Curse Of Wexkia (8 page)

‘Maybe you can and you don’t know it.’ Sam flopped back on the sofa.

‘Well, what about the mountains on Gramlax? They’re so steep and high you’d think nothing could live on them.
If I go there, how do I get from one mountain to the other? I know I’ll get Dad’s phib abilities, so I won’t have wings like Mum.’ She screwed up her nose. ‘And believe me, I don’t want them. I guess they’ll just haul me around by their ugly talons like they do their kids. I hate heights.’

‘I think they’re terrific.’ A look of rapture crossed Sam’s face. ‘I wish I could fly.’

Nell hit the table. ‘Well, you can’t! I just wish it would all go away.’ She pushed the book of Gramlax so hard, it toppled off the coffee table. ‘And I thought starting uni would be scary. I want Dad to come home. I need him with me.’

‘Stop whining, will you?’ Sam reached out and retrieved the book and placed the tome reverently back on the table. ‘You’re starting to sound like Cay-meka.’

‘Thanks a lot.’

‘Look at it this way. It’s not as if you just turned into an alien. You’ve always been one.’

T
he rain stopped and sunshine flowed into the library through the gaps in the wooden blinds, but the golden rays didn’t brighten Nell’s mood. She closed her eyes and instantly wished she hadn’t because more images appeared. In her mind, she stood outside the doors to the foyer just as she had earlier that day. Again, the muffled voices floated through the heavy wooden door, but this time Nell made out what they said clearly.

Words emerged from within the muffles: first, her father’s voice. ‘I don’t believe Nell is in danger. Brarb is still confined and his family had pledged to speak to me before contacting Nell.’

The gentle, accented voice spoke. ‘That might be true, old friend. However until those who seek Nell make themselves known, the shield should stay. It is not only wintars who might cause a problem for Nell. You have been called to stand before the councils and explain why you have taken your daughter away. You know they like to have mixed children watched.’

The voices and images faded. She stared blankly at Sam, wondering who could cause her problems and why the council people wanted to watch her. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t be good if her father had refused to take her with him.

As if on an impulse, Sam took Nell’s hands. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Don’t fight with me. I’m on your side.’

Overwhelmed by the many feelings and thoughts that flooded her mind; she pulled her hands free and pressed them to her aching temples. ‘It’s touching!’

Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Huh?’

‘I can read people’s minds when I touch them.’ She rubbed the sides of her head. ‘It hurts.’

‘So what did mine have to say?’ Sam grinned but it wavered as if he was worried.

‘I didn’t get anything specific,’ she lied. ‘Just jumbled images. But in future, don’t touch me.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Apparently I can control it with practice.’ Before Sam could ask, she added quickly, ‘And don’t ask me how I know that.’

‘Okay. I’ll believe you. Let’s go.’ He jumped up and hurried out of the room.

She knew he didn’t. Thank goodness he didn’t press her. As she trailed after him, she noted, his usual easy gait appeared stiff and self-conscious.

Knowing his feelings ran deeper than she could ever have imagined, Nell thought about him in that light. He was cute, at least the girls who went riding with him thought so. They shamelessly flirted with him and he was never self-conscious around even the prettiest girl. He had never acted the same way with Nell. She thought of him more as a bossy big brother, always telling her what she should or shouldn’t do.

She didn’t want things to change between them. She’d just have to convince him by her actions that she didn’t learn anything. Anyway, he was only a boy, and feelings change. They might be changing already. Her nose wrinkled as she thought about how he blushed every time Dar-seldra smiled at him.

Nell caught up to Sam by the time they arrived on the veranda.

Dar-seldra sat on the porch swing. She smiled warmly as they approached. ‘I really like this,’ she said with a delicate laugh, as she swung her long legs up under her. ‘I think I’ll take one of these back to my house.’ She looked from one to the other. ‘Do you have any questions?’

‘Hundreds,’ Nell replied.

‘Mother! Mother!’ Cay-meka shouted as she ran up the stairs. ‘You must come!’

She rushed at the swing and Nell had no choice but to move out of her way. Drops of water fell from Cay-meka’s hair and skin, but her dress appeared to be dry. A wide-eyed wonder filled her cousin’s face.

