Enemy of Oceans Read Free Page A

likely be a civil war in the Indi Ocean between the royal families.
    Just what I need, Gray thought.
    Judijoan waved the next quickfin messenger over when Gray nodded. This one was a swordfish and dipped her bill to Gray. “I come from AuzyAuzy Shiver, sent by Eyes and Ears Leilani. Code word: Sunfish.”
    â€œCode’s right, but what’s ‘eyes and ears’?” Barkley asked Judijoan.
    â€œThey are information gatherers. They are known as spyfish, although most of them don’t go skulking about,” Judijoan answered. “Leilani is one of the youngest ever to attain the rank of Eyes and Ears, from what I understand. They listen to reports from around the ocean to uncover plots and intrigue. Most ancient shivers have them.”
    â€œHow come I’ve never heard of these Eyes and Ears spyfish?” asked Barkley. “Are they like ghostfins?” Ghostfins were a small force of super scouts created by Barkley. These were fish that could swim unseen inside an enemy’s camp.
    â€œThey wouldn’t be very good spyfish if everyone knew of them, now would they?” Judijoan answered. “But no, they try to see the big picture. They are thinkers.”
    Gray flicked a fin for the swordfish to continue.
    â€œOne patrol is missing in the fire waters. Another was driven away by a freak whorl current before it could finish its patrol. That is all.” The swordfish left.
    â€œI don’t get that message,” Barkley said. “The fire waters are a dangerous place. Things like that happen. Why tell us at all if there’s no point?”
    Judijoan sent a ripple through her long oarfish body, calling the next messenger. “Sometimes information is sent with no conclusion because it seems odd and you might notice a pattern. But most of the time nothing is exactly that. Nothing.”
    The last fish waiting moved forward. It was a four-winged flying fish. Apparently, these fish could leap from the water and glide above the ocean using their long tails to force themselves into the air time and time again, literally skipping across the surface. Some could stay out of the water for half a mile!
    This young flying fish flicked its upper and lower fins, angling them downward in a smart salute that displayed their blue highlights nicely. “Quickfin Speedmeister with a message from Grinder, leader of Hammer Shiver. Code word: Seaweed. The message is as follows—”
    â€œHold it, hold it,” Barkley said, waving his tail for the messenger to stop. “Your name is Speedmeister?”
    â€œWell, that’s what it should be, ’cause I’m so fast. Faster than a wahoo, even,” the flying fish answered. “My real name is Eugene, though, your lordships.”
    Gray laughed along with Barkley. Judijoan scowled. “What is your message, Eugene?”
    Eugene did another smart salute, flicking his four fin wings down and up. “The message is as follows. ‘Hope everything is going well, friend and battle brother Gray. Would love to see you and everyone else at the Tuna Run. I’ll be there with Hammer Shiver and we will be catching the most bluefin because we are, of course, the best.’ End of message.”
    Gray and Barkley laughed some more. Grinder’s personality really came through in the message.
    â€œOh, I’d love to go,” Barkley said with a grin. The Tuna Run was where big, fat bluefin whipped across the undersea mountain range called the Atlantis Spine. Many shivers would be there, and it was a fine place to stuff yourself on the most delicious fish in the sea.
    â€œWouldn’t that be great?” Gray remarked. “But there’s no way.”
    Judijoan shook her head, causing the red plume overhanging her head to move back and forth briskly. “That is correct, Graynoldus. Only after you solve all the ocean’s problems can you waste your time at the Tuna Run.”
    â€œI thought the