Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [51]
“I'm on my way.” Lyons headed for the cockpit. “It's going to be fine, Melis. We've got it covered.”
“It's not fine.” Melis climbed the three steps of the ladder to Pete's tank and gently touched his nose. He felt silky smooth beneath her palm. “I'm sorry, boy. I know this isn't fair to you. I'll get it over with as quick as I can.”
“Susie seems to be taking it okay,” Kelby said as he came back from looking at the female in the second tank. “She's got her eyes open now. She had them closed all the while we were loading her.”
“She was scared.” She hadn't realized Kelby had noticed. He had been running to and fro, talking to the pilot, and supervising the loading of the dolphins for the past forty-five minutes. “Pete's just mad.”
“How can you tell?”
“I know him. They react differently to almost everything.”
“Sit down and buckle up. We have to take off.”
She climbed down, sat in the seat, and fastened the belt. “How long will it take to get the guys to the tank at the dock in Las Palmas?”
“Twenty minutes tops.” He fastened his own belt. “I've arranged for some marine-biology students to help release them into the tank. They're eager as hell to help, and they'll be glad to watch them for you. The tank's seventy feet long and should be okay for the short time they'll be in it before we turn them loose.”
“Did you make sure the sides of the tank have bumps and protrusions?”
“As per your instructions. But why?”
“The sound has to be deflected. Their auditory system is so highly developed that it would be very disturbing to have their clicks and whistles bouncing off a smooth surface.” The plane was taking off, thank heaven. The ascent was smooth and gradual as she'd instructed, but Melis could still hear Susie's worried clicking. As soon as they leveled off, she was releasing her seat belt.
“I'll check Pete.” Kelby was already climbing the ladder. “You see if you can quiet Susie.”
“Be careful. He might snap at you.”
“Yeah, you told me. He's mad.” He looked down at Pete. “He seems fine. What else can we do?”
“Just check them frequently to make sure they're wet and try to keep them calm. Jesus, I hope this is a smooth flight.”
“The pilot said that the weather should be quiet. No reason for any turbulence.”
“Thank God.” She stroked Susie's bottle nose. “Hang in there, baby. It's not going to be so strange. You're going back to the womb.”
Susie clicked mournfully.
“I know. You don't believe me. But I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you.” She glanced at Kelby. “And I'd better be telling the truth.”
“I promised you nothing would happen.”
She shook her head wearily. “And I don't have the right to blame you if it does. I'm the one responsible for the dolphins.” She gave Susie a final stroke and climbed down from the tank. “And I'm the one who came to you and offered a bargain.” She sat down in the seat. Lord, she was tired. She hadn't been able to sleep last night worrying about Pete and Susie. “And you've done a good job with the transport.”
“Damn right.” He sat down across from her. “But I believe I won't make it a habit. Too traumatic. After I get the dolphins home to your island, that's the end of it.” He paused. “If you want them back. You might decide to set them free.”
“I don't think so. If it was a pristine world uncontaminated by man, there's a possibility. But there are too many hazards we've created for them: Pollution. Fishnets that entangle and kill them. Even tourists in their boats getting too close to bands of dolphins.”
“I'm guilty there.” He smiled. “I remember when I was a boy on my uncle's yacht, I'd beg him to let me go out and touch them whenever we saw a large band.”
“Did he let you?”
“Sure, he let me do anything I wanted to do. My trust fund was paying for his yacht. He wanted to keep on my good side.”
“Maybe he just wanted to be kind.”
“Maybe. But I still got the bills for the yacht after I reached my majority.”
“Did you pay them?”
He looked out the window. “Yes, I paid them. Why not?”
“Because you liked him?”
“Because those trips on the yacht were my salvation.