19 THE DECISION

CHAPTER 19 THE DECISION Rays of sunlight streaked across the pond. The surface rippled, and the robot's head poked up. She had spent the last hour practicing different swimming techniques, and now she was treading water. The forest rustled, and then Brightbill and Glimmer flew out from the trees. They glided over to the robot and splashed down beside her. "Hello, Roz," said Glimmer. "I heard about your

experiment last night. Weren't you afraid to touch the poison tide?" "In a way, I was afraid," said Roz. "My Survival Instincts warned me to stay clear of the poison tide, but I ignored the warnings and stepped in anyway. I was ready to jump out at the first sign of trouble. But then I felt a click in my head, and my Survival Instincts went silent. My sensors had determined that I was safe from the poison tide. So I went in deeper and deeper, until I was completely underwater, and I was fine. "Up close, I saw that the poison tide is made of tiny particles, like a fine dust, and there is so much dust that it forms clouds in the ocean. I do not know what is causing the dust clouds, but I intend to find out." "How will you do that?" said Brightbill. "I now know that I am safe in the poison tide," said Roz, "and I am also safe in deep water. That means I can safely leave the island. I have decided to travel north to track down the Ancient Shark. With her help, I will find a way to stop the poison tide. My mission will be dangerous, and I might fail, but that is a chance I must take." "You shouldn't go by yourself," said Brightbill. "I could go with you. We've traveled together before. We could do it again." Glimmer looked at her mate and said, "No, Brightbill, you're needed here, at home."

"Glimmer is right," said Roz. "The island needs you now, more than ever." Brightbill shook his tail feathers, and pond water sprayed behind him. "So, while you're wandering through the ocean, we're supposed to wait around and hope you solve all our problems? What if you get hurt? What if you never come back?" Brightbill's emotions swung wildly from fear to anger to pride in his mother's courage. Overwhelmed by his feelings, he dunked his head in the water to cool off, and when he lifted it back up, he felt a little better. "I know I have to let you go, Ma," said Brightbill. "I know you're the island's only hope." "We believe in you, Roz," said Glimmer. "You're doing the right thing." "Thank you both for understanding," said Roz. "I will leave in the morning."