Dolphin Way: Rise of the Guardians

by Caney, Mark

  ‘And my father — what about him being a Guardian? What will happen to me now?’

  ‘I hope that there is no need for anything to change. I have spoken with the Council and we have agreed that whatever your father may have done, you have committed no fault. But Sky, do be careful. There will be many who are suspicious of you now, who will look for any hint of an error. I cannot protect you if they find one.’

  ‘Prime Mother, I really need to know more about my father.’

  She drifted up again to breathe; sank back again thoughtfully. ‘I can understand that. But if he is alive and has become a Guardian, you must not try to meet him. You know that any kind of deliberate contact with them will result in exile.’

  ‘Could I at least try to find the zeta who brought the news about my father? Perhaps he could tell me more about what happened that day on the beach — to explain why.’

  She paused for a while, considering. ‘I do not like this at all, Sky. There will be many zetii who will be very suspicious of you now, looking for reasons to expel you from this clan. Do you understand?’

  Sky nodded. ‘Yes, but I really have to know more — to find out where I’ve come from.’

  She looked at him for a long time, her eyes full of compassion. ‘Very well, when your studies permit you can try and find him, but do not spend too long searching, he may be anywhere by now. And you are not to go alone. Now go and try to forget about this for the moment.’

  They left and made their way back to where they had left Wakes Softly. She was playing with a pufferfish, teasing it as it swam in irritated circles around a boulder. She looked up with shining eyes as Deneb approached.

  ‘Did she have anything to say about it?’

  ‘She’d anticipated something like this happening and warned Sky to be careful. But she’s given him permission to find out more about his father.’

  The three of them began a gentle cruise along the shoreline, swimming close together as they talked. Wakes looked at Sky in concern. ‘Sky please do be careful! You know how impetuous you can be sometimes. I hate all this — why is everyone behaving so oddly lately?’

  Sky glanced at Deneb questioningly who tilted his head as a shrug. ‘Who else is behaving oddly, Wakes?’

  ‘Well…those bullies attacking you, what happened to Born, the Walkers killing those Cleaners in that awful way, and then the night I saw…’ She trailed off her eyes frowning.

  ‘Saw what?’

  ‘I’m not sure exactly, which is why I hadn’t meant to say anything until I had a chance to try and check things properly.’

  ‘Come on, Wakes,’ Deneb prompted her. ‘You’ve got us curious now; you’ll have to say more.’

  She smiled at him. ‘Well, I’ll tell you what I think I saw, but I don’t think I should say who I thought I saw. A couple of days ago, I was looking for Dusk. It was getting dark when I saw her; she was with some of the other trainee Starwriters and they were practising or something. They were in the shallows in a kind of rocky depression, so that they could see the stars without being disturbed by the waves. When I got there they had already dropped into that trance they go into and the Dreamweaver had started to chant the stuff they had to memorise; old historical stuff, I think. Of course, I didn’t want to disturb them, so I was about to leave, when I noticed an older zeta watching them from behind the rock.’

  Sky interrupted her. ‘Do you mean this zeta was close enough to hear what they were saying?’

  ‘I am pretty sure he would have been. In fact it looked like that was what he was trying to do.’

  ‘But they’re not allowed to do that,’ said Deneb ‘Who was it?’

  She looked at him apologetically. ‘I’m not certain. It was too dark. But I think that it was a zeta from the Council.’

  ‘A Councillor! Who?’

  ‘I don’t think I should say, as I’m half guessing really.’

  ‘What happened then?’

  ‘I was curious, and so I watched for some time from the edge of visibility, but from where I couldn’t hear the Starwriters. Eventually, he left; very carefully and quietly, as though he didn’t want to be seen. I followed him. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but it seemed so strange. He swam east from the clan a long way and eventually he stopped by a rocky outcrop. Soon another zeta came. A big, younger male. They talked, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying — they kept their voices low.’

  ‘So did you see where this other zeta went?’

