City of gods - Hellenica by Jonathan Maas

juvenile,” Gunnar said to the crew, “probably only a few decades old; but it’ll still be strong. They can see quite well, especially in the dark; as soon as we go around the corner it will see us. Now, look here …”
    Gunnar pointed at the images. It looked like there was a small doll sitting behind the creature. Tommy zoomed in on it, and it was clear that it was Bes. He was sitting near a door with light pouring from it.
    “That’s our exit,” said Gunnar. “That’s our goal.”
    “Can we get around this Kraken?” asked Tommy.
    “No,” said Gunnar. “His range is too big. Once he sees us, he’ll get ahold of us with his tentacles, and then we’re done.”
    “I’ve got a suit,” said Tommy. “I made it out of titanium alloy—”
    “That clicking sound is his beak,” said Gunnar. “It can put a hole in a steel ship. Even if he can’t break your suit, he’ll hold you under the water for a few days and try.”
    Gunnar studied the pictures again. The exit was clearly behind this creature, but unfortunately there was no way past it. I only know how avoid Krakens, not to get past them, thought Gunnar. Four unarmed kids in cold water won’t be able to escape its tentacles. There’s got to be another passageway around it.
    “Tommy, can you see another path?” said Gunnar. “A tunnel, another route, anything ...?”
    “I can’t see anything,” said Tommy. “But maybe if we—”
    “There’s no other way,” said Saoirse. “The Kraken knows this, and I sense it. He’s blocking the only exit.”
    “Can we lure him away?” asked Tommy.
    That could be it, thought Gunnar with a smile.
    “Legend has it that Krakens are extremely protective of their young,” said Gunnar, “even young not their own. Exposed Kraken eggs send an electrical signal through the water and can lure them from far away, even a juvenile.”
    “True,” said Saoirse. “I’ve heard this legend too.”
    “We don’t have Kraken eggs,” said Gunnar, “but Tommy, can you simulate the signal from a Kraken egg?”
    Tommy shook his head no.
    “We learned much on Lepros,” said Tommy, “but we  didn’t  learn about sea creatures.”
    Gunnar paused to think. This isn’t the pit, this isn’t the Agoge . Though this is training, this is real. The Kraken is real, and if it grabs hold of one of us with a tentacle, Bes won’t be able to help.
    “Then we go back the way we came,” said Gunnar. “We fail , live to fight another day, and—”
    “I’ll go,” said Kayana.
    The team looked back at her. She’d found a ledge above the water and was perched in the darkness, looking off to an odd angle.
    “Go where?” asked Gunnar.
    “Let me talk to this Kraken,” said Kayana. “Not like Saoirse would communicate, but like I would. I’ll enter into dialogue with this creature, and we will pass.”
    “Enter into dialogue with a Kraken? I can’t allow you to do this,” said Gunnar. “This Kraken will—”
    “I’m not yours to allow, General,” said Kayana. “I will talk to it, and then we will pass because I wish it.”
    She’s determined , thought Gunnar, but she knows not what she’s about to do. Death or not; the Kraken will rip her head off.
    “Shine the light, Alderon, so that I can sneak past this creature,” said Kayana.
    “Shine the light?” asked Tommy. “That will tip it off to our—”
    “One of my powers is that I disappear into shadows. A Kraken’s eye is strong, but it cannot see what’s invisible. I require a light.”
    “Please tell us your plan, Kayana,” said Gunnar. “We beg of you.”
    “Shine the light, Alderon,” she said, “or this creature will rip me apart.”
    And in a heartbeat, Kayana disappeared around the corner. Tommy hurried to shine a light from his suit, and the pale girl immediately flickered and then disappeared. The Kraken was disturbed by the brightness, but didn’t notice Kayana. 
    They heard her wade through the water, just barely. Tommy crept up to the