The Whale Song Translation: A Voyage of Discovery To Neptune and Beyond

by Howard Steven Pines

  “I don’t hear any answer to Ms. Reyes’s question,” Abrams said. “Instead, I hear the familiar anthropocentric strains of the ‘human exceptionalism’ argument. It’s an excuse for powerful organizations to play God with the rights of individuals and other species in order to justify commercial exploitation of the environment and the abuse of fragile ecosystems.”

  “I’m not surprised Mr. Ricks sidestepped your question, Ms. Reyes,” said McPinsky. “It’s a bad enough blow to the human ego to admit there could be intelligent creatures on other worlds. Imagine the future shock, however, if we were to discover they exist on our very own planet but hadn’t been smart enough to detect it sooner. By the way, the notion that man is created in God’s image reminds me—”

  “I’m sorry to cut you short, Professor,” said Reyes, “but our time has expired. I want to thank all of our distinguished panelists for a stimulating discussion. Stay tuned to Headline News for updates on the situation in Maui. This is Cristina Reyes of Urgent Assignment wishing you all a good night.”

  Dmitri turned off the TV. “I thought it went pretty well. That ‘intelligent design’ sophistry espoused by Ricks is a ruse. It’s an end run around court rulings that prohibit the teaching of creationism as science.”

  “How ironically Darwinian,” replied Greg, “that creationism itself needs to evolve in order to ensure its survival.”

  “Brilliant deduction, Greg,” replied Dmitri. “Now, if only Prescott had evolved beyond the Neanderthal stage, we’d be home free.”

  “Ouch.” Greg slapped his forehead “We definitely know where you stand with that guy.”

  Dmitri turned to address the group. “Okay, I’ve got to make some phone calls, so let’s take a thirty-minute break and then reconvene in the conference room.”

  Half an hour later, the Research in Paradise team had regrouped to discuss the inventory of supplies for the pending launch.

  “Yikes.” Andrew jumped to his feet. A loud bang just outside the building startled the entire team.

  Hawkins dashed into the lobby and everyone followed. He lifted a corner section of the window blinds. As Dmitri peeked out, he saw chanting protestors marching in circles in front of the PICES offices.

  “There’s Chris,” shouted Hawkins.

  Through the window, Dmitri saw Gorman struggling to shove his way through the crowd. Hawkins cracked the door open. Gorman staggered through, slammed the door shut, and locked it. He dripped with perspiration. “I’m okay.” He wiped his face with the souvenir PICES handkerchief provided by his assistant, Shelley.

  The team followed Gorman back into in the conference room. Dmitri tried to be upbeat. “That was an excellent presentation, Chris. You made the case for the PICES organization and the legitimacy of its research program.”

  “I guess so. Nevertheless, whoever pulled this media stunt is probably laughing. They’ve unleashed the mobs upon us. Did you see how I had to bulldoze my way through that throng just to get in here? It’s a zoo out there. Let’s forget about the experiment. Right now I’m more concerned for our safety.”

  “Not only that.” Hawkins sounded grim. “Our naturalists had to cancel all of today’s whale-watch tours. The tourists are afraid to get anywhere near the dock.”

  Shelley opened the door. “Hey, everybody, turn the TV back on. All hell is breaking loose.”

  Hawkins grabbed the remote and hit the power button.

  “This is Michael Johnson back on the boat docks in Kihei, Maui, on a lovely afternoon. During the past hour, clashes have intensified between those who support and those who oppose the controversial PICES experiment. Police are arresting individuals who’ve escalated their protests to the level of physical violence. Some of these incidents are allegedly fueled by the consumption of alcohol and drugs. I’ve got a Maui peace officer with me. Sir, will you impose a curfew to quell the disturbances?”

  “Not really,” replied the officer. “There aren’t enough cells on the island to handle arrests due to curfew violations. We’ll deal with the worst of the lot, and then I’m sure it’ll all simmer down by tomorrow. After all, this is laid-back Maui. We want to assure everyone that it’s still safe to visit our island paradise.” He smiled for the camera.

  “Thank you for the update, officer. It’s taken a very nasty turn out here, and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. Now back to our Atlanta studios.”

