The group paddled on, minutes turned to hours, and then many hours. They swapped paddle duties back and forth, with the sessions growing shorter. The warmth meant they perspired heavily, and Cate worried their water would soon be gone.

“Jack, any idea on how far now?” Cate wiped her forehead, and felt her eyes sting from tiredness.

He shook his head. “No, but can’t be many more miles.” He pointed upward. “The roof is lowering, so fingers crossed there’s a chute we can climb.” He turned. “And pray its entrance is at this level, and doesn’t open in the ceiling where we can’t get at it.”

“Great. What do we do then?” Greg asked, lifting his oar, and leaning it across his knees.

Jack shook his head slowly. “Grow gills.”

“Hey, our friend is back.” Abby brought her hands together.

Cate thought she was going to clap like a child, but understood her feelings – it was kinda nice to have something like a fellow traveler in the darkness.

Greg turned back to the water and the primitive whale keeping a silent vigil beside them. “Hi there, buddy.” He turned to Abby. “You know what he needs? A name.” He rubbed his chin. “Um, how does ‘Thumbs’ strike you? You know coz he’s got a pair.”

Abby wrinkled her nose. “That’s a dumb name. I bet you’ve got a dog named, Spot.” She looked back at the gliding creature. “Jonah.”

“Jonah?” Jack grimaced.

“Yes, why not?” Abby raised her chin.

Greg shrugged. “Fine with me… if I can’t have Thumbs, that is.”

Jack continued to paddle. “I’m just saying, that a Jonah is an expression for something or someone that brings bad luck, that’s all.”

“Maybe he’ll bring us good luck.” Greg leaned forward. “Your name is Jonah, do you like that buddy?”

“Greg, maybe he’s hoping for a hot meal, rather than a few new water-friends,” Cate said, grinning.

“Nah, he’s friendly, I can tell.” Greg looked briefly from Cate to Abby. “Jonah it is. I like it.”

The eruption of water made all four of them fall back in the raft. The dark sea exploded from directly under the drifting cetacean, lifting it several dozen feet in the air. Cate would have screamed, but the breath was locked in her chest as she saw the whale suspended in the air, its huge body, hanging either side of a massive column of muscled flesh.

The whale made a sound like a scream that carried with it all the pain and anguish a being could feel as it knew it was about to die. Huge jaws came together with bone crushing force as massive teeth sank deeply into the blubbered flesh.

The whale was then dragged under; leaving nothing but a sucking whirlpool on a surface that swirled with red froth. Waves slapped at their raft, spinning it round.