Tiger's Voyage

  Our couriers moved steadily if not quickly, and I didn’t feel the pressure of the surrounding ocean or even see any deep-sea creatures, though I kept my eyes peeled. The jellyfish gracefully swirled around each other in an ocean ballet. When mine rose slightly above the others, I felt like a lady with full lacy petticoats and a parasol swinging above a stage oblivious to all except the men who came to see the show and who watched me from below with hungry eyes.

  I could sense when we left the abyssal plain and moved upward through the bathypelagic zone and into Jnsèlóng’s realm. I began to see fish. At first, they were the scary long-toothed type, but then the water brightened slightly, and I saw a sperm whale. As we rose higher still, the first shark appeared. I panicked, but it was only a hammerhead that ignored us. A school of tuna with flashing scales passed us, and I took a deep breath, relieved. We were going to make it. I estimated we had roughly a thousand feet to go. More animals swam by us, some curious, but the jellyfish continued to make their way upward.

  Excitedly, I was pointing out the first cluster of plants to Kishan when I felt a disturbance in the water. Kishan’s eyes widened, and I searched for what had caused him alarm. I trembled and prayed that it wasn’t what I feared. I pressed my hands against the flexible skin of the jellyfish hood and looked into the ocean. At first I saw nothing, but then the jellyfish spun, and I saw the fearsome shape of the giant shark from the Seventh Pagoda. It moved lazily along, patrolling the water.

  The shark swam with its mouth slightly open, and, even from a distance I could see its rows of sharp teeth. Other sharks, probing, approached and then rapidly sped off. Even a pod of dolphins swam quickly away from it while screeching a warning in the water. I watched them disappear and wished I could do the same, but I knew this shark wouldn’t bother the surrounding sea life. It didn’t eat. It didn’t sleep. There was only one purpose it had been created for—preventing the Necklace from reaching the surface … and the Necklace was on me. The good news was that it still hadn’t seen us. The bad news was that we still had around five hundred feet more to go.

  The shark swam parallel to us for a while and then passed out of our visual range, but it soon returned and swam around us in a wide circle. At about that time, the sun came out from behind a cloud and the water turned from gray to a bright blue. My jellyfish shifted, and the gold belt I was wearing cast a sparkling reflection in the water.

  Though the shark was below us, it rolled slightly and peered up with a giant black eye. It swam in and made a close pass. I could almost see the spark of recognition in its cold eye as it looked me over. In a flash of speed, it was gone. I searched the ocean frantically and soon saw with horror that it was surging up from the black ocean below. I screamed as I saw it open its jaws and head, not for me, but for Ren. I put my hand over the pearls at my throat and whispered, “Pearl Necklace, please move him.”

  A surge of water shifted Ren’s jellyfish, and the shark rushed past him, biting off only a few tentacles. The shark circled for another attempt, and I clutched the pearls again. “We’re almost to the surface. We’ll need something to rest on.”

  The Necklace gleamed, and the shadow of a small watercraft appeared on the surface of the ocean. The shark swam closer. It was like a semitruck with teeth. Its jaw unhinged as it extended it for a bite. Taking its time, the giant shark approached Kishan’s jellyfish and, like a snobbish gourmet, bit almost delicately into the hood of the creature just as I was whispering for the Necklace to move Kishan. I was too late.

  Some kind of jellyfish fluid squirted out and clouded the area around them. The tentacles began to flail against the shark’s body, and Kishan jerked in the water as the jellyfish quickly expelled him. He took a moment to look at me. The shark hadn’t seen him yet. I pointed to the shadow on the surface, and Kishan started to swim. The giant fish chomped messily through the delicate jellyfish until all that remained was a long tentacle hanging from one of the shark’s teeth. Its eyes rolled forward, and it scanned the water. With a great swish of its crescent tail, it disappeared.

  Ren had disengaged himself from his jellyfish and patted it on the hood. It began moving off. Terrified, I peered through the shadowy water. A formidable shape materialized in the dark ocean behind Ren. I screamed and bucked against the wall of my jellyfish as I frantically pointed.

