73 THE DISCOVERY

CHAPTER 73 THE DISCOVERY In the weeks following their return, Brightbill and Glimmer told everyone about their journey to the far north. They spoke of icebergs and of robots and of the armies of ocean animals who sunk the mighty Juggernaut. Their friends wanted to hear all the exciting details, but what they wanted more than anything was for the poison tide to leave and for Roz to come home. "We just want to go back to our normal lives!" said Shelly. "Sea otters belong in the sea!" "They certainly do," agreed Mr. Beaver. "I'm worried about my kits and I'm worried about Roz and I'm worried about our island and I'm worried about the ocean and I guess what I'm saying is I'm worried about everything!" said Chitchat. Geese had it easier than most. To survive, they needed only plants and fresh water and each other. And while most of the animals were stranded on the island, the geese were free to fly away whenever they liked. As a matter of fact, it was almost time for their next winter

migration. The goslings had made plenty of short flights, but a migration would require real strength and smarts. So every morning, Brightbill led his family on flights across the island to exercise their muscles and their minds. And it was during one of those flights that our friends made a truly momentous discovery. The poison tide was leaving. With each passing day, the ocean became clearer and clearer, and then one morning the geese took flight to find that the flow of poison tide had completely stopped. However, as they glided above the shoreline, they saw that their problems weren't quite over. There was still a dusting of poison tide on the seabed and all along the coast. The poison tide might have stopped flowing, but traces of the toxic dust still remained.