the orcas sprinting out of the way as the mult.i.ton bull plunged rapidly and unhesitatingly for the silence of the depths.

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