Mickey Reichert - Flight of the Renshai

Tae Kahn awakened to a sudden stabbing pain in his shoulder and a shout echoing through his head.*Wake up! Wake up! Wakeupwakeupwakeup!* Disoriented, he remained utterly still, trying to recall where he was and how he had gotten there. He lay slumped over a timber, floating in water. He had to force his eyelids open; and, when he did, salt stung them mercilessly. Surrounded by the steely grayness of dawn or twilight, he caught a blurry view of ocean and distant shore. Shore!*Imorelda, we're almost home.*

But Imorelda, he realized, was facing the other direction, her hackles raised and her claws still embedded in his wounded shoulder.*This way! Danger!*

Pain that racked his body kept Tae from moving quickly. Reluctantly, he turned his head to see a broad dorsal fin slicing the water behind him. It moved erratically, driving toward them, then backing away to return at a different angle. Shark, Tae realized, ransacking his brain for all the information he had ever absorbed about the creatures. Don't panic. Realizing Imorelda needed to know as well, he sent,*Don't panic.*

The cat minced backward, finally extracting her claws from Tae's wound, to his great relief.*Don't panic? Don't panic? There's a killer fish about to rip us to pieces, and I'm not supposed to panic? Fish aren't supposed to eat cats; cats are supposed to eat fish.* She paused an instant, breathing heavily.*I'm panicking, damn it. I'm panicking.*

Tae ignored her, watching the fin as it settled into a circular motion. Slowly, carefully, he pulled free his knife. Even that small movement hurt. His injuries seemed to have coalesced into one giant, overwhelming ache, and he kept his breathing shallow, to avoid the agony that came with the gasps his body sought. The bleeding from his throat had diminished, probably what had drawn the shark in the first place. *Imorelda, climb off me onto the boards.*

The cat gave no notice of having heard him.

The fin dipped. *Imorelda, go!*

The shark slammed against Tae and his makeshift float, knocking them apart. The weight of the cat on his shoulders disappeared, and water replaced the fur on the back of his neck. Tae grabbed wildly for support, and his hand scraped against something rougher than unsanded wood, abrading his fingers. Sharkskin. He swung the knife. Hilt and fist slammed against a nose hard as rock, and Tae found himself nearly on top of it, staring into a beady, black eye. Slowed by dizziness and exhaustion, Tae attempted to stab it in the eye but managed only to poke it with his fingers. The hilt jarred sideways against its hide, and the blade wrenched loose from Tae's fingers, sinking into the dark depths.

The creature's jaw opened, revealing a morass of teeth.

Certain it could outmaneuver him in water, Tae tried to do the unpredictable, lunging toward the shark rather than attempting escape. At the least, he might buy Imorelda some time. He tried not to think about the fact that she had always avoided water and might not be able to swim.

The shark also charged. Tae tried to grab it, fingers grating over the coarse skin to sink into the gill slits. He found himself nose-to-nose with the monster, only to realize it was, if anything, smaller than he was. This time, the shark fought, hurling its head up and down, gnashing its teeth, trying to free its head from Tae's ever-tightening grip. Weaponless and without even the use of his hands, Tae butted the creature repeatedly, hammering his skull against its rigid nose until his thoughts scrambled and his forehead felt ready to explode.

With a last twist, the shark tore away from Tae's grip. It turned tail, fleeing deep into the ocean, seeking easier prey.

A shiver ripped through Tae, so strong and extensive it reawakened the anguish of every wound. He savored the moment, I wrestled a shark. And won. He had never heard of anyone doing such a thing and vowed to add the sensitivity of the gill slits to the current body of knowledge on how to escape a hungry shark. Then, he remembered Imorelda. *Imorelda! Where are you?* *I'm here.*

Relief flooded Tae. He had no idea where "here" was, but at least he knew she had survived.*Where?* He made a cautious circle, concerned that fast movement might overwhelm his consciousness as well as draw more sharks. He finally found her, a soggy pile of indistinguishable fur huddled on top of the flotsam they had ridden. *Floating on the wood. Hurry. I'm cold, and I'm wet, and I need you.*

You don't need me. Tae did not send the thought; it would only upset Imorelda. He reached out a hand to swim toward her, but it felt as heavy as an iron anchor. Air-starved and anguished, he only wanted to remain in place, to sink quietly to the bottom and allow the ocean to claim him. She can't get to shore without me. This time, the words scarcely motivated him. Each breath had become a burdensome chore. He had to force himself to move, every tiny tensing of muscle, each motion of joint, seemed as significant as life itself. Tae wondered how many years it might take to reach her.

Tae had somehow managed to span half the distance, when Imorelda's voice reached him.*They're coming.*

Tae did not believe his heart rate could increase; the effort of swimming already had it racing.*Who's coming, Imorelda? Sharks or alsona?*

Imorelda sat up, finally taking the shape of a drenched tabby cat.*People, silly. Our people are coming to rescue us!*

Tae looked toward shore. In his current condition, it seemed too far away to contemplate. On the beach, he could now see the massed armies, looking like vast herds of milling animals, and a few rafts taking to the water. Tae had come too far to let Imorelda die now.*Careful.They may think we're pirates.*

Imorelda gave Tae a scandalized look, at least as much as she could with her feline face and sodden body.*They know who we are. I found Queen Matrinka and talked to her.* *Smart cat.* Tae rolled onto his back and settled into a float, no longer fighting toward Imorelda.*So clever.* *I've told you that many times.* A hint of concern accompanied her sending, though she clearly tried to rein it.*You have to get saved, too. I don't remember what you told me to tell her. About the enemy.* *You remember.* Tae felt his consciousness drifting. The sky grew darker, the ocean colder. Apparently, night was coming, and the blackness beckoned.*You remember…* *I don't remember!* Imorelda stomped her paws and shook water from her fur.*I wasn't listening. I told you to tell them yourself, and I meant it.* *Can't,* Tae thought dreamily. *You have to. I promised Matrinka you would. And I don't remember anything.*

It seemed like too much effort to reply, even mentally. A long forgotten lullaby filled Tae's head. He wondered if his mother had once sung it to him, before his father's enemies had murdered her and left him, too, for dead. It came to him in a voice filled with love and sweetness.

Then, abruptly, rough hands plucked Tae from the ocean and jarred him onto a set of lashed together logs. Men speaking Bearnese forced him to sit up, pried open his jaws, and poured water into his mouth. Forced to swallow or drown, Tae drank. "Imorelda," he choked out. "Have to get my cat." A blanket fell on him, heavy enough to bear him down on the raft. Again, the men supported him back to a sitting position.

"Don't worry," one said in Common Trading tongue, though Tae knew Bearnese nearly as well. "They have your cat." Tae did not bother to follow his gesture. "Queen Matrinka would never let us forget a cat, even with the life of a king at stake."

Tae managed a weary smile. "This cat's special. She saved my life, at least twice in just the last few moments." Speaking proved too much effort. Tae slumped into the Bearnides' arms.

"He's badly hurt. We need to get him back quickly." Tae heard one man say. Safe, for the moment, he allowed himself to slip back into unconsciousness.