Meanwhile, I’m also talking on the comm, explaining my idea to the crew—that maybe, just maybe, our submarine brought us here so we could find Romeo.

Gem is the only one whose face I can see. He does not look convinced. “It’s a stretch, Ana. How could the Nautilus know Romeo would be here? How long would an octopus this size live, anyway?”

It’s a good question. From what I remember about giant octopuses, they only live a few years. Then again, no octopus this large has ever been discovered.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “Romeo could be ancient, or a descendant of octopuses who have always lived here…. At any rate, I don’t think the Nautilus would have brought us here just to get us killed. I think, in her own way, she’s trying to help us.”

Romeo gives me no indication of how he’s feeling. He could crush me easily, or chop me in half with his giant beak, but I try not to think about that. I still have his full attention. I want to keep it that way.

A-N-A, I sign for the tenth time. I am Ana.

I show him the name sign I’ve created for Romeo: the letter R, palm out, fingers crossed—a sign that could easily be made with two tentacles if he ever chooses to use it in a social situation with his monstrous octopus friends.

Gem checks the antique displays on his wrist control. “We have twenty minutes of air left, if I’m reading this gauge correctly.”

That’s not great news. At this depth, using unfamiliar equipment, we could easily find twenty minutes of air turning into ten, or five, or none, with no warning. We should be heading for the airlock right now, but I have a lot more work to do if I’m going to test my theory, plus there’s this giant octopus staring me down.

At last, the ship’s exterior lock irises open. Ester jets into the void with the keytar, like she’s about to take the strangest rock solo in history. She must have put unequal pressure in her boots, because she ends up spinning head over heels.

“I HATE THIS,” she announces.

“Relax your feet,” Gem advises. “Okay…now, left and right boots at the same time, one quick burst.”

She follows Gem’s directions. Slowly, awkwardly, she lurches toward us. Her face looks even more shocked than usual, floating in its purple glass fishbowl.

“Oh, wow,” she says. “Romeo’s big. He’s really pretty.”

I’m thankful she likes animals, even huge scary ones. We don’t need any more bladder accidents.

Ester floats closer and hands me the keytar. “Do you think I can touch him?” she asks.

“Well, I mean…”

She puts her hand gently on Romeo’s forehead. His skin quivers and pales, but his muscles seem to relax.

“Okay.” I shoulder the keytar. “Ester, I need you to watch Romeo’s responses. If I do something wrong, help me change course.”

“What if things go really wrong?” Gem asks.