Fathom by L. Standage (spanish books to read .TXT) 📕

cover and to the roof where, I hoped, my friends waited to pull me to safety. Step two was about to begin. I took a long, shuddering breath.

“Welcome my friends,” said Linnaeus, his voice amplified by the microphone. I wanted to go into the water to rest my arms, but this was the only way I could hear what was going on.

He continued. “I am honored by your presence. I hope you have enjoyed yourselves thus far. I’d like to thank the US Grant Hotel for their hospitality, as well as your continued support, ladies and gentlemen. Truly, we are men and women of profound understanding, evolved creatures who reign over every other animal on this earth. We are learned, and we are sophisticated. We have reached the pinnacle of our civilization. Or have we?

“We all know there are wonders in our world we have yet to discover—the human race has limitless potential. There are revelations so great, only those who are ready to receive them will comprehend and embrace such breakthroughs.”

Get to the point, I thought to myself, my fingers joining my arms in the pain department. My heart pounded as Linnaeus continued his self-important speech.

“Many of you know I have dedicated my life to the development and study of marine life and the ways in which we as human beings can better preserve, appreciate, and enjoy the creatures of our planet’s oceans. At Oceana Marine Adventure Park, we strive to remain on the cutting edge of technology and are constantly active in the effort of discovering new species of aquatic life so we may continue to bring hours of delight and enchantment to our guests, as well as validate all the hard work and investments of our shareholders.”

I ground my teeth. His park wasn’t at the “cutting edge of technology.” It was a starving prison. A prickling flood of anger joined my foreboding. Where was the voice of reassurance in my earpiece?

“Ladies and gentlemen, our labors have been richly rewarded. Here, this day, this moment, you shall witness history. For today, I shall reveal unto you that human beings, as we have so long been unaware, are not alone on this planet. We have discovered a new intelligent species.”

I quickly lowered myself into the water up to my nose. There were murmurs, gasps, and whispers throughout the conference hall. They quieted after a few seconds as Linnaeus continued.

“The newspapers have not yet received this information, but they shall after this night. That is why we have not allowed any photography or electronics into this room. I ask you now, my friends, to stay calm, so as to not frighten our main event—our latest, our greatest, our most unequivocal and unprecedented addition to the Oceana Marine Adventure Theme Park.”

I couldn’t hold on anymore. I pushed myself back under the water, the silence enveloping me, and took several deep breaths from the scuba tank. A second later, the silk drape covering the tank pulled away. I shielded my eyes from the brightness of the lights.

I wished I could hear what the flabbergasted crowd said. I gazed at the blurry scene: people in their finery around linen-covered tables stood, some clutching their hearts, and a few even falling to their knees. Two people near the back might have been Cordelia and Seidon. The man in the tuxedo waved but no one else in the room noticed. All attention fixed on me.

I needed another breath. As I searched the plant for the mouthpiece, something inside my ear hissed loudly. I recoiled from the noise, bubbles erupting from my mouth. At the same time, voices from outside the tank became clearer, though echoed.

“Is it real, Linnaeus?” someone from the crowd shouted. I fumbled for the mouthpiece and took a breath.

“Certainly. As real as you or I, my friend,” he replied from the microphone. “Magnificent, is she not?”

Someone else shouted something I couldn’t hear except for the words “how,” “fake,” and “proof.”

“You have watched this creature sit under water without taking a breath for about seven minutes now. Do you need further proof?”

I let out the air from my lungs and several people laughed. I flitted my tail and they sighed. I hid behind the plant—to breathe—and they began a standing ovation.

I had them convinced.

I sucked more air, but as I came away, the valve broke. Bubbles streamed from the tank. My lifeline drained away. I had no other choice: now or never. Either my friends waited to pull me to safety or they didn’t. I came away from the plant. In full view of the exhilarated audience, I clutched my costume and pulled with all the strength I had.

It stung, but I ignored the pain and yanked at the fabric until the costume slipped from my feet. I kicked my human legs and watched as the mood of the audience changed as fast as a flipped light switch. The former euphoria turned into confusion.

I bunched the tail into a ball, pushed off from the bottom of the tank, and using my momentum, threw the wet costume into the screaming crowd.

I gulped down some air from the surface, then plunged back into the tank. Maybe I could propel myself out again, then climb out. The crowd looked and sounded angry enough to keep Linnaeus busy. But the man himself had already left his podium and stormed toward the stairs to the stage. I needed to get out now.

Just as I bent my legs to push myself out, a long, thin bar attached to a rope splashed into the water above me. They’d done it. I grabbed the rope, pulled my legs over the bar, and held on tight. My stomach fell as I burst out of the water. As I rose, an eardrum-popping wail pierced the room, followed immediately by the screams of shattering champagne flutes and a really, really big fish tank. I looked down and saw Linnaeus recoil as a tidal wave of water flooded the entire room.

I held on for dear