‘Mother, it is incredible. I’ve seen all different creatures and they are so wonderful. I swam with bottle-nosed dolphins and grey nurse sharks and I so wanted to meet the humpback whales swimming south, but they were too far out.’

‘Yes, yes, I have read about them.’ Dar-seldra’s laugh was melodic.

Nell realised her cousin was still a young girl. She began to soften towards her until Cay-meka spoke in that whining voice of hers.

‘You should see if Nell can swim. I could, weeks before
my
birthday.’

‘That’s true. It’s still light, maybe we should go.’

‘Me?’ Nell gasped in astonishment ‘No way. There are lots of nasties out there.’

‘You have to! Mother said.’

‘Nell, it’s one way to learn if you are indeed gaining phib traits.’ Dar-seldra stood up. ‘Come with me and I will provide you with the correct apparel.’

Nell glanced at Sam who gave her a ‘what-are-you-waiting-for’
look. She rolled her eyes before she followed her aunty back into the library.

Dar-seldra went over to one of two small blue cases. They looked more like large handbags and Nell thought they couldn’t possibly hold very much. Dar-seldra opened one. She reached in and withdrew a long, bright yellow dress, sleeveless and similar to the fashion she and Cay-meka wore with its scooped neckline and flowing fabric. It had a luminous quality and looked much too big for Nell.

‘It will fit perfectly,’ Dar-seldra said with a smile.

Nell made a doubtful face.

‘You will see,’ Dar-seldra said, as she left the room.

Nell didn’t think so, but she tried the garment on anyway. The material immediately shrank until it was a perfect fit. She looked down and felt front and back. ‘Wow,’ she whispered, shaking her head.

When Nell re-emerged, heat rose in her cheeks at the admiring look Sam gave her. She returned a shy smile, ignoring Cay-meka’s look of contempt. Usually she preferred to wear jeans or shorts; nevertheless she liked the silky feel of the material.

‘Come along, Nell.’ Dar-seldra led her to the water. ‘You are a child of Linque.’

‘And of Gramlax,’ Cay-meka hissed, as she ran past and onto the wet sand.

Nell disregarded Cay-meka’s spitefulness. She felt like a princess in her dress.

Sam came up behind. ‘Can I come too? That is … if it’s safe?’

‘It is safe, but we don’t have clothes for you,’ Dar-seldra said.

‘That’s okay,’ Sam said. ‘If you can swim in those dresses, I can go in these.’ He tugged the sides of his jeans.

Dar-seldra started to shake her head.

Nell grinned as Sam pleaded with his eyes, but jerked her head back when Dar-seldra spoke.

‘Once we know if Nell can swim, you can hold her hand but you cannot let go,’ she said.

The two friends stared at each other. Sam looked as horrified at the idea as Nell felt.

‘A problem?’ Dar-seldra said. ‘I think I understand. Did Nell touch you and your thoughts?’ Sam nodded and Dar-seldra looked at Nell. ‘But you couldn’t control it?’

Nell also nodded.

Dar-seldra glowed. ‘That is definitely a phib ability. Your father will be pleased.’

Nell was glad, although she didn’t like the thought that her father wouldn’t be happy if she gained wintar traits. After all, her mother was a wintar and he had loved her.

‘You will hold my hand, Sam,’ Dar-seldra said.

Sam hesitated.

‘No.’ She laughed. ‘I won’t read your mind.’

Little lines formed at the corners of Dar-seldra’s eyes. Although they made her appear older, they suited her. She took Sam’s hand. ‘Don’t let go.’ She motioned with a tilt of her head for Nell to follow.

Nell stepped into the warm water and the crumbly coral moved under her feet.

Without waiting, Cay-meka waded out until the water was waist high and dived.

Dar-seldra bent her knees as if about to dive but Sam stayed still. She gave him a questioning look.

‘Um,’ he said. ‘I can understand your protection aura or whatever it is might cover me but how am I supposed to breathe under water?’

Dar-seldra straightened. ‘My aura will encompass you.’

Sam gave Nell a dubious look but allowed Dar-seldra to take him and they vanished under the surface.

Nell waited a moment. Taking the biggest breath she could, she shut her eyes and with her heart in her throat, slid under the surface. On contact with the water, she was surprised her dress shrank even more. It bonded to her body like a second skin. Sliding her hands over her hips, she pinched the material. It yielded to her fingers like the rubber of a wet suit. She smiled. The material was clever.