  “That just sucks.” Andrew paced with his hands in his pockets. “This has nothing to do with the experiment. Bringing in the TV cameras is a calling card for all the loons who want their fifteen minutes of fame.”

  Gorman shook his head. “The game’s over. It’s just too dangerous out there. I’ve decided to suspend our experiment indefinitely. We’ll resume if and when the passions die down.”

  “You can’t do that.” Lila rose, looking furious. “That’s just what they want.”

  Another sharp bang against the side wall of the building stopped the conversation. A fusillade of thumps and booms reverberated throughout the conference room.

  “I’m getting scared.” Seema’s voice sounded small and tentative. “Where are the police?”

  A blast of shattering glass and a woman’s chilling scream jolted everyone at the table.

  “Shelley’s out there.” Gorman leapt to his feet and rushed out the door. Dmitri followed him into the lobby, shocked by the grisly scene. The front window had been demolished, and the blinds swayed in the breeze. A large rock lay in the middle of the glass-littered floor. Shelley cowered beneath the desk. Her whimpering drew the rest of the team into the room and Gorman to her side.

  “Maui police! Open up!”

  Hawkins unlocked the door, and four cops poured into the lobby. An officer with a sergeant’s badge approached Gorman. “I’m sorry we weren’t here to stop this. Is everyone all right?”

  Gorman helped Shelley to her feet. Despite her tan, her face appeared bleached of its vitality.

  “Oh, no!” cried Lila.

  Slivers of glass covered Shelley’s blood-stained arms and clothing. Remarkably, her face had been spared.

  The sergeant motioned to two of his men. “We’ll escort you to the hospital, ma’am.” As she left, trembling but subdued, the sergeant faced Gorman and said, “Looks like she’s in shock. Fortunately, her wounds appear minor.”

  “Hey, check this out.” Andrew held the rock in his hands. “There’s a note attached.” Before the cops could react, he untied the string and unfolded the paper. “Uh-oh,” he moaned.

  “Lemme see that.” The sergeant grasped the edge of the note between his thumb and forefinger. “This is evidence. Take it to the lab, Garza.” He handed the page to one of his assistants. “I just got another emergency call, so I’m leaving one of my officers to guard your building. In the meantime, I suggest you contact Maui Glass to fix this window. If you need anything else, here’s my card.”

  After the police left, the team moved back to the conference room. After they’d all exchanged anxious stares, Gorman cleared his throat. “Andrew, what did the note say?”

  Andrew looked confused, his eyes darting around the table. “Death,” he murmured. Seema gasped.

  “That does it.” Gorman’s bold tones tolled like a command. “It’s just too risky to proceed.”

  “You can’t wimp out on the whales, Chris!” Lila snarled. “Everything is ready to go! We can prove once and for all that the humpbacks deserve humanity’s respect. Now is the time to strike.”

  Dmitri fully expected Gorman to lose his cool and lash back at his young researcher’s impetuous remarks. Instead, the PICES director sagged back into the chair and stared at the ceiling. When he finally spoke, Dmitri strained to hear his muted voice. “It’s killing me, Lila. Don’t for a minute think I wouldn’t risk my life to save even a single endangered humpback. But I also have the perspective of leading others into battle . . . bearing the life-long burden of lives lost under my command . . . experiencing a family’s grief as I deli
vered the news.” Gorman paused. His eyes glistened. “It took me years to make peace with those decisions. As a Navy officer, I’d issue those same orders again. But as a civilian, I’ve no right to endanger your lives.”

  Lila walked over and placed a consoling hand on her boss’s shoulder. “I had no idea, Chris.”

  “How could you?”

  Lila paused and gazed into her supervisor’s eyes before speaking. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but new lives are at stake. Since you’re the director of PICES, I truly believe you need to honor your commitment to protect and preserve the cetaceans.”

  Gorman stood. “I agree, but not at the risk of human life. I’m sorry, but my mind is made up.” He left the room, Hawkins trailing behind him.

  Although Dmitri was shocked by Lila’s outburst, he agreed with her. But what could he do? After all, this was Gorman’s organization, and it stood in the crosshairs of a national media assault. Dmitri sensed, however, that Lila wouldn’t let it rest.

