Disclaimer: No disrespect to Titanic survivors or the descendants of those survivors is intended or implied. It is merely a work of fiction, and nothing more. Thank you for your understanding.
Titanic By Jon Sleeper
"There was peace, and the world had an even tenor to it's way. It seems to me that the disaster about to occur was the event that not only made the world rub it's eyes and awake, but woke it with a start. To my mind the world of today awoke April 15, 1912."
--Jack Thayer, Titanic survivor.
Prologue: The Task Ahead
I floated on the Surface, among the small icebergs that dot this northern Sea. I waited for Orca to manifest himself, I wondered Why am I here anyway? I completed my final Task long ago, why has he Called me again? Humans were not exactly my favorite people, and the Tasks for one reason or another always involved them.
It had been ten years since I'd been amongst humans. Quite frankly I was not anxious to be around them again.
A few minutes later I Saw another with my clickings. She was not another orca like myself. Her (I could tell is was a her) Tone was of a humpback. Strange. Though Orca was the Guardian of all whales, orcas were his favorite. And he most often used us for his Tasks, with the bottlenoses second in that order.
With my Sight, I could tell that she was rather young, perhaps only five migrations. Then she saw me, and sang a terse greeting. In other waters, I might be tempted to hunt her. But this was a sacred part of the Sea, and such things were not allowed. [[Welcome, sister.]] I clicked back in formal Cetacean. We might be different types, but we're still both whales. And thus related.
[[Are you whom I am supposed to wait for?]] She asked me.
[[No. What gave you that idea?]] She was very young indeed.
[[Um. I thought that since he is… and you are…]]
[[You'll know when he comes. He'll be unmistakable.]] I could tell she was very nervous, it was obviously her first Calling. Personally, it's my fiftieth. I'm three hundred years old, by the way humans reckon time. Apparently Orca is not done with me yet… I questioned him once about my long life, and all he said was, [[I need you.]] I could not argue with that. I was secretly glad he was not done with me.
[[Have you seen him before?]] There was anxiety in her song. Our name for humpbacks is "Singers".
[[Many times before.]] I thought a moment. She must have many questions. [[Perhaps I should tell you what he told me about himself when I asked him when I was young…]] I surfaced for a breath, and settled into the lecture tone of a History Singer.
[[Orca is not a God. He has never claimed to be one. That job is Another's. He calls himself a "Child of Nature". He has many Siblings. Among those are Tiger, Wolf, Horse, Falcon, Cockroach, and others. But the one we are to be concerned the most with is Ape.]]
[[Ape? As in humans?]]
[[Yes. Ape is Nature's most spoiled Child. Humans are under Ape's Guardianship. And he dotes on them. Ape is also one of Nature's youngest Children. And she dotes on him. Unfortunately this means that humans often do things to harm the Whole. Ape just isn't all that intent on keeping his Children in line. Because of this, it falls to Ape's other Siblings to keep humans pointed in the right direction until he grows up. Thus Orca gives Tasks to worthy whales. He must see something in you, sister.]]
[[Me?]]
Then between one moment and the next, a Presence filled the water between two large 'bergs.
Orca had appeared out of my own clickings, and the song of the humpback beside me. He always knew how to make entrance. [[Good morning my Children! I'm glad you're both here!]]
[[Not like I had any choice...]] I said under my breath.
[[I'm sorry about that, Darius. I know how reluctant you are to go among humans again. I should have known better to assign you to the Pony Express.]] Orca apologized.
[[I've never been so far away from salt water in my life, you know? Even after I got back in the water I felt dusty for years! And the people... sheesh those humans can be barbaric sometimes!]]
The Singer was staring at the both of us. [[I think I'll make my own judgment on that one.]] she said.
[[Good for you, Child! I see I made a good choice!]] Orca clicked happily. [[But, on to the Task I have for you. Mother called the other day. It seems She's realized She's been too soft on Ape lately. As usual, She's given Ape all the things he's wanted. Especially in the past few centuries. She thinks he needs a spanking. And humans are the best way to give one.]]
