Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter forty of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I am glad it took just six days to get out. I am sure people are enjoying the throwbacks to the first Free Willy. Stay tuned for chapter forty-one.
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Chapter 40: Busting Out
Elvis sat in the crane that was parked very close to the edge of the second side pool nearly an hour later. He whispered inaudible words. Jesse and Brenda stood on either side of the sling. Andros, Zhane, Brenda, Ashley, and Karone were close to the gate. A fish bucket was next to Andros. Isabella floated near the middle of the tank. Jane and Izzy were close to her. All three cetaceans squeaked softly before spouting air from their blowholes.
Elvis moved the sling over the water at a slow yet steady pace. Jesse and Brenda held it until it was completely above the surface. Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone watched somewhat nervously. Elvis lowered it at the same pace. He took slow yet even breaths. It touched the water and appeared to fold over once it was in there. He got out and grabbed the ropes. They looked toward the group.
"It's ready, Andros, Zhane!" Elvis called.
"Great," Andros said, clapping twice. "Let's go, buddy."
Andros and Zhane rushed over to Elvis. They took hold of the ropes and pulled. They managed to get the sling steady. Jesse and Brenda held over to the bucket. He rubbed his hands together as she cleared her throat. She suppressed a yawn. She tried again with another one, but she couldn't help herself. She scratched the back of her neck.
"I hope she goes right in there," Brenda whispered in some uncertainty.
"I hope so too," Jesse agreed. He observed Isabella swimming somewhat. He bit his lip as she stopped and spouted air from her blowhole. "Of course, there are no guarantees."
Jesse shifted his attention to the bucket and narrowed his eyes at the fish. He grabbed a medium-sized one. He gazed at Isabella and wiggled it eagerly.
"Come on, Isabella," Jesse said and clicked his tongue three times. He exhaled when the orca lifted her head. "Come on."
Isabella eyed the fish very curiously. She started to swim toward the pool. She spotted the sling and stopped close to the opening. She squealed in fear before spouting air from her blowhole. Ashley became a bit uncertain.
"Is she thinking—" Ashley started.
"Yes, she is. She only remembers the sling as something bad," Jesse admitted and swallowed hard. He wiggled the fish again. "Come on, Isabella. It's okay. You can trust us."
Brenda pressed her lips together. "Come on, Isabella. Get in the sling."
Karone curled her hands into fists. "Please, do it. Please."
Isabella squealed in alarm and sank underwater. She swam to the other side of the tank. She surfaced, spouting air from her blowhole. Jesse stomped his foot in frustration.
"This won't work if we can't get her in that sling!" Jesse yelled and ran to the other side of the tank. He shook the fish very fast. "You can trust us. It's okay."
Isabella refused to move. Brenda came to Jesse's side and grabbed the fish with a fierce growl. She dove into the water, as did Karone. They swam to the middle of the tank before surfacing. They came toward Isabella, stopping close to her. Brenda wiggled the fish and clicked her tongue four times. Karone let out a sharp exhale.
"Come on, Isabella," Brenda encouraged and breathed deeply. "It's us, Brenda and Karone."
"Come to us. It's okay," Karone said while waving her hand toward herself. "We are your friends."
Isabella began to swim toward Brenda, who started going backward along with Karone. She came to a stop once they reached the pool's gate. She lifted her head, letting out an alarmed squeal. Brenda stopped, as did Karone. She placed the fish on the water. She moved it from side to side while whistling in a soft way. Isabella still wouldn't move. She shook her head fast before emitting an uncertain squeak.
"Please, Isabella," Brenda pleaded, feeling her body shake somewhat. "Just cooperate."
"Swim with us into the pool," Karone instructed. "Please."
Isabella shook her head rapidly while squeaking fearfully. Brenda and Karone hit the water frustratingly. Suddenly, clicking came out of nowhere. Isabella looked at Jane and Izzy, who lifted their heads and emitted a series of whistles. She whistled at them in uncertainty. Elvis, Andros, and Zhane let go of the ropes and headed over to the gate. Brenda and Karone gazed at them. Andros, Zhane, and Elvis let out shuddering breaths.
"What are the dolphins doing?" Zhane wondered.
"Jane and Izzy are telling Isabella that it's okay to go into the sling," Brenda answered.
"I can't blame Isabella for being reluctant to go into the sling," Andros commented with a sad sigh. "She doesn't want to experience being lifted out of the water again."
"What dolphin would?" Elvis asked with a heavy sigh. "It is stressful for dolphins, especially if they have never left the oceanarium they arrived at following their captures."
"Still, we've got to get her out of here," Andros said seriously.
"What I am worried about is the security guards waking up and finding us trying to bust her out of the tank," Zhane said, his body shaking.
"We'll be sitting in jail if that happens," Elvis said and bit his lip. "Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars."
