Shark Wars by Ernie Altbacker Page A

Gray wanted to go after Barkley and make things better. He really did. To his mind, though, the dogfish was being thin-skinned again. How could anyone be angry here? This place was so cool!
    But Gray decided to follow him, anyway. After all, Barkley was his friend. Gray was about to leave when Goblin came over with Velenka. “Don’t worry about your friend,” the pretty mako told Gray. “Streak will teach him a couple of moves, and he’ll catch a wahoo next time.”
    â€œRipper used to be terrible, but now, watch out,” Goblin said.
    Gray considered. “I really should check up on him.”
    â€œGive him time to cool off,” the great white told him. “You’re just going to make it worse, and besides it’d be rude to leave so soon. Wisko named you rookie of the year!”
    â€œBarkley will be fine,” Velenka reassured him, her eyes hypnotizing him with their sheer blackness.
    â€œOkay,” agreed Gray. “You’re right.”
    â€œOr he’s not tough enough,” Goblin mused. “And that’s not your problem.”
    Gray disagreed and shook his snout side-to-side. “I’ll help him toughen up.”
    Suddenly a peculiar wailing interrupted their conversation, and for a moment everyone stopped. “Oh, the entertainment’s starting!” Velenka exclaimed.
    An old gray whale and a few dolphins hovered on the edge of the cove. They were singing a strange yet uplifting song. “There’s usually music after a Roll,” Velenka explained. “We provide them with the entertainment of watching the game, and they do this for us in return.”
    Amazing! This day kept getting better and better. Gray knew he should go see if Barkley was all right. And he would. In another hour or so. It would be rude to leave while the whales and dolphins were singing. He couldn’t just take off. After all, he was rookie of the year!
    Gray was so absorbed he didn’t notice Mari motion to Striiker, Shell, and Snork. The former members of Rogue Shiver quietly slipped away, one by one.



CHAPTER 16
    BARKLEY CHURNED FURIOUSLY THROUGH THE dark waters. The homewaters of the Goblin Shiver, and more importantly, Slaggernacks Cove, were now behind him. “Stupid wahoo and their stupid game!” he muttered to himself. Barkley couldn’t believe Gray had laughed with all the others. Sure, Gray was better than he was at Tuna Roll, but that was no reason to make fun of your best friend. I’ll bet plenty sharks aren’t good at it, he thought. Although, even Snork had gotten closer than he had to catching a wahoo. How could they be so fast? Oh, how Barkley would have loved to have seen the surprised look on Wisko’s face if he’d caught her! “The honor is all mine,” he’d tell her and then, crunch! Barkley shook his head. Keep dreaming, doggie breath.
    He was wandering aimlessly when the others found him. Gray wasn’t with them.
    â€œAre you okay?” Mari asked, concerned.
    â€œYou kind of expect it from the wahoos; they’re weird. But from your own shiver? That’s cold,” added Shell as Striiker nodded in agreement behind him.
    Snork patted Barkley on the back with his fin. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”
    Barkley was so grateful for his new friends that he felt as though he was going to tear up. It was bad enough everyone saw him cry on his way out of Slaggernack’s. “You guys are the best,” he croaked, trying to make sure his voice didn’t crack too much. “I wish we’d never been caught by Goblin. And not just because of today.” Barkley sniffled. “I think it was much better when we were Rogue Shiver.” Where was Gray? How could he not be here?
    â€œYou and me both, Barkley,” said Striiker. “So what are we going to do about it?” He gave a pointed look at Mari.
    â€œYou’re serious?” she asked. “Goblin will