Giants and Specters

Deep vibrations resonated through the submarine's hull, bringing out a gentle hum. The reverberations were growing more noticeable as their ship was getting closer.

"Woah, how cool would it be if it ran into us."

"Got it. Better to decline whenever you invite me for something cool."

With a warm smile, Ray watched over Marlin, who was glued to a porthole, hopping from foot to foot.

Right beside them, dwarfing their machine, an enormous submarine haltingly marched along the bottom of the ocean. The largest walking ship station shimmered deep aquamarine and lush green. Its gangly spider legs taking turns to bend, stretch, and pound the seabed, raising clouds of sand. Its oxygen globes protruding all around the bulky frame, turning in circles like huge watchful eyes. A long sinuous panel of colored quartz glass ran along its side, accompanied by a patina-covered bronze bas-relief of whales and turtles, napping starfish and roaring serpents.

"Are we docking yet?"

"Relax, I'm watching the communication channel. They'll ping us when it's our turn."

"Waiting," Marlin groaned. "That's all I've been doing on your ship. When will it be over?"

"They don't give an estimate, but it might take a while. There is usually a line to get onboard the Azure Colossus."

***

The metal walkway groaned underfoot, bouncing gently with every step. The hum of the hurried crowd was subdued. Waves of people ebbed and flowed in every direction. The Colossus's interior was a chaotic maze of overpasses, alleys, and stairs. It smelled strongly of sweat and acid, with a faint hint of machine oil and a consistent undertone of grilled fish.

Ray navigated through the crowd, alert and collected, glancing at nonchalant Marlin.

"The plan is to get to the intersection of the residential and trading sections on the port side. Ask around about Coral, pick up a variety of recent rumors, and look for a quick job. We won't have a better chance of finding a suitable, high-paying gig."

"Let's go straight to the part of the ship with pretty windows."

"There isn't much useful info for us in the entertainment district. I don't mind you going on your own, but the Colossus is ginormous, we might not find each other once separated. Remember where we docked?"

"Get off, mum," Marlin folded his arms behind the head and quickened his step.

"Crayfish sector, L-23. If you can't find your way back to the- Fine, the nagging session's over, stop running."

The plaza with colorful mismatched stalls was also fully packed, but here the people strolled around at a leisurely pace, chatting, bargaining, laughing. Ray walked between them, listening, engaging the ones who look the friendliest or the most dubious, keeping Marlin in check when the boy was getting dangerously close to products on display.

The longest line led to a stripped tall tent, selling brown and red seahorse confections made of sugar kelp. Marlin was throwing repulsed glances at it, frowning and tucking in his lower lip. Suppressing a chuckle, Ray handed the kid a few shells and waved him away.

All the questioning and eavesdropping weren't leading anywhere, another dead end. Ray was getting fidgety, needled by doubts. Were they not making stops to maintain secrecy? Using trusted local members to deliver supplies to them? But who needs supplies when they are dead.

A candy cracking between his teeth, Marlin elbowed Ray, bringing him out of the stupor. "We make a great duo. You distract the dunce with your ceaseless talking," he mimicked the speaking with his hand. "While I nibble their pockets clean."

"A feat we attempt is way more difficult than stealing. We need to earn their trust, so that they'll tell us the truth."

"Don't underestimate the skill. I just make it look easy," he bit off half a hard candy and crunched on it.

"I have no doubt your escapades will go down in legend. But first, prove your skill. Heard a worthy rumor in the queue?"

"Knew it! Still take me for a useless kid," he popped the leftover piece in his mouth. "Wanted a fish job? A family business herding something piggy something whales."

"Southern pygmy kelpback whales."

"Yeah-yeah, don't repeat me. They ran into problems. When they brought the pod back into their enclosure, something creepy something else got mixed in."

"You sure you heard that right?"

"Well, have you heard it? Exactly! So don't teach me how to tell my story."

Ray put up his hands in defeat. "You did great. I'm proud of you for knowing what whales are. Any idea how we can find that family in need?"

"Vesta street. Should have a jumping whale carving on the front."

After asking for directions, they went in search of the rumored whale sign.

"Why fish? You have a soft spot for them?"

"I very much do, but that's not the reason. We don't want to dawdle in one place, so we need a job that can be completed in less than a day. But if it's low-skill, it won't pay much and will probably be given to a local. Got to play to my strengths."

"I know, talking to fish, right? You're constantly spewing nonsense at that slime of yours."

"Angie. Remembering her name is the least you can do," Ray rubbed his brow. "I'm a marine biologist."

"Aren't you too skinny for that?"

"Don't worry, I'm confident when it comes to swimming, and animals."

"I'm anyway surprised you have a legit job. Thought you were some travelling scammer. That ship looked too good for you. It yours?"

"Not really... It belongs to the company."

Marlin's face darkened. "Rotten fish, are you with Neptune?"

"I'm not with anyone. But I do work as a lead biologist at Neptune BioWorks. I spend all my time researching and befriending animals. Nothing with genetics stuff."

"Hope they all drown and get splattered by a squid all over the ocean floor."

"We won't go near anything Neptune-related, I promise."

"What about the ship?"

"The first thing I did was clean it, so it doesn't count anymore," Ray put a hand on Marlin's shoulder and squeezed. Then looked up and pointed at a worn brass sign. "That looks about right. Wait here. The negotiations won't take long."

"Sure you don't want to play a bereft single father card? I can even shed a tear or two."

Ray chuckled. "Will keep it in mind."

The street was dull and narrow, no portholes, poor lighting, pipes and fans, cold metal all around. Marlin got bored out of his mind the instant the door closed behind Ray. He tried tapping his foot, making faces, spinning in circles, cracking his knuckles, counting holes in the walkway, shaking the railing, futilely coaxing his hair into laying flat. It was the turn for activity number eighty-six when the door opened again.

Marlin jumped at Ray. "I almost died!"

"What happened?" he looked around, eyes wide.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing. For a million years."

Ray relaxed his shoulders and smiled. "Glad you're alright despite that," he held out a hand to stop another outburst. "Business first. I bargained a higher reward if we finish before sunset. The whales acted agitated when brought back this morning. Later, while cleaning the animals, the rancher discovered a stingweave specter in the aquarium."

He looked for any signs of recognition on Marlin's face. Blank.

"Similar to a jellyfish. The top is not unlike a bowler hat, vivid purple in color with crimson veins. Below — countless thin, long, curly, red tendrils. Extremely poisonous. In seconds the body goes numb, the lunges petrify, the stung place burns, sending shocks of pain through every nerve.
"The plan is for me to dive into the aquarium to calm the whales while you buy mussels and bring them back. Then you go outside while I buddy up to the specter and lure it out."

"Why can't I stay and help? I'm not afraid of that toxic squishy!"

"That's what I'm concerned about. Those whales are skittish. Don't want them to get spooked and stampede around. There's no need for more hands, we're not going to wrestle with the specter. And it doesn't attack unprovoked. It's safest if I do it alone."

"Knew you'll never trust me."

"I trust you to get mussels, not more candy."

***

Ray swam from one whale to another, matching their head movements, patting their fuzzy humps, going very slow, making as little movement as possible. The specter was easy to spot: whales were giving it a wide berth.

It should soon be time for Marlin to come back. Even though he was good for half an hour more, Ray spun around and headed towards the hatch, using only legs to avoid accidentally touching the whales. Getting air was always a more prudent option.

A ripple went through the line of whales. They called to each other a short low signal, shifting to one side of the enclosure, shaking their heads restlessly.

Marlin was inside the aquarium. He dashed to the further end and was now hovering near the specter, ready to poke it with a long, shiny lockpick.