He went to stand by the window, positioning himself in his mom’s footprints and contemplated the water. The only sad thing was that he wouldn’t see her again. Marina had explained that White Beak, like all the gray whales, was just passing by Ocean Bay on her way south to the lagoons. It had been mere chance he had seen her at all. But even though the encounter had been brief, perhaps lasting only minutes, Rio knew he would remember it for the rest of his life.

“You helped me,” he murmured. “And now you’re going to help Mum too.”

The next call with his mother was two weeks away, as next Sunday she’d be in a special class or something. Two weeks. It would be a long wait. But by then, she should be feeling much better.

Especially after he’d sent her these photos of White Beak. What better way of reminding her of how happy she’d been as a child and, more importantly, how happy she could be again.

Rio hadn’t mentioned he was going to send pictures, as sometimes she got a bit confused when he told her too many things at once. This would be an extra-special surprise.

It took several attempts to find the right words to accompany the email. But in the end, he decided on something short and simple.

Dear Mum,

Here are some photos of White Beak. She was passing by Ocean Bay today, and I saw her with my own eyes. Other than you, she is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen and made my insides happy.

I hope she makes you happy too.

Love

Rio-cat

xxx

Rio sent the email with a grin and then crossed another day off his calendar. Only three weeks to go until his mom got better and he could go home.

21

Special Hearing

“Are you ready?” asked Marina, wearing the kind of grin that comes from the taste of adventure on your lips combined with the added bonus of finishing school for the day. It was the afternoon whale-watching trip, and she had insisted Rio join her and Birch on the ocean. And he wasn’t about to say no to that. Apart from the three of them, there was a sizeable group of Japanese tourists, a teacher from Washington, and a middle-aged couple from Scotland.

Like the day before, Birch directed the Spyhopper southbound to an area well away from the busy entrance to the marina. Today the water was choppier, the waves smacking the hull with the occasional white foam flecking the surface.

Even though Rio’s stomach lurched up and down, he didn’t feel seasick. In fact, it was hard to imagine he had ever been afraid of the sea. Everything was so much bigger and brighter out there. As if the sun had been turned up a notch and had left a dusting of gold all over the surface of the world.