7 Whale song

Chapter Seven WHALE SONG. Roshni switched the microphone and speakers back on. Connor clicked the "PLAY" button and the whale song began. It swelled out from the sub, echoing far into the dark and lonely depths. They looked around hopefully. Connor felt a rush of excitement as he saw something swimming toward them, about the right size

to be the calf. But then it turned sideways to pass them, and he saw the long spike protruding from its nose. It was a swordfish! Any other time, he'd have been overjoyed to see it. The whale song stopped. He quickly clicked the "PLAY" button again. Connor chewed his lip anxiously as they peered into the shadows. But there was nothing but swirling sediment and tiny fish. The whale song ended again. He crossed his fingers for luck and played it one more time. Then, out of nowhere, a shape appeared. A humpbacked shape 20 feet long and swimming curiously toward them… Connor was about to yell, "It's the calf!" But, just in time, he remembered the microphone was still on! He tapped Roshni's shoulder and put his finger to his lips. Her

eyes widened as she saw it. Connor tried to imagine what the calf was thinking. What could this strange thing be, which sounded like a whale but wasn't one and was all lit up with bright and shiny lights? The calf swam around the Beagle. Roshni put her hand up to the window pane, just as

the calf pressed against it. "It's like I'm touching it!" she whispered. Connor watched the calf in amazement. It turned around to face him. For one instant he looked right into its eye, and a thrill went through his whole body. He had never been this close to such an astonishing creature. The calf gazed at Connor, and Connor looked back at it. It didn't look afraid, and he was deeply glad of that. Then, without warning, it rolled all the way over. "What's it doing?" Roshni asked. The calf lashed its tail, looked at them, and rolled over again. Strange clicking noises came from it. Connor recognized the funny noises as whale language. "It's trying to play with us!" he said, and laughed in delight. "The calf knows the Beagle is a friend."

The Beagle made a joyful SQUEAK through its console. The calf heard it through the speakers and let loose a series of happy clicks in response. Then, from somewhere close by, more whale song came booming through the water. "Could that be the mother whale, calling for her calf?" asked Roshni. "It's not just one whale," Connor replied. "Look at that!" Suddenly, enormous whales loomed all around them! The entire pod had answered their call. A chorus of whale song greeted the lost calf, welcoming it back. The Beagle seemed very tiny next to these magnificent creatures. Roshni gave Connor a hug. "I'm glad you got to see this," she said. "I know how much you love the oceans."

He grinned and hugged her back. "Look at them! They're not scared of us at all.