  ‘No. At one point they stopped talking and looked around — looked in my direction! I was terrified that they may have seen me as the moon was coming up so I came back to the clan as fast as I could.’

  Sky looked at her seriously. ‘Wakes, that is really strange. Tell us who you think it was.’

  ‘I don’t like to, as I’m not certain. And you know what the Way says: “Let the accused hear the accusation first.”’

  Deneb moved closer to her. ‘It was brave of you to do what you did. And you’re right not to want to spread rumours if you’re not sure. But something is very wrong here. Promise me that you will tell Cloud Passing when we see him next for lessons.’

  She smiled back at Deneb gratefully. ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll talk to him. He’ll know what I should do.’

  Sky saw how closely the two of them were swimming. He noticed that Wakes had brushed her pectoral fin gently against Deneb’s side at least twice now, as though by accident. Sky smiled to himself and decided he should leave them alone. ‘I’m supposed to meet with Cloud Passing myself now. I’ll see you two later. Hopefully we can find out what this little mystery is all about soon.’ He left them to their swim and headed back towards the clan. He wondered if they had even noticed him leave.

  Chapter 7

  “Fear not endings

  Without beginning and end

  Nothing can be whole.”

  - Unseen Crystal (12,001 - 12,026 post Great Alluvion)

  As Sky made his way across the shallows through the waking bustle of the clan, one of the new family groups passed him, swimming slowly together in synchronisation, often gliding between their short excursions to take breaths at the surface. One of the resident clan females swam with them. Sky overheard her discussion with the senior female of the visitors.

  ‘…and did you come across any others?’

  ‘Only once; a group of young males. We were afraid they might cause trouble so we moved on quickly, and they didn’t bother us. We also passed a large clan of Xenthos who were heading east, far beyond our range.’

  ‘Did they tell you why?’

  ‘We tried to speak to them but you know how odd their speech is. I think it was due to a lack of hunting, but that always seems to be the reason these days. Anyway they’re a strange sort so who knows?’

  ‘Strange indeed. And of course, they say that they’re stealing our share of the quotas.’

  The visitor shook her head. ‘I don’t know about that. But we certainly saw the lack of hunting. It seems there are just no fish left in Ocean some days. I think the Walkers are to blame, not the Xenthos. You know how they are taking everything with their hunting machines.’

  ‘Well, no doubt the Grand Council will be talking about these things soon enough. And what brings you back to us now?’

  ‘It was mainly for the young ones. They need better education than we can give, so we’ll probably stay at least until the second equinox. My youngest wants to become a Starwriter! I’ve tried to tell her the amount of study that will mean but she is too young to understand yet. At least she has an ambition! So, we’ll be here for some time, and we wanted to get here for the Gathering in any case.’

  ‘Oh yes, it would be a shame to miss a Gathering. There are so many things planned for it! You must get your young ones involved in some of the recitals. Let me find you someone from the Academy who can help you…’

  Hearing this, Sky veered off to one side abruptly before the speaker might turn and see him. He swam as quickly as he could without
, he hoped, appearing to be escaping. He reassured himself that he really did have to go to his meeting and that he had no time to listen to what was likely to be a long explanation of the merits of the children and a listing of their many artistic talents. He made his way to the appointed end of the bay and looked for Cloud Passing.

  He found him slowly gliding in the shallows with his misty eyes half closed, apparently deep in thought. Sky watched him from a respectful distance for a while, and marvelled at the way he spent so long submerged between breaths, easily exceeding the six or seven minutes that was the limit for most dolphins. His slight body was covered in small scars like many of the older dolphins, but Sky noticed that he seemed to be acting noticeably time-worn of late. When he did swim to the surface for air, it seemed as though the movements pained him and his breathing seemed laboured. It hurt Sky greatly to see him like this. Cloud Passing had been his teacher and mentor for many years and he had more respect for him than any other dolphin. He hoped that one day he might reach the level of oneness with Ocean that the old dolphin had clearly attained. Sky knew that the old dolphin would have been deeply hurt by the death of Born Into Summer too. She had been a favourite student of his, and had spent much of her free time acting as an assistant to him. Sky drew closer. ‘Greetings, Cloud Passing-Jeii.’

