Listen to the Water | FULL SERIES | Wattys 2022 Shortlist | ✔

(21) Taiki: Whoever Helps

She's almost in Makeba's face now. "When we finally escaped and reconnected with our cousin-tribe, they'd had their usual migration route blocked and been forced to go around. They'd lost two members to the sharks there—sharks likely sung in by other Sami-Kels. We stuck together for as long as we could, but the waters had been nearly picked clean by the surface Kels, so we had to split up again. That was the last we ever heard from our cousin-tribe. When hunger drove us to a seamount to forage on, Karu drove us off again. When we tried to negotiate with them, they accused us of kidnapping their children. They tried to manipulate us into admitting to it. We never took a thing."

She takes a deep breath that shakes audibly. "It doesn't end there. I could list a hundred instances like these. And you want to know what issue we have with you offering membership in this group to Kels who've shown nothing but cruelty towards our people and yours?"

"My people live with Karu-Kels," signs Makeba. "I take no issue with anyone who hasn't proven themselves apathetic, antagonistic, or against our cause. No matter what part of the ocean they claim ancestry in."

"Our experiences mean nothing to you?"

"On the contrary. Show me whatever Kels did those things to you, and I will gladly see them added to the North Faction's raiding roster. We have connections for a reason. What I will not do is dismiss potential recruits on the basis of vague alignment with those Kels, any more than I will dismiss a recruit like Devir for the crimes of his family."

Ushi's face contorts into something ugly. "Devir abandoned us."

"And if he were to return and re-pledge his services, I would take him back again."

"Is that so? Would you take back Ruka, too?"

A long pause hangs over the camp, heavy as the water in the deepest parts of the ocean.

"I would ask her questions," signs Makeba at last. "Questions that I don't have answers to yet. I would make my decision then."

This isn't the Makeba I recognize. Or maybe I just haven't seen this side of her before. She was furious with Ruka after what happened between them. I've heard that story now: Ruka blew her own cover when Makeba revealed she'd known since the coup that Sar likely wasn't dead. Ruka must have been beside herself—she could have spent that whole time searching for them if she'd known.

I need to talk to Makeba alone. It's probably an idiotic thought; she could kill me if she wanted to, and she has no reason to see me as a friend. Ande threatened her last time we were here. But I still have at least one piece of information I think Makeba will want to know, and I don't want to tell her in front of all the Sandsingers.

Ushi hasn't said anything else. She hasn't even moved. Makeba turns away dismissively.

"Did you come here just to see me?" she asks Luli. "Or did you have another reason?"

She must be so used to people coming to see her with ulterior motives. Seeing Makeba alongside someone she knows from childhood brings out a different side of her—or maybe it's my view of her that's changing.

"I'm not the only one who wants to see you," signs Luli quietly.

"If they want me to come to them, I can't." Makeba swallows hard. "We don't know how much time we have left, but with the way the ocean is going, it can't be much."

I now have two pieces of information Makeba will want to hear, if we can get her alone. I flicker my lights for her and Luli's attention. They're not the only ones who look over, and it's my turn to swallow as I find myself the center of attention. I might make other enemies among the Sandsingers by doing this. But I can't care.