  Ren spun in the water, pulled out his trident, and shot a succession of spear darts at the shark. One dart lodged in its mouth, some glanced off its tough skin, and some pierced its side. Unfortunately, it probably felt like acupuncture to a creature of that size, annoying, but not life threatening. Still, it bothered the shark enough for it to veer away from Ren. It dove, and Ren rose to the surface for air. He threw his backpack onto the boat the Necklace had created for us, and then I was alone in the water.

  My body shook, and I twisted every which way in a turbulent panic. I could feel my vulnerability to my very core. I bemoaned several things at once—the fragility and transparency of my jellyfish, the darkness of the water, the sparkle of my costume. All of these things made me an easy target. I was practically a bull’s-eye, a tasty morsel holding a sign that said, “Eat me!”

  The shark had moved into the darker water below and was most likely preparing another assault. I knew that the longer I hovered in the ocean, the more danger I’d be in. Using the Pearl Necklace, I asked the jellyfish to take me to the surface faster. We rose higher, but it was taking too long. The shark was still somewhere out there. I hoped that Ren’s dart would bother it enough to leave me alone as I neared the boat.

  Ren and Kishan swam down to meet me. Suddenly, I saw the shark rushing toward them. They clasped hands and pushed off each other, kicking so the shark passed between them. As it did, Kishan drew the chakram and Ren the trident. Ren shot spear darts all along one side, while Kishan sliced open a long gash on the other. The shark swam off in a cloud of blood.

  I wiped the rubbery wall of the jellyfish hood, but the water was too agitated and the area too bloody for me to make out much. Shapes darted quickly past the jellyfish, and I realized they were other smaller sharks that were looking for lunch. They’d obviously been attracted by the mighty struggle and caught the scent of blood in the water.

  In a full panic, dreading to leave but too petrified to stay, I asked the jellyfish to release me. I thought perhaps in the confusion I could make a break for the surface, but instead of expelling me like Kishan’s had done, the jellyfish drew my body closer inside itself and jerked back and forth. That’s when I felt a sharp pain and a tug on my leg. The jellyfish and I were yanked through the water at a frightening speed. At first, we moved horizontally in the ocean. Then we started descending.

  Hot knives jabbed into my skin. I looked down at my leg and screamed. Desperately, I kicked my other leg and flailed my arms, but I knew I couldn’t escape. The huge shark had returned and now had my left leg in the side of its jaws. A part of my brain registered that it didn’t sever the limb. In fact, it seemed intent only on dragging me back down to the bottom of the ocean.

  When I managed to kick its side, the shark slowed down and whipped the jellyfish and me from side to side. I thought the bite on my leg was bad enough, but when it jerked me around, my body experienced a level of agony I didn’t think was possible. Its serrated teeth had not only pierced my leg but also were slowly shredding it. I felt a snap as my tibia broke, and my sharp scream tapered off into a horrified whimpering noise. A bright red cloud rose around the hood of the jellyfish, dimming my vision. Realizing it was my blood this time rather than the shark’s, bile rose in my throat, and I almost passed out.

  I saw the flash of the trident in the water. Then, suddenly, my leg was free. The jellyfish pumped wildly to get us away, but it was injured. It quivered on one side and water filled the interior of the hood. A surge of adrenaline swept through my body and cleared my petrified mind. Touching the hood, I thanked the dying animal and sucked in a breath. It expelled me, shuddered, and began twirling in a slow descent as it
died.

  Slick torpedo-shaped bodies gave chase, and I soon lost sight of the gentle creature. I swam using only my arms, dragging the dead weight of my injured leg behind me. I had no idea if my leg was still attached or how bad the damage was. I knew I was bleeding and only had a few moments, if that long, to reach the surface. I couldn’t see anything around me and hoped I was swimming in the right direction. Lungs on fire and getting nowhere, I tried kicking with my good leg too. That helped some, but I made little progress. Something touched me, and I jerked back but I quickly realized the touch was human. Kishan.