  The old dolphin opened his eyes fully and turned slowly to peer at him.

  ‘Greetings, young Sky,’ he said affectionately. ‘I see you got my message.’

  ‘Yes, Jeii, but am I disturbing you now?’

  ‘No, not at all.’ He looked thoughtfully at Sky, his misty eyes kindly. ‘Silent Water tells me that you have had some strange news.’

  ‘Yes, Jeii.’

  ‘How do you feel about it?’

  ‘I feel…confused. I hate the thought that my father might be a Guardian, but if I even have a father still…’

  Cloud Passing nodded. ‘Of course. Most zetii of your age take parents for granted. But if you have never known a parent, it is inevitable that you must wonder what they were like.’

  ‘Exactly. If he is alive I would like to know more about him, even if it’s only to find out I don’t even like him; I just want to know.’

  ‘Have you spoken to Silent Water about this?’

  ‘Yes, today. She said I can try to find the zeta that told our hunting party about him, when my studies allow it.’

  ‘Alone?’

  ‘No, she said I should not go alone.’

  ‘Very wise of her — as always. Sky, you must be careful. I sense there are some events on your near horizon that will be hard for you to cope with. You will need to rely on your training and instincts to deal with them. Let me see…yes, you can take a few days for this, but you must return by first dawn after the new moon. And you can take one of the other novices with you.’

  ‘Thank you Jeii, I’ll take Muddy River Mouth if he’ll come.’

  ‘I am quite sure he will, you are all such a close group. Which reminds me, I have been meaning to tell you: I have enjoyed teaching you and your four friends immensely. I think you have been probably the brightest group of Novices I have had the pleasure to work with for a long time. I shall miss our lessons.’

  ‘You must know that we look forward to your lessons the most, Jeii. Anyway, we have a few more moons of lessons still to go, and then you’ll have a new group of Novices to test your endless patience next year.’

  The old dolphin looked wistfully at Sky, a faint smile in his cloudy eyes. ‘No, I am afraid that I won’t be leading any classes next year.’

  ‘But why not, Jeii? Are you sick?’

  ‘I am not at my best. But you know that; I am sure you all must have been aware for some time that I have been unwell, it is an unfortunate side effect of getting old.’ He slowed as he came alongside a large isolated boulder and paused to peer at a small, red, hermit crab that was laboriously picking its way through the low algae towards the top. He seemed deep in thought for a while, then seemed to come to a decision. He turned to Sky and said gently, ‘Sky, you were always one of my best and most favourite pupils. Let me share something with you. You will be one of only a few I have mentioned this to. It is not a secret; I am just not in a hurry to tell everyone just yet.’

  Sky nodded without a word, wondering what he was about to hear. He had not seen his teacher quite like this before, and he felt a cold shiver of anticipation that something bad was coming.

  Cloud Passing looked once more at the small crab which had almost reached the summit of its boulder. The crab became aware that it was being watched and stopped its climb. Its unwinking black eyes stared expressionlessly at the old dolphin for a moment. It seemed to sense he was no threat and began its climb again, only to stop, as it discovered a discarded shell. The shell was somewhat larger than the one it currently inhabited and the crab examined it carefully, reaching inside with its claws.

  ‘It looks like he is growing out of his current home’, observed Cloud Passing. ‘Time to move on to something better.’

  ‘Jeii, you were going to tell me something.’

  ‘So I was. Sky, I have been thinking a lot lately. It has been a long time since I made a deep dive down to the dark waters. I think I should like to make one more.’

  ‘Jeii, you don’t mean…’

  ‘Hush a moment Sky. I had thought of arranging this in a moon or so when this whole Gathering business is over with. But I discussed it with Silent Waters, and she seems to think it would be appropriate to incorporate it into the celebrations. I am very flattered of course, and do not wish to appear pretentious…’

  Sky could not stay quiet any longer. ‘Jeii, no!’

