Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter six of "No Whispers." This chapter introduces Willy. His immediate family will follow suit in the next chapter or the one after that. There may be appearances by L-Pod orcas as well. Stay tuned for chapter seven.
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Chapter 6: Waiting/Arriving
The Nastelane arrived in a large cove eight minutes later. Randolph got it close to the shore. He turned it sideways to where the starboard faced the shore and the port the water. He brought it to a stop. He turned off the engine. He anchored it with a small smile. He, Jesse, and Nadine climbed down from the roof. They approached the stern.
"Since we are now anchored, we just have to wait for Willy," Randolph said as he clasped his hands together.
"I hope he gets here soon. I can hardly wait to see him," Jesse said in much eagerness.
"I can hardly wait either," Nadine added and sighed in content. "Maybe his mate and kids will be with him."
"The same goes for other members of his family," Randolph said while crossing his arms.
"I love how your harmonica can lure Willy to the boat," Nadine said in much warmth. "Even after twelve years, he remembers it clearly."
Jesse cleared his throat. "Drew doubted it would work. In fact, she sarcastically said, 'He's just going to come running.' I wondered why Randolph was working with her at that moment."
Randolph shrugged. "I am grateful she didn't report us to her boss when we stole the Noah, so we could save J-Pod, Jesse. Our asses could have been in jail for piracy. It would have been ten years."
"I know. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars," Jesse replied while rubbing his face. "Drew would've also lost her job."
"Thank the spirits that didn't happen," Randolph whispered and groaned while touching his forehead.
Nadine became concerned. "What's wrong, Uncle Randolph?"
"I have a headache," Randolph answered.
"Watch out. It could be a tumor," Jesse quipped with a snicker.
"It's not a tumor at all," Randolph responded and growled in fake irritation.
"You just had to quote Kindergarten Cop, didn't you?" Nadine asked and chuckled.
"Yep," Jesse answered in a smug way. "That's one movie I would allow my child to watch. It has a few curse words and a small amount of violence, but it's great."
Nadine squealed. "Then let's get started on making babies!"
Nadine laughed when her boyfriend tweaked her nose and ruffled her hair. She responded in kind both ways. She got a wave-off from him.
"I'll be right back," Randolph said and headed for the cabin. He returned three minutes later. "I'm glad I didn't forget that Advil. It is so great for headaches."
"Just don't hit your head on something and get a bigger headache," Nadine warned.
"I won't," Randolph responded.
Suddenly, splashing caught the trio's attention. They went to port in which they saw four Pacific white-sided dolphins leaping clear of the water close to them. The dolphins disappeared beneath the surface. Two did backflips and landed on their stomachs with a big splash. The other two came up to do a backward tailwalk. Jesse and Nadine had to laugh at that.
"Wow. Those dolphins are really doing the tailwalk!" Nadine shouted gleefully.
"What is wild is that they have never been in captivity!" Jesse added in amazement.
"They are such fun-loving animals," Nadine commented.
"Yep," Jesse agreed.
"I'd love to be a dolphin and do the tailwalk. Come join me, eh?" Nadine asked and looked at her boyfriend in a longing way.
"No, thanks. I prefer to be an orca," Jesse answered with a shake of his head.
"You don't want to have fun with me!" Nadine yelled in fake irritation and formed a big pout.
Jesse crossed his arms and gazed down at his girlfriend. "Keep pouting. You look so cute."
Nadine gave him a wink. "Okay. I will."
The lovebirds shared a gentle kiss in which it grew quite passionate quickly. They let out delightful moans. Their tongues dueled for control. A clearing throat forced them to break apart. They gazed at Randolph, who raised an eyebrow.
"Like I said, this isn't a love boat," Randolph grumbled and made a disgusted face.
"Sorry," Jesse and Nadine apologized and pretended to cry while rubbing fake tears from their eyes. "Forgive us."
Randolph smiled. "You are forgiven."
The group returned its attention to the water. All four dolphins twirled in circles and whistled excitedly. They stopped before diving underwater. Randolph, Jesse, and Nadine waited anxiously. All of a sudden, the dolphins leapt upward not far from them. They performed spins in midair. They landed on their backs and splashed their audience. This made it cheer and applaud wildly.
The dolphins surfaced and rolled on their sides. They slapped their flippers against the water. They repeated their action three times. They swam away upside down before slipping beneath the surface. They threw their tails upward and stuck their bodies halfway out of the water. They came back down, hitting them against the surface. They turned right side up and swam on. Randolph, Jesse, and Nadine waved to them, happiness radiating on their faces.
"Whoo! Willy hasn't gotten here yet. We're already having fun!" Nadine shouted.
"You just never know what you'll see out here," Jesse said with a laugh.
"At least those dolphins aren't beggars like some are down in the Gulf of Mexico. People feed them all the time," Randolph grumbled and rolled his eyes.
"It's disgusting," Jesse said and made a retching sound. "It makes the dolphins lose their wild nature. They associate people with food. Then they can't hunt for themselves. They end up starving to death." He spit into the water while gripping the railing tightly. "It's also very dangerous because the dolphins can really hurt people trying to take pictures when they want food from them."
"People are told constantly to not harass and feed dolphins. Unfortunately, many don't care. They do it, anyway," Randolph muttered and scoffed in much irritation.
"I'll never feed wild dolphins. Nope, nope, nope," Nadine declared while shaking her head rapidly.
"I won't either," Jesse added.
"Don't forget me," Randolph said.
"We won't," Jesse promised. He, his girlfriend, and friend shifted their attention toward the water. They observed a bald eagle flying downward and grabbing a salmon with its talons. It headed toward the forest in which it disappeared in the canopy.