  He wrapped his arms around my waist and swam with me to the surface. Water rushed into my lungs. Somehow he pulled us up onto the watercraft created by the Pearl Necklace. He pounded my back violently. I choked and vomited over the side. I heard him tear the backpack open and murmur words to the Divine Scarf. Hearing the whisper of threads was somehow comforting, and I felt them bind what was left of my

  leg in a tight tourniquet. Ren scrambled aboard, breathing heavily and dripping blood from a long gash on his arm.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “She’s …” Kishan hesitated. “She’s bad.”

  “I have to go back,” I heard Ren say. “I have to kill it. It will just come after us.”

  Ren looked at me, and though I could have mistaken his expression, dazed as I was through the loss of blood, I imagined I could see his heart break. He picked up my hand. At least I think it was my hand. I couldn’t feel anything. My body was numb. My eyes closed though I tried to keep them open. He clutched his trident and whispered, “Take care of her.”

  “I will. I love her, you know,” Kishan said.

  “I know,” Ren replied softly and dove into the sea.

  Kishan’s body shook, and when I cracked open an eye, I saw him dash tears away. He lifted my head onto his lap and stroked my wet hair away from my face. I could hear the splash and the displacement of water as the shark moved past. The giant fin broke the surface and circled our craft widely.

  Alarmed, I managed to shove aside the darkness threatening to engulf me and watched the gray sail the size of a windsurfing rig angle toward us as it came to finish us off. It dipped under us, and we rose into the air on its back before slipping with a splash onto the ocean. Somehow, our little boat remained upright. Then the waves stilled, and I heard nothing. I closed my eyes and focused, but not even the splash of a small fish could be heard.

  Suddenly the shark breached the surface twenty feet away like a giant submarine. More than half its body rose out of the water, and I twisted to see it, screaming as I knocked my leg painfully against the side of the watercraft. High in the air, on the back of the shark’s head, Ren hung from his trident, which was deeply embedded in the gray flesh. With water streaming from his body, he looked like Poseidon riding the back of a sea monster. I whimpered in pain. I was dying. I knew I didn’t have much time left, but my mind screamed that I could help him. My last act could be saving Ren.

  I raised my hand, used the other one to hold it still, and concentrated. Kishan quickly figured out what I wanted to do and lifted me higher against his chest. White light burst from my palm and hit the giant shark in the belly as it turned to the side. Though I was weak, it would have been impossible for me to miss a target that big.

  Blackened flesh melted like hot wax before a flame. The skin split widely, and the contents of the shark’s belly spilled into the ocean. The shark snapped its jaws shut and shook violently as it started to descend, trying to dislodge the man and escape the pain. I noticed other, smaller fins rushing past our boat toward the dying shark. As Ren and the monster shark sank under the water, my eyes rolled back, and I collapsed.

  27

  Bedlam

  Voices. Whispers of sound roused me. So thirsty. The sun beat down on my body. Pain. Throbbing pain. A cool hand stroked my forehead, and I wished whoever it was would give me water. I heard the desperate words, “You’re not the only one who loves her,” but I couldn’t tell who had said it. My cracked lips parted, and a cup was pressed to them. Cold, ice cold liquid dripped into my mouth. It was delicious and seemed to spread coolness through my limbs. Not enough. More. I need more.

  Again the cup was brought to my lips. Mere drops, only a teaspoon of the soothing liquid was given. I licked the remaining drops from my lips, and my head lolled back against a warm body. I slept.

  I woke thirsty again, but the heat was gone, and a cool breeze wafted over my feverish skin. I opened my mouth to ask for water, but only a whimper came out.

  “She’s awake. Kelsey?”

  I heard Kishan speak, but I couldn’t open my eyes or move.

  “Kelsey? You’re going to be alright. You’re healing.”

  Healing? How was that possible? The shark bit through my calf. The lower part of my leg was hanging on by only a few tendons. I hadn’t meant to look at it after I’d gotten in the boat but I couldn’t not look.

  “Give her some water,” Ren suggested. Ren? He was alive. Somehow he’d escaped from the feeding frenzy.

  “Do you need some too?”

  “Her first. I’ll survive.”

  He’ll survive? What happened to him? Instead of questions, my body produced moaning sounds.

  I felt a light touch at my neck and heard Kishan say, “Pearl Necklace, we need some drinking water.”

