Of Poseidon 02: Of Triton

supposed to go anywhere but the designated tour areas.”
    I pull out two more bills. “I know. But I’m hoping you’ll make an exception?”
    What Dan doesn’t know is that I could do this all day. Rachel gave me enough cash to buy a new car. I’m hoping that she is right, and that everyone—that Dan—has a price.
    He scratches his chin. I can tell he’s tempted. “We’re really not supposed to. I could get fired.”
    I hand him a wad of hundreds. I have no idea how much is there, but I’ve got more in the other pocket. “But, Dan, I’ve been waiting all my life for this helicopter ride. I’ve been looking forward to it since I was a little kid. If you don’t take us out, my heart will be broken. Besides, even if you did get fired—which I’m sure you won’t because you’re just making my dreams come true, right?—I’m betting this would pay the bills for a while.” I have no idea what Dan’s bills are, if he has a wife and kids, or if whatever. But from his expression, I’ve hit the nail on the head.
    He tests the weight of the bills in his hands. Finally, he sighs. “Fine.”
    I nearly squeal, and maybe I should because it would add special effects to my story. I grin triumphantly at Toraf, whose complexion has turned a lovely puce shade, just like Galen’s did on our way to Destin. My small, expensive victory is lost on him.
    Dan takes us out far enough that I can’t see the island anymore. He doesn’t try to be the ever efficient tourist guide now; apparently we’re responsible for our own entertainment way out here. He keeps glancing at the panel in front of him. “This is as far as we go,” he announces after a while. “Or we won’t have enough fuel to get back.”
    “Do you think we’ve gone far enough?” I ask Toraf.
    He shakes his head.
    “We’ll have to swim the rest of the way,” I decide as I say it. Dan laughs like I’ve made a joke.
    Toraf nods. “Great. Just get me out of this thing.” Then he belches like a drunk.
    I look at Dan and point down. “Before we turn back, can we just go lower? I want to see the water close up.”
    “Oh, sure, sure,” he says, and we feel the sensation of gravity kicking in as he descends.
    My breath catches as the chopper lowers. Dozens, no wait, hundreds of dark shadows skim the surface. I yank on Toraf’s sleeve and nod toward the water.
    Eyes wide, he taps Dan’s shoulder. “We need to go a little farther out, please.”
    “No can do. I told you, we need all of our fuel to get back.”
    Slowly, I unstrap the belt. “Just a little lower please? I think I see some fish down there.”
    “No prob.”
    I’ve never skydived, bungee-jumped, or parasailed. As I remove the headset, I try to calculate the fall and can’t. Maybe my brain is protecting me from myself and what I’m about to do. I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but I’ve heard hitting the water from such-and-such height feels like hitting concrete at such-and-such miles per hour. In other words, it’s a bone-shattering experience. I seriously doubt those calculations are based on the Syrena bone structure though. In fact, I’m counting on it.
    “No lower, okay?” Dan says, looking out his window to the water below. “Oh, you see sharks! Wow, it looks like a feeding frenzy down there. Hey, don’t touch that!”
    I grip the handle harder, but the door won’t budge. Leaning back, I get in the mule-kick position.
    “Emma, don’t!” Toraf yells. “Those are sharks, Emma!”
    I take a deep breath. “Wait until I have them under control before you jump.” A joint effort from two half-Syrena legs sends the door flying to a watery grave.
    “They want proof?” I grumble to myself as I lean into the wind, “I’ll show them proof.” Right before I hit the water, I can still hear Toraf screaming.

18

    IF HIS own future weren’t dependent on the outcome of this tribunal, and if Emma weren’t entangled in it all now, Galen would find it highly entertaining.
    While they wait for Toraf’s return with the alleged Half-Breed, the audience has been subjected to a match of conflicting testimonies. The Archive Odon insists that when a Syrena is on land for long periods of time, his or her eyes would fade to blue. He references the wall painting in the Cave of Memories for proof—the same painting that led Galen to conclude that Emma’s father was a Half-Breed. Galen remembers the Syrena with the blue eyes on the wall, and how Romul dismissed it as faded