Catalyst (Breakthrough Book 3)(19)

When Sofia pulled the mask away, her father looked at her softly. “Are you ready?”

Sofia glanced around, looking first at Alison and her team. Then she spotted Dirk and Sally, watching patiently nearby with their heads out of the water. She nodded at her father. Together they untied the scarf and pulled it gently off her small bald head.

The women continued smiling warmly at her, fighting back a sudden surge of tears. Without even looking, Alison was sure the guys were doing the same.

Sofia stared up at them nervously with her large blue eyes. She was so beautiful.

Chris never skipped a beat. He lowered his voice just above a whisper. “Are you ready to put it on?”

She nodded and tilted her head forward, allowing Chris to slide the soft straps over her head, pulling on each one until snug. He delicately moved his fingers around the edge of the mask, checking the seal.

“How does that feel?”

“Good,” she replied, her voice distorted.

“Still breathing okay?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent.”

Alison watched Chris next pick up a small weight belt. He snaked it gently around her waist and secured it in front. The swimsuit Alison had bought for her was a tad loose but still a close enough fit. Now that Sofia was comfortably breathing inside the mask, Alison reached out for her own gear.

Her Hollis unit was a rebreather. A redesign of the older scuba units allowing a radically more efficient use of its breathable oxygen. Even more important was the ability to allow the diver to breathe almost silently underwater, compared to the older regulators which sent out waves of loud bubbles with every breath. Minimal noise or interference was critical for IMIS’s ability to translate accurately.

Alison smoothly clipped her buckles together in front and grinned at Sofia. Next, she pulled their waterproof vest over her front, turning so that Chris could secure it around her back. Finally, she pulled her own mask over the top of her head and wiggled it into place. She leaned forward, touching her mask gently against Sofia’s.

“Can you hear me?” she called out.

“Yes.”

“Are you scared?”

Sofia shook her head.

“Good,” Alison winked. “Nervous is okay. But if you’re scared we won’t do it, okay?”

“Okay.”

Alison took Sofia’s hand and helped her slide down onto her rear in the water. She then turned to the dolphins. “Sally. Dirk. Can you hear me?”

Their response was immediate. Yes Alison.

“Remember. Very slow. Okay.”

Slow, Sally replied.

Sloooow, Dirk repeated playfully.

Alison smiled and shook her head. He was such a boy.

Behind her, Dirk and Sally moved in and propped themselves on the tank ledge. Sofia leaned back apprehensively but slowly reached out to pet them each on the head. Their skin felt like wet leather. Smooth but almost spongy.

Sally lowered her nose and nuzzled affectionately against one of Sofia’s skinny legs.

Alison, still holding the child’s other hand, spoke loudly again through her mask. “Okay, ready?”

All she got was a nervous nod. With that, Alison fell into the water and quickly bobbed up, floating in front of Sofia. She gently pulled her small, delicate hand forward until Sophia slid in next to her.

Alison secured the girl with both hands. “Still okay?”

“Yes!” Sofia felt light again in the water. Like she used to before it became too hard to walk. “I’m floating!”

“Yes, you are.”

Alison guided her slowly away from the edge, watching Dirk and Sally wiggle back into the water. Together the pair began swirling around them, gently brushing as they passed.

Sofia’s eyes were as wide as she could make them. She reached out and skimmed fingers over their bodies as they passed. “WOW!”

“Look under the water.”

Sofia lowered her face beneath the surface to watch the dolphins. When she lifted her head back up, Alison leaned in and examined the mask. She needed to check for leaks. Because what they were about to do was going to feel like magic.

“Okay, Sally.” Alison rotated Sofia’s frame just as Sally came up smoothly beneath her, and she helped guide the girl’s tiny legs down around Sally’s sides.

“Can you lean forward?”

Sofia complied and instinctively wrapped her arms around Sally.

“Are you ready for a ride, honey?”

Sofia was almost shaking but still managed to nod, even with her mask pressed against the back of Sally’s light gray head.

“Okay, Sally. Nice and easy.”

Come Sofia.

Sally gave a thrust of her tail and swam forward. Dirk quickly fell in beside them as Alison latched onto his tail. Together all four continued across the tank, circling at the far end and slowly returning to where Alison had checked Sofia.