The rescue crew prepared bait. They filled nets with fish and moved away from the whales. “Drop it there,” the officer ordered. Fish spilled into the sea. The plan was simple: pull the shark away from the pod and see whether the whale changed its behavior.
Nathaniel suddenly felt the whale rise. Light poured through the baleen. His heart jumped. Was it finally opening its mouth? He pushed gently against the tongue. For a moment the pressure eased, and he saw the bright surface far above.