I saw a chance to give the Singer another History lesson, and Orca (as usual) knew what I was thinking… [[How do you mean 'soft' Master?]]
I could feel him 'smirk' a moment. [[Every time Ape throws a tantrum Mom gives him something he wants. The first time, humans were given fire and stone tools. The last, industrialization. But this last concession has caused Mother much pain. Mom says something needs to change, but She does not want to confront Ape directly. Humans, as always, are the best way to punish Ape indirectly. Mom just does not have the heart to give him a direct punishment.]]
[[Humans kill us by the thousands!]] The Singer blurted. [[Oops…]] She must of realized what she just said.
[[Yes, Child.]] Orca is a very understanding Guardian, and was not angered by her outburst. [[I know. Mom has punished Ape before. The last time was what humans refer to as the Black Plague. But She wants to do something a little more surgical this time. She can't do something like the Plague again without threatening us all. There are getting to be just too many humans. So, She's decided to sink a ship.]] That surprised me.
[[But Master! Just one ship? Will that be enough?]] I clicked. I still remembered when sails were the only way to cross the ocean. The one thing I fell in love with about humans. Their ability to harness the wind!
Orca continued. [[With this one, it will be. It's called the 'Titanic', and it's being touted as 'unsinkable'. They think they can 'outdo God and Nature'. Mom does not care for that kind of attitude. Human society has gotten too arrogant in the past fifty years. Humans need to change anyway.
[[But for all his faults, I love my Brother. And I love humans, even though they murder us. The ship has lifeboats for less than half it's passengers, the fools. But I don't want to see many die so needlessly. We could use some new blood anyway.]] That last statement was rather a mystery to me. What did he mean by "new blood"? Unless...
[[And what is our Task, Master?]] I asked. Then I sighed inwardly, I guess I'm stuck for it...
[[I will send you both aboard the Titanic. You will know the Task when you encounter it. One of you will be in first class, the other third. There will be human Friends among the crew, and second class, as well as a bottlenose that's already Above. You will know him by his Tone. Other knowledge will come to you as time passes, and as you need it. Just keep your wits about you.
[[Remember, my Children. I love the both of you. Please, come back to me safe.]] The love in his voice was almost embarrassing. [[Prepare for Transition.]] The Singer started, I think she did not expect it to happen right away.
I hate this part, I thought. From Orca's melon came a swirl of glowing sound. The world started to become hazy and indistinct both to my eyesight and my other Sight. I felt myself twisting, turning, falling...
"Sir? Mr. Orcan? Are you okay?" The voice was familiar, it should have been, he'd been serving me for several years now. I'd been taking a nap, it had been a long drive.
I rubbed my eyes a bit to clear the sleep from them, and replied, "I'm fine, Michaels. Thank you. How far away from the ship are we?"
"About five minutes, sir. Sir, were you dreaming?"
"Yes, I believe I was. About what, I can't quite recall. Spilt milk."
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
"Why, yes. I believe I am. Nothing personal you understand, just call it a bad feeling." Strange, that feeling. I had hired another butler for the crossing, one who was going to America to stay anyway. The man had an engaging smile and I only had to pay for him one way, anyway. And what I was paying him in return was much less than Michaels' return trip would of cost. He said he would meet me in my cabin.
"Then why are you going, sir?"
"I don't really know." It's a peculiar thing. "I just know that there's something I have to do on that ship, and that I'm to meet someone aboard her." Other than the temporary butler, that is. I had a strong impression that that person was female.
I rubbed the black-and-white orca ring on my right ring finger. The only opal of it's kind, white underneath and black above, with another small white patch above the eye. It's my favorite piece of jewelry, and the only one I ever wear. It's incredibly detailed (I can even see the eye, which has a strange gleam in it.) Heaven knows why… I just wonder what I'm supposed to do on that ship… Michaels drove the Benz up near the first class gangway.
And maybe later I'll recall what that dream had been about.
On to the next part
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