ago, after Kimo mentioned Moanna, Alicia had heard Gwyneth murmuring the name over and over, in a reverent tone. “Moanna, Moanna, Moanna….”
“We have an alternative mode of surface transport as well,” Kimo said, as many of you have already experienced. “Alicia will generate waves to take a number of you out to the diving place, not far from shore.” Then, looking at her, he asked, “How many people do you think you can get aboard each wave? Still four?”
“Let’s see how large a wave I can generate today,” Alicia said. “The water is warmer here, and more pleasant to me than in other parts of the world. Maybe I can do better.”
She waded into the water up to her waist, and gazing out on the sun-drenched, rippling water she envisioned a single wave that was wide and flat, like a big floating platform. Moments later it began to form around fifty yards offshore, and when she saw it take shape and come toward her, she envisioned the wave stretching in all of its dimensions, which it did, becoming even larger. It was bigger than anything she’d done before, and when it neared she caused it to turn and run parallel with the beach, while people behind her clapped and called out encouragement to her.
She managed to hold the wave together as long as she wanted, then allowed it to dissipate and vanish, except in the memories of everyone who had seen it. Afterward, wading back ashore, she asked him, “What do you think?”
“Oh, you’re the expert,” Kimo said, “but I’d say a wave that size could accommodate a lot more than four people. Depending on how many you take, I’ll handle the rest on the skatefoils—and we should be able to get out there pretty quickly. You operate the bus, and I’ll run the taxis.”
“OK, but don’t try to make a race out of this, or you’ll lose!”
“She has some ability to control the speeds of the waves,” Kimo explained to the others. “But don’t worry. This will be a slow, easy trip. Next, when we reach deep water, there are two methods by which we can take you down to Moanna. The first is called a bubble tube, in which a school of bright blue fish creates a sealed descent chamber to enclose passengers, while providing them with breathable oxygen. But the fish we need for that are away on an annual migration, so we’re going to employ a huge clam shell instead—a seavator that is lowered into the depths of the ocean by four giant squids.”
Chi’ang spoke up. “A single clam shell capable of holding all of us at once? And presumably with a breathable atmosphere? How is that all accomplished?”
“The immense clam shell is ancient,” Kimo replied. “It is from the deep, mysterious region where Moanna resides. It will accommodate all of us, and everyone will be able to breathe inside.”
“Have you ever ridden in one of these contraptions?” Chi’ang asked.
“Of course, but only for recreation, because by the time I got my first ride I already had gills and a swim bladder in my body, and I could go deep without the necessity of anything like that.”
“So, have you taken your adoptive parents down in a clam shell, or in what did you call it? A bubble tube?”
“No, I haven’t,” Kimo admitted, “because I thought it best to keep my land family separate from my life in the sea. You certainly ask a lot of questions.”
Chi’ang scowled, but for the time being, he didn’t ask anything more.
When many of the volunteers appeared to be startled and in disbelief, Kimo said, “I know what I’ve been saying sounds impossible, but I assure you it is all true. And while the sealed clam shell should protect you against the immense pressures of the ocean depths, we did not obtain any personal medical histories from you, so there could be physical complications, or even panic attacks caused by claustrophobia.”
“If any of you wish to turn back,” Alicia said in a measured tone, “now is the time. We will find a temporary place for you to
“We have an alternative mode of surface transport as well,” Kimo said, as many of you have already experienced. “Alicia will generate waves to take a number of you out to the diving place, not far from shore.” Then, looking at her, he asked, “How many people do you think you can get aboard each wave? Still four?”
“Let’s see how large a wave I can generate today,” Alicia said. “The water is warmer here, and more pleasant to me than in other parts of the world. Maybe I can do better.”
She waded into the water up to her waist, and gazing out on the sun-drenched, rippling water she envisioned a single wave that was wide and flat, like a big floating platform. Moments later it began to form around fifty yards offshore, and when she saw it take shape and come toward her, she envisioned the wave stretching in all of its dimensions, which it did, becoming even larger. It was bigger than anything she’d done before, and when it neared she caused it to turn and run parallel with the beach, while people behind her clapped and called out encouragement to her.
She managed to hold the wave together as long as she wanted, then allowed it to dissipate and vanish, except in the memories of everyone who had seen it. Afterward, wading back ashore, she asked him, “What do you think?”
“Oh, you’re the expert,” Kimo said, “but I’d say a wave that size could accommodate a lot more than four people. Depending on how many you take, I’ll handle the rest on the skatefoils—and we should be able to get out there pretty quickly. You operate the bus, and I’ll run the taxis.”
“OK, but don’t try to make a race out of this, or you’ll lose!”
“She has some ability to control the speeds of the waves,” Kimo explained to the others. “But don’t worry. This will be a slow, easy trip. Next, when we reach deep water, there are two methods by which we can take you down to Moanna. The first is called a bubble tube, in which a school of bright blue fish creates a sealed descent chamber to enclose passengers, while providing them with breathable oxygen. But the fish we need for that are away on an annual migration, so we’re going to employ a huge clam shell instead—a seavator that is lowered into the depths of the ocean by four giant squids.”
Chi’ang spoke up. “A single clam shell capable of holding all of us at once? And presumably with a breathable atmosphere? How is that all accomplished?”
“The immense clam shell is ancient,” Kimo replied. “It is from the deep, mysterious region where Moanna resides. It will accommodate all of us, and everyone will be able to breathe inside.”
“Have you ever ridden in one of these contraptions?” Chi’ang asked.
“Of course, but only for recreation, because by the time I got my first ride I already had gills and a swim bladder in my body, and I could go deep without the necessity of anything like that.”
“So, have you taken your adoptive parents down in a clam shell, or in what did you call it? A bubble tube?”
“No, I haven’t,” Kimo admitted, “because I thought it best to keep my land family separate from my life in the sea. You certainly ask a lot of questions.”
Chi’ang scowled, but for the time being, he didn’t ask anything more.
When many of the volunteers appeared to be startled and in disbelief, Kimo said, “I know what I’ve been saying sounds impossible, but I assure you it is all true. And while the sealed clam shell should protect you against the immense pressures of the ocean depths, we did not obtain any personal medical histories from you, so there could be physical complications, or even panic attacks caused by claustrophobia.”
“If any of you wish to turn back,” Alicia said in a measured tone, “now is the time. We will find a temporary place for you to
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