66 THE PARENTS

CHAPTER 66 THE PARENTS The Juggernaut was sinking. That massive floating vessel, that mighty industrial structure, was slowly being swallowed by the sea. As water flooded the station, fires were washed out and steam hissed into the air. The main platform disappeared beneath the waves, and then only the buildings and towers still stood above the surface. Soon, they'd also disappear, and the entire station would be lost. On the roof of the control tower, below the twinkling stars, Roz was speaking with the geese. She explained that a fleet of cleanup robots was coming to stop the poison tide and remove it from the ocean. At least that's what the humans had promised. For now, though, the deep-sea mining robot kept working, and the poison tide kept flowing.

"The humans told me to go home," said Roz. "But I cannot let the poison tide destroy more of the ocean while we wait for the cleanup robots to arrive. And so, in a moment, I will dive down to the mining site, and I will try to stop the mining robot." Brightbill anxiously flapped his wings and squawked, "Ma, you've done enough! Do you really need to take more risks? The island needs you! Your family needs you! I need you!" "Brightbill, you have not needed me since you were very young," said Roz. "Back then, caring for you is what gave my life purpose. Now that you are grown, I have another purpose: to protect the island and the ocean and all of the wilderness. "This reminds me of someone I met on my travels,"

Roz continued. "I met an octopus whose whole purpose in life is to take care of her eggs. She will spend her very last breath watching over them, and before they hatch, she will die. She will never meet her own children, and yet her love for them is already so strong that she will sacrifice herself to protect them. If necessary, I am ready to sacrifice myself to protect what I love as well." In a soft voice, Brightbill said, "I think I understand. I would do anything to protect our goslings." "So would I," said Glimmer. "It's funny—not long ago, parenthood wasn't even on my mind. And these days, our goslings are all I can think about. As we speak, I can feel myself being pulled back to them, like gravity." "Those are your instincts telling you that it is time to go home," said Roz. "And I agree." "We'll wait for you, Ma!" said Brightbill. "And then we'll all go home together!" "I would love that," said Roz. "But this could take hours or days or weeks or longer. I simply do not know what will happen down at the mining site." Brightbill sniffled and wiped his eyes. "Ma, I'm worried that our goslings won't get to meet you." "Do not worry!" said Roz in a cheerful voice. "I know the situation seems impossible, but your mother is quite good at dealing with impossible situations."

A little smile appeared on Brightbill's face. Then he and Glimmer hopped onto the robot's shoulders. "I love you, Mama," said Brightbill. "I love you, son," said Roz. "I love both of you. Now go tell my grandgoslings I love them too." Our friends hugged each other. Brightbill and Glimmer lifted up on the breeze. Roz dove off the station and into the sea.