  “You know I’m right.” Lila’s face was flushed. “This is an occasion that comes along once in a lifetime. We’ve worked hard, and we’re ready to launch. If we miss the opportunity, it could be years before the stars are in perfect alignment again.” Lila approached Dmitri, hovering over him. “Dr. Dmitri, your mentor said it more eloquently than I ever could. It’s not about us. It’s about the existential redemption of the human race and the survival of the cetaceans. Dr. Dmitri, I implore you to follow through on your inspiration and—”

  Dmitri tugged at his shirt collar. “And what?”

  “I have a friend who could pilot the boat.”

  “What are you suggesting, Lila?”

  “If Chris doesn’t change his mind by tomorrow, my friend, Tony, could help us bypass the protestors’ barricade. We could approach and board the boat from the water under the cover of darkness. Tony is a master pilot who does contract work for various tour companies, so we won’t need Chris or Peter’s nautical skills. I’ve done whale song field research for over two years. I know their habitats, their behavior, and how to locate them. I’m an expert diver, and I can pilot a boat if necessary.”

  “That sounds illegal to me.” Dmitri brushed away the beads of moisture tickling his brow. “Your boss would be hopping mad and probably press charges against whoever’s involved.”

  “I know the real Chris Gorman,” implored Lila, “and he’s a complicated guy but a very good one. Right now his ethics compel him to protect us. But once we’ve made the decision for him, I know his passion for the humpbacks will prevail. He’ll find a way to forgive us. And reengage with us too.”

  “Unless, of course, we encounter real trouble on the high seas and something terrible happens,” Dmitri said softly. “I’d be wracked with guilt the rest of my life.”

  A spasm of emotion contorted Lila’s face. “PICES researchers on Molokai reported two more humpbacks washed ashore this morning.” Her cheeks and forehead had turned red. “To paraphrase Hegel, ‘The history of the world is a slaughter bench, because of actors that did not think and thinkers that did not act.’ For the sake of the whales, now is the time to act.”

  After a prolonged silence, Seema sighed. “I agree with Lila. I think Professor McPinsky would want us to proceed.”

  “Me too, boss,” said Andrew. “The potential rewards outweigh the risks.”

  It was obvious to Dmitri that the fault line of opinion was generational. “And the children shall lead them,” he thought to himself.

  “Et tu, Greg?” he asked.

  Greg replied immediately. “You’re my compadre. Whatever you decide is fine with me.”

  Dmitri locked the fingers of both hands over his head and began to pace around the table. “It’s all up to me then. I’ve never had to make a decision so agonizing.”

  “I’m sorry I put you in such an awkward position,” said Lila. “Why don’t you think about it? Get a good night’s rest, and then tomorrow you can discuss the matter with our mutual friend. Melanie is the most supportive person I’ve ever known.”

  Dmitri knew Melanie would be devastated by Lila’s news about the whales’ escalating death toll. He ceased his pacing. Realizing he couldn’t look Lila in the eye, he hung his head and stared at the floor.

  “Oh, and one more thing,” said Lila, with a new air of authority. “With the exception of Melanie, not a word of what we’ve discussed leaves this room.”

  Everyone was speechless. After all, what more could they say?

  SYMPHONY IN THE PARK

  Wailuku Public Park, Wailuku, Maui—the next day

  “Meet me in Wailuku at the koi pond in Keilani Park, no later than 1:55 p.m. I’ve attached a link to a map of the area.”

  After reading the last sentence of Melanie’s text message, Dmitri checked his wristwatch: 1:48 p.m. He stared at the creased map one more time. It was rumpled and smudged, appearing to have absorbed all of his recent tension. Confident he’d arrived at the right destination, he stuffed the printout into a back pocket and started walking down a cheerful bougainvillea-lined path. A pleasant stroll like this would normally set his mind at ease. This time, however, he couldn’t stop worrying about his current dilemma.

  For the past twenty-four hours, he’d been paralyzed by indecision about the fate of the experiment. After yesterday’s debacle at PICES headquarters, Gorman had informed Padgett he’d suspended their investigation, citing safety issues related to the violent protests. The youngest members of the team, however, had again beseeched Dmitri to override Gorman’s edict and to sanction a stealth launch.

