Chris and Lee suddenly stiffened.
“This is Chris Ramirez another of our lead researchers, and Lee Kenwood our expert computer engineer. I’m sorry,” Alison said. “Your names again?”
“John Clay,” he answered stepping forward and shaking Chris’ hand, then Lee’s. “And this is my associate Steve Caesare.”
“Pleased to meet you,” added Caesare with a shake to each.
“Ms. Shaw was nice enough to give us a walk through the aquarium. A very nice place you have here.”
Lee relaxed, however Clay noticed that Chris seemed to maintain a defensive composure similar to Alison’s.
“Frank asked that we give them a demonstration,” Alison said.
Chris said nothing but Lee eagerly sat down and brought the IMIS system back up on screen.
“Frank and I started the program six years ago,” she started. “It wasn’t long before we realized that we were going to need a lot more money and help. Chris and I worked together on a project in Central America, so we brought him on about a year later after Frank and I got our first grant.” Alison came around the other side of Lee’s desk and looked over his shoulder while he got things ready. “We brought Lee on after the second one. He’s an ex-IBM’er.” She motioned to the wall of computers. “They donated the servers and helped design the translation software and algorithm, called IMIS. It’s the system that is actually translating our dolphin-ese.”
Caesare raised an eyebrow. “Dolphin-ese?”
She shrugged. “That’s what we call it. Who knows what the language will actually be called. When it’s-”
“Excuse me,” Clay interrupted. “I was under the impression that the translation was just beginning. Are you saying that you have a vocabulary?”
Alison smiled. “Well vocabulary may be a bit of a stretch.”
Clay was genuinely surprised. After a moment he replied. “So…exactly how far along are you?”
Alison was still grinning when she nodded to Lee. “Let’s show ‘em.”
Lee quickly typed Hello in the translate window.
Clay and Caesare, not knowing what to expect, turned toward the large tank when they heard the sounds emanate from the underwater speaker. They watched as the two dolphins, playing for the children on the other side, suddenly stopped and swam over toward them. Clay noted an odd feeling at seeing the dolphin’s eyes actually seem to focus directly at them from the other side of the glass.
One of the dolphins repeated the sound and they watched the reply appear on the screen.
“Wow.” Clay exclaimed and looked at Caesare who also had his eyebrows raised. “That is amazing.”
The other three seemed almost giddy. Alison leaned in closer to Lee’s shoulder, her eyes fixed on the monitor. “Ask them how they are.”
Lee quickly typed out How you today? and clicked his mouse.
After hearing the sounds Dirk quickly replied. Good. How you.
Lee responded. Good. Thank.
Alison straightened and looked at Clay. “Lee is working on adding voice recognition so we won’t even have to type. That may take a while.”
Clay and Caesare stood motionless, their eyes wide open and mouths gaping. They were utterly stunned.
It took several seconds for Clay to recover. “What…what else can they-“
Dirk interrupted from the other side of the glass. How long food.
Alison smiled again. “They’re always hungry.” She leaned in and typed the reply herself. Food soon.
Clay looked at Caesare who was still speechless. “Wow,” he said, looking back at the dolphins.
Lee swung his chair around and beamed at them both. “Gentlemen, meet Dirk and Sally.”
Who them, asked Sally.
Lee offered the chair to Alison, who promptly sat down and replied. Friends. They want help.
Even in his dazed state Clay suspected Alison wasn’t thrilled about calling them friends.
Dirk and Sally suddenly burst into movement, swimming in tight circles, displaying what Clay assumed to be excitement.
Yes. Like help, Sally responded. Dirk hungry.
Food soon, Alison typed back.
Caesare could not take his eyes off Dirk and Sally. “This is unbelievable.”
Lee gave a broad smile. “You should see them do tricks now!”
14
Alison stood on the mid-deck looking down at the giant tank constructed on the stern of the Pathfinder. Two of the ship’s cranes had been disassembled to create enough space to house the 10,000 gallon salt water tank which left only a quarter of the space on the stern’s open platform. On the third remaining crane hung a giant sling made of soft fabric used to hoist Dirk and Sally in and out. Having them both confined to such a tiny space, with precious little room for movement during the five hour trip, made Alison extremely anxious. The fact that it did not have any windows didn’t help matters. Nevertheless both dolphins seemed relatively calm as their water gently sloshed back and forth with the rise and fall of the ocean swells.