The Sound of Whales (23 page)

‘Thank you, my friend,' Jonah said, then turned to face the sea.

It seemed for a second that he had other words to say but then he placed one foot on the rail, pulled himself up and with the same movement jumped over the side of the boat. There was a splash, he disappeared under, then re-emerged a short distance away. Without looking back, he began to swim towards the faraway shore.

Fraser, Hayley, Dunny and Ben leant over the side of the boat and watched him stroke powerfully away. A blast on a boat's horn made them turn as one and they saw the police vessel manoeuvring to come alongside the little lobster boat.

‘They're too late,' Fraser said.

‘He won't make it,' said Ben.

‘I think he might.'

‘I think he will,' said Hayley.

The African had swum a distance from the boat now, his head a dark circle against the bright water, but Fraser realized that it would take him an hour, maybe longer, to swim that expanse of open water, water that was frigid even with the summer sun beating down. If the cold didn't take him under, then the police boat would spot him and haul him out. All Fraser could do was stall the police for as long as possible. Jonah was on his own
 . . .

Or was he? He turned to his brother, but Dunny's arms were already raised. He was already humming, that low, rising note that came from deep inside him. Fraser felt it tingle his whole body. It was a strange, magical tune, not so much a song as a chant. Not so much a chant as a sound. The sound of whales.

For a minute more the sun continued to shine, the sea continued to sparkle and Jonah grew more distant. Then something broke the water behind the swimming man, something dark and sleek and sharp. Then another, and another and another. Fins. The black fins of a pod of orcas. They were moving fast towards the spot where the African stroked for shore.

‘Do you see them?' Hayley asked quietly.

‘Aye, I do,' Fraser said.

‘Unbelievable,' whispered Ben.

Fraser laughed. ‘I knew they'd come.' And he knew at last it was going to be all right.

They watched the orcas catch up with Jonah and surround him and then they couldn't see him any more. Perhaps he was too far away now; perhaps it was the glare of the sun upon the water. Or perhaps, as Fraser imagined he saw in his final glimpse of his castaway friend, Jonah was being carried to shore by whales that were answering the call of a silent boy whose brother had made a promise and seen it through to the end.

CHAPTER 40

F
raser sat with his back to the wheelhouse of the
Moby Dick
, his face in the sun, but it was no longer summer warm. The water in the harbour had a swell to it, the first hint of an autumn breeze.

‘Are you ready for school tomorrow?' he asked the girl who sat beside him on the deck.

‘No!' Hayley said emphatically. ‘Don't make me go.'

Fraser laughed. ‘I'm afraid it's all arranged.'

‘Well, I'm not wearing the stupid tie,' she huffed.

‘But that would contravene our strict uniform policy.'

‘Well, you can stick your policy in the same place I stuffed that book you gave me.'

‘Which book was that?'

‘
The Beginner's Guide to Shinty
.'

Fraser laughed again. ‘It's a great game.'

‘If you like hockey without ice played by morons.'

‘It just needs a cheerleading squad.'

‘Go for it, then. I'll lend you my pom-poms.'

‘Can't do it – I play for the team.'

‘As I said, morons.'

They laughed and Fraser thought how interesting this new term was going to be with both his American girlfriend and Dunny starting school. They were both going to create quite a stir. If he could have told his friends about their summer adventures, it would have been even better, but it was a story that would remain a secret between the three of them. There was a bond between them, one he was sure would survive the separation of the Atlantic Ocean when the time came.

‘So when do you get your learner's permit for driving this thing?' Hayley asked.

‘You mean my Boatmaster's Licence? The training course starts next week.'

The girl shook her head and smiled. ‘I can't believe you own this boat now.'

‘Ben McCaig needed some quick cash and my dad thought Dunny and I should have a proper boat instead of a rubber dinghy. It's Dunny's boat as much as mine.'

They both looked at the bow, where Dunny stood, his legs spread, his arms outstretched, face raised to the sky, a smile on his face.

‘Who's he talking to now?' Hayley asked.

‘I believe it's a blue whale called Bob.'

‘Really?'

Fraser laughed and scoffed. ‘No. I've no idea what he's doing. Maybe he is talking with the whales, maybe he's just working on his tan.'

‘I used to have one of those,' Hayley said sadly.

They sat for a moment with only the slap of waves against the hull to break the silence.

‘Still no voice from him?' Hayley asked.

‘No. I think he's thinking about it but he hasn't felt the need yet. But we know he can do it now. It can only be a matter of time. Or it may be another eleven years before his next word.'

‘So when does the whale watching start?'

Fraser gave a satisfied grin. ‘Next summer. Once we have all the permits. You'll need to come back so I can take you for the first sail up the sound. Whales guaranteed.'

‘The way things are going, we may still be here next summer.' She gave another huff but it was a half-hearted effort.

The sound of footsteps above made them look up. Jessie Dunbar stood on the stone jetty looking down.

‘I thought I might find you here,' she said. ‘You'll be moving in next.'

‘Can I?' asked Fraser.

‘No, you can't. And that engine doesn't start until you've done your certificates.'

‘Aye, Mum. I know.'

‘Here,' Jessie said, reaching down with something in her hand. ‘This came in the post today.'

Fraser got to his feet. ‘What is it?' he asked.

‘It's a postcard. Peculiar thing. Who do you know in London?'

Fraser stifled a gasp. ‘No one I can think of.'

‘Aye, well, someone knows you.' She started back up the jetty. ‘Be home for dinner, the pair of you.' She said over her shoulder, ‘Keep an eye on them, Hayley.'

‘Always,' Hayley said.

Fraser stared at the postcard as he sat back down. It was a montage of various London landmarks: Big Ben, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, with the River Thames winding across the picture. He flipped it over. There was no message and the address read simply, ‘Fraser Dunbar, the Island of Nin, Scotland'. He handed it to Hayley.

‘Is it?' she asked.

‘There's no message, it's hard to tell.'

‘So it could be from anyone?'

‘I suppose, but it must be from him.'

Dunny had joined them and Hayley handed him the postcard.

‘It might be from Jonah,' she said. ‘Or it might not.'

Dunny stared at the postcard for a few moments and then his face broke into an enormous smile.

‘What is it?' Fraser asked.

Dunny pointed at the postcard where the River Thames flowed past the Houses of Parliament.

‘What?' Fraser said, and then he saw. On the river, in black biro, someone had drawn four triangles. They were crude but unmistakable. Fins. And not just any fins; they were the high pointed fins of a pod of orcas.

Hayley looked at the postcard and said, ‘He made it.'

‘I think he did,' said Fraser.

And then Dunny stood there with a scallop shell in his hand. He offered it to Fraser and Fraser took it because he never threw them away any more.

He read the shell and said, ‘Seriously?'

Dunny nodded.

‘Coming here? To the sound?'

Dunny nodded again.

Hayley saw the frown on his face and asked, ‘What is it?'

Fraser laughed. ‘You don't want to know.'

He looked out upon the sound and the water that had been the witness and the whereabouts of so much adventure. And so much to come.

‘You don't want to know.'

Text © Kerr Thomson 2015

First paperback edition published in Great Britain in 2015
This electronic edition published in 2015
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