  Gently, Kishan lifted my upper body so my head rested against his chest. I blinked woozily, but couldn’t focus until I saw a cup brought to my lips. He held it for me as I swallowed gratefully. “It’s a good thing we have the Necklace. The Golden Fruit can’t make water.”

  When it was gone, I whispered rasply, “More.”

  He filled the cup four more times before I nodded that I was satisfied. I’d even had the strength to grip his arm as I raised my head. He refilled the cup and handed it to Ren. It was evening, and we were floating on an ocean bathed in moonlight. I practiced keeping my eyes open, watching Ren as he drank. By the time he was done, my eyes had adjusted, and six Rens had become one.

  “You’re hurt,” I said.

  Ren’s grimace became a smile though I could still see the pain he tried to hide. “I’ll be fine.”

  I squinted at his chest. A strange scar arced from his shoulder to his stomach. My eyes widened.

  “The shark bit you? Those are puncture wounds!” I started wheezing, which turned into a wet cough.

  Kishan held me as my body spasmed painfully. Ren waited until my coughing stilled to answer.

  “Yes. It bit me almost in half. Broke all my ribs on the left side, my left arm, shattered my spine, and I think it may have pierced my heart and kidney.”

  “How … how did you get back to the boat with all those sharks in the water?”

  “After the monster shark died, thanks to you and a trident to the brain, most of the others went after him. A few came after me and bit my legs, but they weren’t in attack mode. A quick jab with the trident caused them to leave me alone. Kishan saw me and instructed the Scarf to make a rope. He tugged me back to the boat before they could take off any of my limbs.”

  I shuddered and reached for his hand. He wrapped his fingers around mine, and I sank back against Kishan, weak as a daisy after a thunderstorm.

  “You said I was healing. How? I should be dead by now.”

  Ren made eye contact with Kishan and nodded.

  Kishan cleared his throat and explained, “We used the Nectar of Immortality—the drops of liquid collected from the mermaid’s fountain. You were dying. You were bleeding to death, and the Scarf couldn’t stop it. Your heart slowed, and you lost consciousness. Your life was slipping away, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it from happening. Then I remembered the mermaid’s words. She said the nectar was to be used when I was the most desperate. I couldn’t let you die … so I used the kamandal.

  “At first, I wasn’t sure it was working. There wasn’t enough blood for your heart to pump. I could hear that it wasn’t filling betwe
en beats. Then your heart rate increased. You began healing. Your leg slowly repaired itself before my eyes. Color returned to your face, and you slipped into a deep sleep. I knew then that you would survive.”

  “Does this mean I’m immortal now? Like the two of you?”

  Kishan looked at Ren. “We don’t know.”

  “Why is my skin so hot?”

  “It could be a side effect.” Kishan offered.

  Ren countered, “Or she could have a sunburn.”

  I groaned and poked my arm. It turned white, then pink. “I vote sunburn. Where are we?”

  “No idea.” Ren grunted, shifted, and then closed his eyes.

  “Is there anything to eat? I could use some more water too if you have any.”

  Kishan used the Golden Fruit to make tomato soup, which was nourishing, but not too heavy for our weakened bodies to handle. Then he instructed Ren and me to sleep while he kept watch. Kishan cradled me in his arms while my exhausted body obeyed.

  It was dawn when I woke. I was lying on my side with my head resting on Kishan’s thigh. My hand was pressed against the cold, slick floor of the boat. Fiberglass? How had the Necklace produced that? Rubbing my hand back and forth against the smooth surface, I felt the sides of the boat curve up. Gingerly, I shifted my leg and felt only a twinge of pain.

  “How are you feeling?” Ren asked softly.

  “I feel … okay. Not going to be running any marathons today, but I’ll survive. Can’t sleep?”

  “I traded off with Kishan an hour ago.”

  I ran my hands over the outer edge of the craft and found the bumpy ridges on the outside. The center of the boat was a hot pink that faded to light pink and then alabaster around the outside. Kishan was asleep, an arm covering his eyes, as he rested in one of five vertical folds.

  “It’s a giant clam shell,” Ren explained.