  ‘Touches The Sky! I am surprised at you’, Cloud Passing said in mock reproof. ‘As a scholar of the Way you know that it is every zeta’s right...’

  ‘Yes, of course I know Jeii, but…’

  ‘There cannot be any buts. However, I do have a problem.’ He looked hard at Sky for a long time, as though he was searching for the right way to put something. ‘I had thought that I had all my duties properly discharged in preparation for this. But, now things have changed.’

  Sky waited; confused.

  Cloud Passing continued, apparently choosing his words carefully. ‘You have learned a great deal about the Way, and are a good student.’

  ‘Thank you, but I still have so much to learn, Jeii.’

  ‘Hmm. So tell me, how would you like to change the Way?’

  ‘Change it? But…that’s an impossible question, Jeii. It can’t be changed...it’s the immutable teachings of the ancients.’

  ‘Did I ever tell you it was “immutable”?’

  ‘Well, no, I don’t think so, but everybody knows…’

  ‘Everybody likes to think that, of course. But Ocean changes over time, and the Way needs to adapt to those changes sometimes.’

  Sky was confused by this idea. He had always believed that the Way was a perfect set of truths; an unwavering code for behaviour. If the zetii followed it, all would be well. And now Cloud Passing, of all zetii, seemed to be implying it could be changed! ‘But, Jeii, who decides if it should be changed? The Council?’

  ‘No. They deal with more pragmatic matters. There are others who have been entrusted with this task, entrusted since our histories began, since the Way was first codified.’

  ‘How are these zetii chosen?’

  ‘They are not only zetii, Sky. Some are of the Great Wanderers, for example. ’

  Now Sky was really confused. He knew that there was some level of communication between some of the dolphin species and whales, but he had thought it was at best very basic. Now, Cloud Passing was saying that the Great Wanderers were involved in changing the Way! ‘Why are you telling me this, Jeii?’

  ‘The ones given this task are known as the Aligners of the Way, or more often just the Aligners. There is normally at most one member in each of the larger clans of zetii. It so happens that I am an Aligner.’

  Sky looked at his tea
cher with a new respect. ‘I have never heard of them, Jeii.’

  ‘No, you would not. Very few know of their existence, even less of their identities. In this clan, just a few of the Council members know that I hold this honour. But I have a problem. It is the duty of each Aligner to arrange for an apprentice who may take over their duties when they are gone. I had someone that I was very confident of, and spent much time preparing her for the role. But now she is dead.’

  ‘Born Into Summer?’

  ‘Yes, exactly. I had high hopes for her. And it is a tragedy that she should have died. Because she was a wonderful zeta of course, but also because she was to take my work forward now that I must go. And it is a great blow to me that she died so suddenly and at such a vital time. But now I need to find someone else. And that someone must take on the obligation with little help from me as I do not have much time. I am quite unwell you see, Sky.’ The old dolphin quietly waited expectantly.

  Sky hardly knew what to say. ‘Jeii, are you asking me?’

  ‘Yes, Sky. I have chosen you. It is a heavy thing to bear at the best of times, but it will be far worse for you I am afraid. I am not going to be able to help you much, and I fear that Born’s death was no coincidence. She may have been killed because of what she was about to become. If that is true, then you are also at risk. Therefore you must tell no one of this. And I will tell only those that absolutely must know. I know what you are thinking, Sky. You are not worthy, there must be others in the clan, and so on. It is what I would expect you to say. But you will have to trust my judgment more. And I believe you are the best one to take on this task. Please accept it.’

  Feeling he was diving into a dark pool of unknown depth, Sky tried to keep his voice steady as he replied, ‘Very well, Jeii. Thank you for honouring me so.’

  ‘Good. Oh, and one other thing. When the day comes for my Darkening Dive, I was hoping that I might ask something of you.’

  ‘Anything Jeii, you don’t have to ask.’