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Death Amongst The Icebergs
EPILOGUE
"It seemed a peculiar kind of human
perversity to assume, that because the
whale had an intelligence close to ours...
... it would also have our most
primitive and ugly emotion: Vengeance."
– Rachel Bedford from Orca: The Killer Whale
The colourful, vibrant, jellybean row houses were wedged together, lining the sides of steep hills and hidden alleyways. She walked with elegance, gliding effortlessly in the pecked streets of St. John's. The air was fresh and crispy, in spite of the summer months. The most easterly province of Canada was known for its cool weather no matter the season. The sky was gloomy with hovering clouds, but that too was not unusual in the capital of Newfoundland. Still it was good to be away from the tiny fishing village like Petty Harbour. Perhaps, here, in the perfect combination of big-city luxury and traditional small-town charm, she could find it in her heart to forget everything that ailed her. All her troubles and distress that she had experienced weeks before. Rachel strolled with a nonchalant ease in her steps, yet her mind was far from obtaining peace. September was fast approaching, Universities would open up again and this time, she would have to make a decision whether or not she wished to continue lecturing in this province or relocate elsewhere. It was strange to admit it, but...she had come to like living in Newfoundland, with all its unpredictable weather and harsh nature. She recalled when she had moved from Ontario, a newly graduated marine biologist, eager to learn more about the species that fascinated her the most: Orcinus Orca. The ominous adventure or misadventure that had befallen her, opened her eyes on the extreme intelligence of these creatures. No, she had always known they were incredibly clever with large brains, but she could have never predicted that the feelings and emotions of these species ran as deeper as humans' did. Upon that thought, grave memories flooded her mind and soul. She wished to cry as she remembered that her assistant and friend – the young Ken – was gone, killed by the maddened creature because of human greed and ignorance. There had been something so puzzling, so striking about the vengeful Orca...Nolan's Orca.
The image of Jacob Umilak...the man she looked up to, the man she learned from, surfaced before her sea-coloured eyes. Jacob had been the first to welcome her in the community when she had moved to the small fishing village. He had been the one to further her education and expand her knowledge on the enigmatic intelligence of Dolphins. How could such a man be lost somewhere in the ocean as well? Though, knowing Jacob, she knew he wouldn't have wished it any other way. That day amongst the icebergs had been horrid...it was like a nightmare to her, for she had lost everyone she had come to care for that cold, dreadful day. Then her heart began to squeeze around her chest, her pain seemed to double as her stomach churned with sadness. Her chest grew heavier and heavier. Tears started to push through her eyes as she meandered down to the harbour, gazing towards the Narrows.
Nolan...
The memories of the Captain seemed to haunt her the most. It was strange, really, how she had learned to care for him. Moreover, she had come to admire him for who he was. Yes, Nolan's greed was the main reason why so many misfortunes had transpired. It was Nolan who had decided to capture the Orca, it was Nolan who had accidentally killed the Orca's pregnant mate instead, it was Nolan who had infuriated the Creature, driving him to madness. It was Nolan, who had refused to accept that the Cetacean had intelligence and feelings that couldn't be messed with. Rachel had warned him, hadn't she? She tried to explain to him that what he had decided to undertake would only result into tragedy. But he wouldn't listen...at least, not at first. She had been right for the most part. But despite her initial dislike and even resentment towards the Captain, she accepted that in the end, Nolan became a changed man. He wasn't the insensitive bore she originally believed him to be. At last, the proud Irishman had confessed that he and the Orca were very much alike.
On the eve of his death, he had gently spoken to her. "Do you remember... some time ago... you asked me, how much I'd make from the whale, do you remember that? All I wanted was, enough money to pay out the mortgage on the boat...go back to Ireland." That night, Rachel's heart had sunken deeper. So, Nolan wasn't as greedy as she thought him to be? He simply tried to make a living the best way he knew how. His sin was ignorance. He had been so remorseful of it...all of it. "Now look what I've done. Look what I've done. Three people dead, innocent girl maimed for life. God forgive me!" He had lamented with a shaky voice.
A couple of days earlier, Nolan had told her how his own pregnant wife had been killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. It was then he had slowly realized and understood the grieving animal's suffering. Nolan acknowledged that in the eyes of the Orca, it was now he who had become the 'dark driver', the one who destroyed his family.
"He loved his family more than I loved mine." Nolan had whispered on the eve of the battle.
Hearing all this and seeing the deep regret in the Captain, Rachel's heart had slowly thawed. She was no longer bitter and angry with him. She had learned to see things from his viewpoint as well, not only the Orca's. That day...amongst the icebergs, she surprised herself; she had prayed for Nolan to survive. She had actually wished for him to kill the enraged, maddened and vengeful creature, and finally be done with the whole debacle. Yet another part of her heart felt just as bad and horrible for the grieving mammal. If only there was a way to save them both...Nolan and the Orca were one and the same. How could Rachel save them both? She was only one woman amongst the cold, unforgiving icebergs, where death was lurking in every corner.
The final showdown between the man and the beast had been on equal terms. Nolan had lost. He had been killed in front of her eyes. The Orca, even though emerged victorious, looked anything but that. He had stared deeply into her eyes that day. Rachel was struck to find tears in the creature's large orbs. He had not looked at her with blinded rage as he had with other humans. On the contrary, he had gazed at her with melancholy...and was it also guilt? Overwhelmed with emotion, Rachel had wept as the sound of rescue helicopter reached her ears. Yet she couldn't rip her gaze away from the mighty Killer Whale, who left her and swam under the thick ice. In that moment, Rachel had a feeling that she would never see that creature again. He and Nolan were the same...he would never resurface for breath. It was over.
There was so much death amongst the icebergs on that accursed day, but Rachel began to recognize that she had changed since that experience. She had learned so much...not only about the Orca, but also about humankind. She had learned that just like with the icebergs where you only see the tip at first but much more is hidden below, so too humans and animals alike, have much more buried down below which one cannot see unless one learns to listen carefully.
Hiking up nearby Signal Hill through the Battery, where tiny colourful wooden homes clung valiantly to cliff-sides ravaged by ocean waves, she stopped and took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. Ocean was so awe-inspiring and beautiful with its mighty waves, the smell of salt water encircled her. She always felt at home here. Here...amongst wild waves of the turquoise sea.
No. She would not run away. She would remain here. In this province... and she would continue teaching others about the intelligence, magnificence and the mysterious nature of the Orcinus Orca.
It was quite rewarding to write a fic about this movie. Exploring the intelligence of the Orca was certainly thought-provoking, but it was also fun to explore the wonderful province of Newfoundland. Canada is a beautiful country with its amazing nature, animals and breathtaking scenery. Newfoundland certainly sticks out with its rich, unique culture.
Happy Canada Day! I'm blessed to be living in this country. And I'm so proud of all the progress we have made in regards to preserving, maintaining and helping the Killer Whale/Orca species in the wild as well as captivity.