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"Where did it co from one of the rivets near that fifth seam," someone else says "Can you see?"
I try to focus on the ribs of h the crowd "What’s the probleht irl slipped in the water froet it fixed straightaway"
I’ve heard of tiny leaks before, but I’ve never seen one I’round, and I have this strange desire to kneel down and touch it,in fro suit, all I feel is focus I have to see if this ork If what Maire says is true And if I ah
Once I’m in the water for my practice swim, I open my mouth, and I speak Unafraid
I use my real voice, but it sounds different under here And of course h I try to let in as little as possible There is only so much you can say like this, but all I need is a word or two
"Come," I say
And the fish and the eels come to me, without hesitation
"Go," I say, and they say
I aht survive this after all
The fish and eels are small But if I can control them, is there also a chance that I could control the mines out there in the water? And could I tell the doors of the ue to unlock and let h the floodgates?
For once inis easy I used my voice, and it worked exactly the way I wanted Does the water nify my voice? Make me more powerful? There’s so much I don’t know, and it feels wonderful for the first time, instead of miserable
I swithe fish what to do
Maire and I are not like the other sirens
Even things that aren’t alive have to obey us
For once I’et home, I look at my pile of coin and my pile of fish and I feel a deep satisfaction I’ether
Except for one thing
When I lift up Bay’s shell, it has gone silent
No singing, no breathing Not even the sound of the ocean Nothing at all
Is it because I a to hear Bay’s real voice again soon, in person? Or has the ic worn out? Maire said it wouldn’t last forever
My sister is gone again
CHAPTER 13
It feels like I ht be the last person alive in Atlantia The deepainst thieves, and it’s dark and quiet But then I hear sounds, hiding sounds, hurrying sounds, and I ht ahead and make sure I stand tall and ith my shoulders squared