"Elvis, you play too much Monopoly," Andros quipped with a snicker.
"At least it taught me how to manage money," Elvis commented with pride.
"Don't get too prideful," Zhane warned in sternness. He narrowed his eyes at him. "It will bite you on the ass."
Elvis waved Zhane off, getting a laugh from him. Isabella, Jane, and Izzy continued whistling to each other. They became very quiet thirty seconds later. The orca nodded at the dolphins. She turned toward Brenda, who began swimming backward into the pool slowly. Karone went with her. Isabella followed them at a steady pace. Elvis, Andros, and Zhane went back to the ropes and grabbed them. They held the sling steady as Jesse and Ashley ran over to the gate.
"Good girl," Karone said gently and swam out of the way. She headed over to the sling's left side. She watched Isabella go through the opening. "That's it."
Brenda wiggled the fish as Isabella came closer. "Come on, girl. Come on."
Isabella came up to the fish and opened her mouth. Brenda tossed it in, watching her swallow it quickly. Jesse closed the gate as the trainer moved aside. Isabella stopped before the sling, letting out a very reluctant squeak. Brenda looked toward him, hearing him shudder quietly.
"Jesse, she still won't go into the sling," Brenda cried.
Jesse growled determinedly. "Then it is time for me to help her."
Jesse dove into the water. He surfaced quickly and headed over to the front of Isabella. He touched her nose and petted it. She shook her head before squealing in fear.
"It's all right, Isabella," Jesse assured in a very gentle voice. He touched the orca's nose with his other hand. He began to remember when he was in the same position with Willy. He knew how reluctant the orca was to go into the sling. He couldn't blame his daughter for being the same way. "We're going to get you out of here, so help us a little bit."
"That-a-boy, Jess," Brenda said and swam over to the sling's right side.
"Please, Isabella! Just cooperate. Come forward," Jesse instructed firmly. He felt himself go backward as Isabella complied. "That's it. Come into the sling, girl. Good girl, good girl."
Ashley put her hands over her mouth. "Yes."
Karone sighed in relief. "Good going, Jess."
Jesse kissed Isabella's nose after she was all the way into the sling. He took a deep breath and sank underwater. He grabbed the first hook. He surfaced and attached it to the crane. He slid over Isabella's back to the other side. He breathed in once more, sinking beneath the surface. Elvis, Andros, and Zhane tightened their grip on the ropes. Jesse took hold of the second hook. He came up to attach it to the crane.
"Great going, bro!" Elvis called.
Jesse swam to Isabella's tail. He took another deep breath and went underwater. He grabbed the third hook. He came back up in which he attached it to the crane. He went over her back, taking a deep breath and sinking beneath the surface. He got the fourth and final hook. He surfaced, attaching it to the crane. He swam over to the area in front of Isabella's dorsal. He climbed on her back. Brenda and Karone headed over to the area behind it. They got on her back.
"Take her up, Elvis!" Jesse called while moving his hand in a circle in midair.
"Yes, sir!" Elvis said and rushed over to the crane. He got inside and gritted his teeth. "Here we go."
Elvis began to lift Isabella, Jesse, Brenda, and Karone from the water very slowly. Isabella cried out in much uncertainty while moving her head somewhat. Andros and Zhane smiled as they increased the tightness of their grip on the ropes. Ashley felt tears come to her eyes. She went over to the duo. Jesse started petting Isabella's back, as did Karone and Brenda.
"It's going to be all right, Isabella," Jesse assured gently. He patted the orca's back lightly. "You're going to be okay."
Isabella moaned before letting out a loud burst of air. Andros and Zhane loosened their grip on the ropes somewhat. Ashley felt the tears fall down her cheeks. Brenda and Karone looked at each other. They formed big smiles on their faces.
"I can't believe we actually did this!" Karone shouted in amazement.
"Me neither," Brenda agreed. "I have to say we make a pretty good team."
"We sure do," Karone responded with a chuckle. She bit her lip before taking a deep breath. "Our friends will be shocked when Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and I tell them we found out Lilli was Isabella and busted her out of her tank."
"We are risking jail for this, but I don't regret it. I know you and the others don't either," Brenda added.
"The Angel Grove Aquarium could use another orca trainer like you. How about you get a job there instead of the Seattle Aquarium?" Karone suggested calmly.
"I don't know, Karone," Brenda said in some uncertainty. "It's all the way in southern California. That is really far away."
"It might be, but the starting pay is really good, especially if you are an experienced trainer. You will also be able to have your say when it comes to animals," Karone explained.
"Really?" Brenda said with raised eyebrows. She ran her tongue all over the inside of her mouth. "Well, I will think about it."
"Think hard," Karone instructed while tapping her temple. "It is a great opportunity."
Brenda and Karone looked toward Jesse, who continued to pet Isabella. They heard her squeak as the crane went higher.