Free The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

swimming through the silent black forest by myself. I’ve always dove and snorkeled with a partner before, particularly at night. Occasionally I scare up an orange Garibaldi fish that startles me as much as I startle it before it darts away into the depths of the kelp.
    Just when I feel like I’m all alone in this vast, dark ocean, Robry’s mind touches mine.
:I can’t see the divers’ lights anymore.:
    :I can see three to the south of me,:
Lena reports.
:And they’re moving fast even without their tows.:
Her mental voice sounds anxious and tired.
    I pick up the pace and contact Robry on a private send.
:The sun’s going to rise soon. We can see the divers coming now because of their lights, but they’ll be able to turn them off in a few minutes. Then we won’t have any warning before they get close.:
    :I know,:
he says.
:We’ve got to find a hiding place soon.:
    The sea grows lighter. Several long, low rock ridges cross the ocean floor below me. Daylight begins to filter down through the dense stems. The back of my neck tingles as I swim past kelp fronds. I can imagine a spear dart piercing me at any moment.
    And then I see the dark gash of an opening under a rock overhang, mostly covered by kelp holdfasts. I dart forward and peer in carefully.
    :I found a cave big enough to hold all of us!:
I tell Lena and Robry.
    :Great,:
Robry says.
:But now, how do we find you?:
    I send them images of the rocky ridges and the cave mouth. My heart lurches when I realize neither image is specific enough to help them find me in this maze of kelp.

TRYING NOT TO PANIC , I rack my brain for a quick way to find Robry and Lena and show them where I am. The light is getting stronger by the minute. Shivers trace down my back when I picture what could happen to Lena and Robry if those divers find them.
    I have to call Densil and Sokya.
:The divers still hunt us. Find me, and then find Lena and Robry and lead them back to me. I found a good place to hide.:
    :we come,:
Densil says.
:our mother stays with the pod to nurse the little one.:
    I tell Robry and Lena to be on the lookout for the dolphins while I keep a lookout for Marine Guard divers. Just a few minutes later, Sokya darts up to me, whistling and squeaking happily over her accomplishment.
    :my brother has found the small male and brings him. I go find the female who makes you angry and sad.:
    Sokya flashes away. Does Lena really make me angry and sad? I stare after Sokya in surprise. That’s the problem with using telepathy. I know the dolphins often sense more than just the words and images I send them.
    Densil appears with Robry and then dashes off to help Sokya.
    :How are you?:
I ask Robry. His face is pale, and there are purple shadows under his eyes. The shadows I see in his eyes worry me more.
    :Tired. You?:
    :Tired, too.:
I shut him off from the images I don’t want him to see that still replay in my mind. If I try to talk about Gillian or Cam, I’m afraid I’ll lose it.
    :Do you want to watch for those divers, or do you want to clear out the cave?:
I ask.
    :I’ll clear out the cave,:
he says quickly. Robry knows I don’t like small, dark places.
    :Be careful. I spotted at least one moray in there.:
    :After what we faced tonight, tackling moray eels sounds pretty tame,:
he says with an effort at a smile.
    He takes off his pack. Holding it and his speargun in front of him, he cautiously enters the cave. Soon, three long morays with dead gray eyes swim their sinuous way out of the dark opening and disappear into the kelp. Suddenly, Robry starts swearing.
    :Are you all right in there?:
I look into the cave and see that a large moray with evil-looking teeth has clamped its jaw onto the corner of Robry’s pack. Robry whacks it twice with the butt of his speargun. At last the big eel gives up the fight. I barely have time to duck out of the way before it arrows past my head.
    :Is that it?:
    :I think we’ll be sharing