Dolphin Knight

Chapter 3

3Raka felt as if her body had turned to stone. Bey called to her again, but she couldn't move.

As she stood on the beach and stared at the tiny boat at the water's edge, she was filled with terror. The thought of getting into the boat and casting off into the dark waves made her stomach churn and her heart pound. Just being on the shore, so close to the rim of the vast ocean, was enough to make her want to run back into the jungle.

"Come on, Raka!" said Bey, waving her over. He stood near the middle of the boat, up to his ankles in water. "We have to go!"

Raka remained frozen in place. She wanted to leave, knew that this was her only chance to get away, but the fear was too big. She had thought that when the moment came, she would be able to push the fear aside...but now that she was so close to leaving dry land, she realized that she had been wrong.

How could she conquer the fear that had chained her for as long as she could remember? How could she change something that was such a big part of her?

Bey called to her again, then stepped out of the surf. He pulled the boat a little further out of the water and marched over to stand in front of Raka.

"We have to go," he said. He wasn't angry, but his eyes nervously scanned the treeline behind her. "Guardsmen check this cove several times a night. They could show up at any minute."

Raka shivered in the breeze blowing in from the sea. "I can't do it," she said. "I'm afraid."

Bey nodded and reached out to touch her arm. "I know," he said, "but if you don't get in the boat, you'll end up in the sea on your Rebirth Day tomorrow anyway."

"I know," Raka said softly. Tears rolled down her cheeks, squeezed out by the fear pressing from inside her.

Bey smiled. "At least with me, you know you won't get thrown overboard," he said. "I won't try to make you breathe water."

Raka nodded. She felt a sob trying to force its way up out of her chest, and she stopped it with a deep, shuddering breath. "I wish I wasn't afraid," she said. "I wish I could be like you."

"Then take my hand," said Bey, raising an upturned hand between them. "My strength will pass into you. I have enough courage for both of us."

Hesitantly, Raka reached for his hand. At the last second, she started to pull her hand away from him...but Bey grabbed hold of it.

"I want to help you," he said, gazing into her eyes. "If you come with me, I'll take you somewhere safe. You can trust me."

Bey's grip was just tight enough that Raka could feel his strength and sincerity. Though she stood on the verge of the most frightening thing she had ever attempted, she felt protected in Bey's presence.

"I know I can trust you," she said. "I know this is something I have to do. I just don't think I can do it."

"Sure you can," said Bey. "Close your eyes, and let me guide you."

Raka took a last look at the moonlit surf, then shut her eyes tightly. Gently, Bey pulled her forward by the hand. She managed to take two steps before she stopped and planted her feet in the sand again.

"Please, Raka," said Bey, trying unsuccessfully to pull her along. "We have to go."

When Raka opened her eyes, her gaze went straight to the waves lapping at the beach. "No," she said, her voice a whimper. "No, I can't do it."

Bey released her hand. "Listen," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Either you stay and have your Rebirth Day, or you leave right now and go somewhere safe. Which do you want more?"

"To be safe," said Raka.

"Then that's what you'll get," said Bey.

Before Raka could react, Bey let go of her shoulders and lifted her off her feet. With one arm around her back and one behind her knees, he scooped her up and carried her toward the boat.

"Now close your eyes," he said, "and trust me."

Raka closed her eyes.

As Bey carried her, Raka remembered the way her mother, Perza, had carried her to bed as a child. Bey lowered her just as softly into the boat as Perza had lowered her onto the sleeping mat in her bedroom.

"Everything's going to be all right," said Bey, lightly touching her cheek. "I promise."

Raka curled up in a ball on the floor, shoulders pressed against the nets packed with food that Bey had stowed in the boat earlier that day. She kept her eyes clamped shut and clenched her teeth, fighting the urge to leap out of the boat and run straight for home.

Bey got behind the boat and pushed it into the water. Raka's stomach lurched when the tiny boat began to bob and rock on the waves.

Bey pushed the boat further before climbing aboard. Raka felt dizzy when he boosted himself up over the side, forcing the prow suddenly downward.

When she felt something sliding out from under her, Raka opened her eyes just enough to see that Bey was pulling out an oar that was caught under her legs. Bey winked at her as he freed the oar and swung it over the side of the boat.

"You made it," he said, dipping the broad end of the oar into the water and stroking it backward. "We're on our way."

Raka watched him row for a moment, the muscles on his back rippling with each stroke of the oar. She felt a flash of gratitude toward him, then a spark of something new, like friendship but stronger.

And then, she was overwhelmed with fear once more and pinched her eyes shut against the rising and falling motion of the tiny boat.