00000
Randolph, Jesse, and Nadine stood together on starboard seventeen minutes later. They faced away from the shore as they played I Spy. Jesse looked around in which he was deep in thought. His friend and girlfriend weren't sure when he would be done. Just then, he caught sight of something over his shoulder, but he wasn't ready to say where or what it was. He turned around quickly. Randolph's headache was completely gone.
"I spy with my little eye something that begins with E Jesse announced.
"An elk?" Nadine asked.
"Nope. Try again," Jesse answered and smiled.
"An eel?" Randolph said, crossing his fingers in hopes he'd be right.
"Uncle Randolph, eels live in the water. They can't live on land!" Nadine blurted out annoyingly.
"I couldn't resist!" Randolph said, standing tall and proud. "Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope."
"Sorry. It's not an eel," Jesse said, his eyebrows wiggling.
"Is it an eagle?" Nadine asked and became tense as she hoped she was right.
"Yes, it is!" Jesse announced.
Nadine cheered while pumping a fist. She and Randolph turned around to see a a bald eagle perched on a branch near the middle of a tree close to shore. It looked around, opening its beak and letting out a loud screech.
"Wow," Nadine said in awe. "That is a beautiful eagle."
"It's not every day you see one from a boat," Randolph said.
"The same goes for on land," Nadine added.
"Eagles look even more impressive when they spread their wings apart," Jesse said. Just then, the eagle spread its wings apart. This made him laugh. "I guess it heard me."
"I don't know about that," Randolph commented.
"Are you accusing me of lying, Randolph?" Jesse growled in playfulness.
"No way!" Randolph said and shook his head.
"You better admit it," Jesse said while holding up his fist. "You will get a knuckle sandwich if you don't."
"Bring it on," Randolph taunted. "I love knuckle sandwiches."
Without warning, a hard bump rocked the boat. Randolph, Jesse, and Nadine stumbled without losing their balance. They knew only one individual could've done that. They headed to port, finding Willy spyhopping. They smiled so widely that it seemed their faces would stay that way. The orca squealed in happiness while coming back down. He went to Jesse and Nadine, spouting air from his blowhole.
"Hey, Willy! It is so wonderful to see you, boy," Jesse greeted and petted the orca's nose. "You've been hunting, haven't you?" He pulled his hand away as Willy nodded rapidly with a loud squeak. "We thought so."
"We are not surprised it took you a while to get here. We have no doubt you are fool," Nadine commented. "It's unfortunate your podmates aren't with you. Perhaps we'll see them later." She gave the orca's nose a gentle scratch. She heard him whistle in pleasure. "You love that, huh?"
"Try not to moon him," Jesse warned in playfulness.
Nadine shot him a fake glare. "I recall you mooned him the last time we saw him. He spit water on you in response."
Jesse stood tall and proud. "I loved all of it."
Willy sank beneath the surface and resurfaced with a squeal. He spit water all over Jesse and Nadine, which made them scream in surprise. He chattered in amusement. Randolph laughed a bit raucously. He hit his hand on his knees.
"I honestly believe Willy wanted to spit water on you before you pulled your pants down, Jesse," Randolph quipped.
"Get out of town, Randolph," Jesse retorted.
"No, you get out of town by sundown," Randolph replied as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
Jesse blew a raspberry at his friend. Willy turned his attention toward Randolph and swam to him, letting out a quiet whistle. Randolph formed a bog smile on his face and reached down to pet his nose.
"Hey, Willy. I am glad to see you," Randolph said warmly. He became a bit serious. "I want you to know that we are trying to track down those illegal whalers. I am sure you heard Marina cry out when she saw Lambda get killed."
Willy lifted his head and emitted an uncertain squeak. He spouted air from his blowhole before laying it back on the water.
"I understand how uncertain you are, but being with us can help you take your mind off the situation," Randolph said.
Willy nodded slowly. Randolph petted his nose once more. He scratched him so gently that it seemed he wasn't even touching him. Willy clicked pleasurably as he blinked three times. Just then, he went underwater. He resurfaced to spit water all over Randolph, causing him to cry out in surprise. Jesse and Nadine broke into a fit of hysterical laughter.
"I have little doubt that Willy wanted you wet too!" Nadine yelled.
"Now, we're all even!" Jesse added with pride.
"Oh, shut up!" Randolph whispered with a mock-annoyed huff. "Come on, Jess. It's time for us to examine Willy."
"Yeah. I hope he doesn't eat you," Jesse teased.
"I think he would rather eat you," Randolph said and smirked. "He finds young men to be tastier."
"Unh-unh," Jesse said and shook his head.
"Uh-huh," Randolph replied and nodded fast.
The men headed for the cabin to change into their dark blue wetsuits. The former grabbed the supply box and a clipboard. They went to the dinghy. He laid them in the middle. They unhooked it from the boat. They climbed in with loud grunts. Nadine observed Randolph steering it away from her. Willy followed him and Jesse close behind. He slipped beneath the surface.
Jesse observed Willy surfacing. He had always found examining him very interesting. He could never be sure what he and Randolph would find. At the same time, he wished these examinations didn't have to occur because he thought they were a little invasive. However, he understood they were necessary since his best friend was getting closer to the average age of a male orca. He hoped the orca was still healthy like the last examination revealed.
Randolph turned the dinghy in which the port faced Nadine and the starboard away not far from her. He brought it to a stop. Willy approached, air spouting from his blowhole. Jesse petted his friend on the nose as his mentor got the supplies out. This included a measuring tape. Willy opened his mouth and wiggled his tongue. Jesse smiled and rubbed it very gently. The orca squeaked pleasurably. The men proceeded to examine him once the supplies were ready.
