Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [39]
“I'd say that would do the trick.”
“He didn't like it. He didn't have much money, and transporting dolphins isn't cheap. But we flew Pete and Susie home and here they've stayed.”
“But I'd wager Lontana didn't want them to stay here. Did he go back to the Canaries and try to find Marinth without them?”
“Yes, but the underwater terrain there is a maze of reefs, caves, and ledges. Unless you accidentally stumbled on Marinth, you could search for a hundred years without finding it.”
“And he didn't put pressure on you to let him use the dolphins again?”
“Of course he did. Particularly after he had the tablets translated. It seemed the Marinthians used dolphins constantly in daily life.”
“How?”
“They were a fishing community, and the dolphins helped herd the fish into the nets. They warned them of sharks in the area. They even helped the children learn to swim. For centuries the dolphins were an integral part of their life.”
“So? What has that got to do with finding Marinth?”
“Dolphins are still a mysterious species to us. There's a possibility there may be a genetic memory passed on to the generations of dolphins that came after Marinth's destruction. Or they might just cling to a habitat that's proved beneficial to them. Either way, Phil was sure that we should give Pete and Susie another crack at finding Marinth.”
“And you refused to consider it?”
“You're damn right. Transporting dolphins is highly stressful to them. It was his fault they almost died in those nets. Phil could just find Marinth on his own. They'd already given him the tablets.”
“But you think Pete and Susie could find it?”
“If their mother or any dolphin they know is still near the ruins. Each dolphin has its own signature whistle, and they'd be able to follow it with no problem.”
“But Lontana wasn't able to get them to go to her.”
“He was harassing them and they didn't know Phil well enough to trust him. Yes, I think there's a good possibility that they can lead us to Marinth. They found the tablets. And the Marinthians who wrote the tablets spoke of the dolphins as their little brothers. Well, their little brothers were probably the only species to survive, and their descendants are still out there.” She added fiercely, “Do you think I want to take Pete and Susie? They're happy and safe here. If I could see any way to get out of it, I would. So bite the bullet. They're going to travel first-class, Kelby.”
“Okay. Okay.” He gazed at Pete and Susie playing in the water. “But they'd damn well better have a great sense of direction.”
Chapter Eight
There were seven messages on her cell phone when she went to her room that evening.
She cleared them without listening and then turned the phone back on. All right, Archer, go for it. I'm ready for you.
She was lying to herself. She could feel her muscles tense at the thought of answering another call from that bastard. Get over it. She'd made a decision and she had to live with it.
The phone rang again at exactly midnight.
“I wasn't pleased at being ignored,” Archer said. “I thought you cared about those dolphins.”
She stiffened. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I take it you didn't listen to my messages.”
“Why should I listen to that filth?”
“Because I want you to do it. And because if you don't, your dolphins will have an accident. I don't have to invade your little paradise. Maybe poison injected in a fish? I'll find a way.”
“They're only study subjects. No great loss.”
“That's not what Lontana told me.”
She paused. “And what did he tell you?”
“About Marinth, about the dolphins. When I came to him to make him an offer for the sonic-gun plans, he tried to divert me. He told me all about you and Marinth and the tablets. I tried to tell him I wasn't interested