Warm tropical waters caressed her. In that instant, she realised water had been missing from her life. Keeping her eyes shut, she enjoyed the sensation of being one with the ocean. Not afraid in the least, she tasted the salty liquid. She opened and closed her mouth a few times but stopped when she thought she probably looked like a fish. She was only slightly surprised to find she had no need to breathe. It was as though her skin collected the oxygen her body needed.

When Nell opened her eyes, Sam’s face filled her vision. His white teeth exploded from his mouth in a wide grin. She’d never seen him so happy. Dar-seldra smiled, and seemed satisfied Nell was coping.

They swam over the coral fringing reef. Clusters of white-tipped orange fingers of coral jutted up and out below Nell. Groups of flat corals were arranged like giant open roses. They were many shades of yellow, blue and mauve. Gaudy-coloured fish were everywhere. One had rings of orange and red around its eyes, the rest of its body was blue and purple blotches with black stripes winding around it. Others had assorted colours all vying for attention. Some wore one solid colour, like the one that was as yellow as Nell’s dress. She thought the clown fish was the prettiest with its orange and white stripes.

They continued into deeper waters where an inquisitive hammerhead shark playfully nudged Nell’s side. She rolled over to pat his head. Her heart leapt at the closeness. Joy surged through her at the wonderment of it all.

He kept manoeuvring his body so the under-side of his neck area was close to her hand.

You want me to scratch you?
Nell asked the shark.

She didn’t know whether it was coincidence or he heard her thoughts, but he pushed his neck into her hand.

Nell laughed and scraped her fingernails gently along the rough skin under the shark’s throat.

Better?
Nell asked.

The shark slid its closed mouth along her arm.

His contentment filled her heart and he swam away.

Nell giggled. It was all so right. Everywhere she looked, fish, coral and plants tempted her to investigate. Not only was she inquisitive about life in the ocean, an increasing number of fish appeared to be just as inquisitive about her and her companions. Some swam past and around, keeping their distance. Others came close enough to touch. An angelfish darted towards her and away again, issuing a loud drumming sound. Perhaps it was trying to figure out what type of fish she was.

She spotted two moray eels teasing a baby dugong. Although Nell knew the dugong was young, it still looked like a large sea cow with a permanent smile on its face. It also looked to be in need of air. She swam between them and grabbed the eels in her hands. The dugong rushed to the surface. Nell shook her head and tisked at each eel in turn before letting them go on their way.

The baby dugong returned and Nell caressed the slippery skin.

They weren’t very nice, were they?
Nell said with her mind. She played with the baby until Dar-seldra put her hand on Nell’s shoulder.

‘We can talk if we touch each other,’ Dar-seldra said.

Nell let the baby return to its mother.

Nell turned to face her aunty.
‘The connection isn’t hurting.’
Why did it hurt her head when she connected with Sam in the library?

‘No, and it won’t either, providing you don’t delve too deep. You seem to have greater control under water. When on land, think about where your thoughts are emanating from now. They are at the top of the cerebrum but do not burrow into the amygdala.’

‘I know that the cerebrum is the front part of the brain, but what is the amygdala?’

‘They are two almond shaped bunches of cells on either side. Never mind,’
Dar-seldra laughed.
‘This isn’t the time for a science lesson. I’ll explain later. You’re doing well with me, now try with Cay-meka.’

Nell wondered why Sam didn’t seem to be able to hear their conversation.

‘We can only talk with one person at a time,’
Dar-seldra said, answering Nell’s unspoken question.

Nell swam past Sam and saw he was trying to tickle what looked like a cheeky dwarf minke whale. She’d seen and read about them in books. They’d only been discovered in the nineteen-eighties. It was about three metres long, so it was quite young. They were only seen this far north during the winter months. Seeing one here in the height of summer meant there was a lot more to learn about them. Its fins were white at the base with dark tips. White shoulders and the dark patches on its throat were most distinctive. Yes, it was definitely a dwarf minke.

She floated alongside Cay-meka, and as she took her hand, she thought,
‘I’ve never swum this well before.’

‘It’s all in the genes.’
Cay-meka giggled.

Nell thought her cousin had a much nicer personality under water.

‘Hey! I can hear you.’