  All morning, Dmitri had grappled with the tumultuous forces raging inside his head. Realizing he needed the counsel of the one person on the island he trusted most, he phoned Melanie. Once he’d told her about the latest developments, she’d juggled her work schedule for a rendezvous at her favorite public park. He’d been curious about her insistence to meet at such a precise time, and just to be safe, he had arrived a bit early.

  He hadn’t been to a park in a long time, and as he surveyed the landscape, he realized he needed to spend more time outdoors instead of cloistered in a laboratory. The brilliant sunshine illuminated a vivid floral tapestry, framed by blue sky and green grass. A distant figure waved to him from a bench next to a lily pond. Dmitri raised a hand in greeting. He saw Melanie surrounded by the purple clouds of a flowering jacaranda grove and a magenta ground fog of bougainvillea.

  As he approached, his pulse quickened. Her lithe figure was graced by a jade-green, silk cheongsam. To Dmitri she looked like the spectacular centerpiece of an impressionistic painting. He inhaled the perfumed scent of ginger and was greeted by the serenade of hundreds of Hawaiian songbirds and whistling mynahs. They sounded like little music boxes hidden in the branches. The melodious chorus lifted his spirits. He sat down next to Melanie and held his breath. A black and gold butterfly adorned her hair, flexing its wings like a decorative fan beating the air.

  “You arrived just in time.” The butterfly took wing.

  “For what?” he replied.

  “You’ll soon find out. How are you holding up under the pressure?”

  “Before I forget, I want to thank you for arranging such a wonderful picnic of color and sound.” He reached for her hand. “I already feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. The bird symphony is as mesmerizing as you are.” She didn’t hesitate to respond, embracing him. He pressed his cheek to her satiny hair and inhaled the scent of jasmine.

  Melanie turned and their eyes met. “It’s a very calming sound. I come here to relax on hectic days, and I’m so glad it’s helping you unwind.” She peeked at her wristwatch. “Now get ready for the next song on today’s program.”

  From across the park, Dmitri heard the clarion call of a school bell. The avian chorus instantly evaporated into the sweet-scented air. After a brief silence, he heard a crescendo of exuberant chatter from a nearby playground.

  He gave her a quizzical look. “It’s uncanny th
at the birds stopped just as the children’s voices began.”

  “It happens every time. I think the birds are entranced by the children’s playful twittering.”

  “Human white noise.” He smiled. “It’s such a peaceful sound, and soothing, like your voice.” She squeezed his hand.

  “For me it’s inspirational. It reminds me of my childhood hopes and dreams. And the chameleon-like quality reflects my moods. How is it affecting you?”

  “It’s hard to tell,” Dmitri replied, “but you’re right. Their voices take me back to my childhood. In some strange way, I’m sensing something about my past is the reason I’m struggling now.”

  She nodded. “Maybe we can figure it out.”

  “I’m a pretty lucky guy to have you as my guardian angel.” Dmitri brushed his fingertips across her cheek. “I’m also recognizing a theme emerging from your orchestration of this concert in the park event. First, the chorus of birdsong followed by the celestial children’s choir—”

  “And remember the songs of the humpback. So what theme are you referring to? What’s the binding tie?” Melanie’s smile sparkled in the natural light.

  “You’re a magician,” he exclaimed. “You can add song therapist to your resume. Yes, yes, I know Lila is right. Except for the fact that a wildcat launch is probably illegal and obviously usurps Gorman’s authority, taking a risk for the whales makes a lot of sense. What to do? What to do?” He looked up to the sky and shook his head.

  “I know it sounds corny,” answered Melanie, “but sometimes when I need even more inspiration, I visit my neighborhood elementary school playground when nobody’s there.”

  “How—”

  Before he could continue, she placed her soft palm upon his lips. “I sit on a swing and visualize the thousands of children who’ve played on that field. I imagine their spirits have been absorbed into the ground. Then I begin to kick my knees like I did as a child and swing wildly. When I’m completely giddy and accelerating toward the earth, I summon all my willpower to channel that same spiritual energy out of the ground and into my mind and body. To me, that schoolyard is more of a cathedral than any church. Maybe we can go there sometime.”