39 THE SEABIRDS

CHAPTER 39 THE SEABIRDS Seabirds from all around were drawn to a frothy, fishy patch of ocean. Gulls and terns hovered above the water, picking fish from the waves. Only the puffins took the plunge. Their plump bodies plopped into the surf, and then they started to hunt. Flapping their short wings, the puffins seemed to fly through the water as they snatched fish with their sturdy beaks. When one of the puffins popped back to the surface he slammed into something hard. A lifeless fish dangled from his beak as he squawked, "Ay! Om fithin hee!" "I do not understand," said the robot, who was treading water beside him. The puffin grunted. Then he spit out the fish and secured it with his wing. "I said, 'Hey! I'm fishing here!'"

"I am sorry for disturbing you," said the robot. "But I need to speak with a seabird. I am on a mission to stop the poison tide and—" The puffin cut in. "Oh, I know about the poison tide. It came to the coast where I used to live. The other birds were so excited to see dead fish piling up on the rocks. But old Kerplunk knew better. That's my name—Kerplunk. Nice to meet you. Anyway, I said not to touch the fish. I said something didn't smell right, but nobody would listen. They gobbled down as many fish as they could. And pretty soon, the rocks were piling up with dead birds. I moved my family to a safer spot, but so many fish are leaving the area that we may have to leave too." It was a troubling story. The robot didn't know what to say. Neither did the puffin. They quietly bobbed on the waves together. Behind them, the feeding frenzy calmed down, and the other seabirds flew off.

At last Roz said, "I must find the Ancient Shark. I have heard that she lives in the northern ocean. Can you show me the fastest way there?" Kerplunk winked and said, "No problem." The puffin gripped the fish with his beak. Then he flapped his wings and scampered over the waves and lifted into the air. Roz followed him through the water, and before long, a rugged coastline climbed into view. That coast had once been home to thousands of seabirds. Now only a few hundred were left. They were screeching and soaring and nesting on the hillsides. In addition to puffins and gulls and terns, there was another type of bird, called a skua. Two skuas peeled away from the others and bolted toward Kerplunk. They wanted his fish. The puffin saw them coming. He dodged left and right, then swooped low, skimming the water. The skuas curved through the air and beat their wings and easily caught up to Kerplunk. They harassed the poor puffin, nipping at his tail and his wings, and finally they grabbed his fish and sent him tumbling into the sea. "Are you okay?" said Roz when she reached him. Kerplunk grunted, "I'm okay. But now I've got more fishing to do." He pointed to the coast, where a stream was cascading down a grassy slope. "Follow that stream back across the land," said Kerplunk. "It'll lead you to a glacier. From there, you'll see the northern

ocean. And Roz, do us all a favor and stop the poison tide, would ya? Life is hard enough out here as it is." The robot watched as the puffin took off and headed back out to catch another meal.