Bridging the Spheres
an excerpt

From Ch. 13

Mina moved into the sitting room to sit on a chair, and Tamra followed her and sat next to her. “Do you think the Plessterans are going to do a good job of dealing with the sea-people?” Mina continued.
“I suppose so,” said Tamra. I don't really know that, either. They do have a lot of experience dealing with other kinds of people.”
“Yes, but that means they're going to want to take over the sea-people's home, too.”
“That's very likely, but they can't. How do you rule a place that you can't actually go to, but can only float above?”
“I don't know.”
“Exactly. I'm sure they don't know, either, and that's why I think they would be foolish to try to treat the sea-people the way they did us.”
“That's good. I don't want the sea-people to be treated like us. They wouldn't like it.”
“No, probably not at first, but they'd come to see the good side of having the Plessterans around, just like we have. Things like roads, and newer schoolhouses, and more knowledge.”
“I understand. I think the sea-people have their own stories and ways they make things, too. I think they're a special kind of people, just like we are. Don't you, Mama?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. In fact, do you want to know a secret?”
“Yes! I love knowing secrets!”
“All right, I'll tell you, but you absolutely must not tell this story to anyone, not even your brother or your father. Promise?”
“I promise.”
“All right. When I was a little girl, about your age, I was playing at the Portal closest to our town, just as you do. One day, I saw a small sea-person there, just under the surface of the water. He seemed to be looking around, just seeing what there was to see. When he saw me, he looked straight into my eyes, and I looked back. I saw a real person in there, someone I somehow knew could be my good friend if we just lived in the same Sphere. From that day on, whenever the two of us were both at the Portal at the same time, we would play together. We would have swimming races, and play catch with a ball, throwing it in and out of the water. Eventually, though, we both grew up and stopped playing together, though. I remember going there once shortly after the Plessterans first came. We played for a while, and then, at the end of one of our swimming races, he held me under the water for just a moment, with his fins wrapped around me, like in a hug. I hugged back. Then he whistled and clicked at me a little, and then he swam away, into the deep water and under the land. That was the last time I ever saw him... until the Explorers' Festival.”
Mina's eyes widened enormously. “You know one of those sea-people in there?”
“I'm almost certain it was the same one,” said Tamra. “Of course, we're both all grown up now, but we seemed to recognize each other when we looked into each other's eyes, just as the vessel was about to go back down into the water. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. It was incredible. Honestly, I'm eager for the vessel to come back. Ours was a friendship I never told anyone about before today, and I'd love to restart it.”
“Oh, Mama... that's wonderful! Now I understand why you've been so happy lately!”
“That's right. I've been thinking about him all the time.”
“Do you love him more than Daddy?”
Tamra laughed. “No, of course not. That's silly. I never loved him the same way I love Daddy, and I never could. Besides, if a human were to love a sea-person that way, where would they build a home?”
Now Mina giggled. “Nowhere!”
“That's right. They couldn't live together anywhere, so they couldn't be anything more than good friends.”
“Right. But still, you're so lucky! I wish I had a sea-person for a friend.”
“I'd be very happy if you did. If you ever manage to get to a Portal at a time when none of those believers in the Great Reversal are there, then spend some time there. If you see any sea-people, especially young ones, approach them in a slow, friendly way and try to make friends with them.”
“Do you really mean it, Mama?”
“Of course! Have fun out there.”
“But... I don't know how to swim.”
“I'll teach you this weekend, all right?”
“Yay! Thank you!”
“My pleasure.”

-

From Ch. 25

That evening, the Captain and Heath both went down to feed the prisoner and to speak to him. “Good evening, Mr. Polenski,” said Captain Laciste. “Dinner is served.”
“How come ye ain't talkin' like a pirate?” asked Polenski, accepting the poor rations of food he had been given. “Lighten up, mate! Have some fun!”
“We are protesting against International Talk Like a Pirate Day by not talking like pirates,” said the Captain. “We protest that the pirate's unique dialect is being used in such an irreverent and sportive fashion. Therefore, for today, we are speaking with the most elevated diction we can muster.”
“Ye'll be back to talkin' like pirates tomorrow, won't ye?”
“Yes, most likely. Maintaining the academic's style of speech is more difficult than it seems. Anyway, Mr. Polenski, I wanted to tell you more about why you're here.”
“Ye already told me, ye scurvy sea dog. Ye be takin' me to Azashima to help the Assistant Governor there build one o' them underwater boats o' mine. I already told ye, I ain't helpin' him!”
“First of all, Mr. Polenski, I am pleased to report that I do not suffer from that particular form of malnutrition. Secondly, I recommend you cooperate with Mr. Bowling's wishes, or he may not grant you passage away from Azashima after the underwater boat is built.”
“What are ye talkin' about, ye scallywag? Of course he'll help me get back! He be an agent of this same government that be employin' my services!”
“Mr. Bowling is also very shrewd at making deals. It's because of an agreement I made with him ten years ago that I'm still alive today, and still captain of this ship. He was the one who arranged for me to obtain a letter of marque.”
“What the bloody hell? Ye be privateers!”
“Yes, indeed we are.”
“Ye ain't got no right to be kidnappin' men from their own ships, not when they're from yer own country!”
“Perhaps not, but I believe that Mr. Bowling has a far greater chance of successfully building an underwater boat if he has your assistance. Wouldn't you agree that those plans would be a bit difficult to anyone with less scientific knowledge than you to understand?”
“Aye, I suppose that be true.”
“And on some level, don't you want that underwater boat to be built? Wasn't it just a faraway dream of yours until just now? You're being offered the opportunity to make that dream come true, right now. Doesn't it sound appealing to you now?”
“Aye, it does. But if I'm gonna be helpin' anybody build an underwater boat, I expect to be paid and returned to me own ship post-haste. I also hope ye all get punished fer kidnappin' me and takin' me away from me research.”
“We shall see about that, I suppose. Thank you for your cooperation. We will arrive at Azashima in approximately a week and a half, provided the winds remain as favorable as they are at the present.”
“Aye, cap'n. I can't wait to get there. This be a right boring way to sail, bein' stuck down here.”
“Perhaps you could compose a treatise on whatever you had been studying before we apprehended you. I shall see to it that you are provided with writing materials.”
“Thankee, cap'n. Maybe ye not be such a bad man after all.”
“Thank you, Mr. Polenski.”