Ripple Read online

  RIPPLE

  By Tui Allen

  Ripple

  By Tui Allen

  Published by Tuiscope

  Copyright 2011 Tui Allen

  Smashwords Edition

  Ripple is a work of fiction. Names places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual dolphins, octopuses, and deities is entirely on purpose. Any resemblance to humans is accidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover illustration by Joe Bergeron. Copyright 2011 Joe Bergeron

  DEDICATION

  This story is dedicated to the dolphins of Taiji,

  and the spirit of every cetacean,

  ever killed or imprisoned by man.

  Table of Contents

  Characters

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Deities and Dolphins

  Chapter 2: Unborn

  Chapter 3: Searching

  Chapter 4: Rough Start

  Chapter 5: Tentacles

  Chapter 6: Anger

  Chapter 7: Unreachable

  Chapter 8: The Fighter

  Chapter 9: Universe of Promise

  Chapter 10: Deranged

  Chapter 11: To the North

  Chapter 12: Point Savage

  Chapter 13: Seraphic Praise

  Chapter 14: Glissade

  Chapter 15: Teachers

  Chapter 16: Beside the Astronomers

  Chapter 17: Io Mission

  Chapter 18: Wonder Athlete

  Chapter 19: Knowledge Lost to Memory

  Chapter 20: Middle of the School

  Chapter 21: Via the Blackfin

  Chapter 22: Dark Winter

  Chapter 23: Sparkle of Energy

  Chapter 24: I Know You’re Out There

  Chapter 25: The Universe Changes

  Chapter 26: Rigel’s Prayer

  Chapter 27: Marcus’s Journey

  Poem Version

  Afterword:

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Characters

  Note: All are dolphins except Father Clement, Sister Sterne, Squelch and Erishkigal

  Father Clement – senior deity

  Sister Sterne – junior deity

  Ripple – female dolphin, problem spirit

  Pearl – mother of Ripple – natural historian

  Rigel – father of Ripple – leader of the senior astronomers

  Echo – sister of Ripple (2 years older)

  Rev – brother of Ripple (3 years older)

  Aroha – sister of Ripple (6 years older) – mind adept

  Breeze – Pearl’s birth support dolphin

  Nimbus – health adept

  Matangi – Aroha’s partner – weather adept

  Cosmo – fighter/astronomer from the Southern School

  Kismet – Cosmo’s father – Southern School weather adept

  Mimosa – Cosmo’s mother – Southern School planetary forces adept

  Alcyone – female mind adept in the Southern School

  Maram – Southern School fighter – friend, guard, guide to young Cosmo

  Zenith – teacher of home-based astronomy in the Southern School

  Squelch – five-day octopus and family pet

  Delph –teacher of practical and home-based astronomy

  Axis – mathematics teacher

  Tercet – poetry teacher

  Flip – youngest member of the junior astronomy team

  Quin – data co-ordinator of the junior astronomy team

  Rush – leading athlete of the junior astronomy team

  Givan – navigator and leader of the junior astronomy team

  Hadar and Pollux – minders for the junior astronomy team

  Rikoriko – daughter of Aroha and Matangi, niece of Ripple

  Erishkigal Shadow Queen – the Blue-Tipped Shade and Nightmare of the Deep. Her eight tentacles are named Vipa, Venga, Malevine, Lucifina, Sadistine, Fera, Lashette and Clawdine

  Prologue

  Remember, you humans, this is not your story, though it’s high time you heard it. Mother Sterne herself suggested I tell it to you.

  ‘The humans need to know, Father Clement,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you tell them?’

  ‘But they are humans! How does one communicate with them?’

  ‘I’m sure your sublime skills will cope with the challenge of human verbal languages, Father. You know there is no deity, including myself, in the entire Divine Hierarchy who appreciates and understands the story better than you.’

  It is true that I appreciate Ripple’s story so much more than Sterne, yet she was the one who made it all happen – I was only ever there to act as her mentor. If I’m honest, she did it in spite of me; not that she gained much from it herself, poor thing.

  Mother Sterne forbids me from being rude to humans. She has high hopes for you and is almost as obsessed with you now, as she was with the dolphins in the old days. She knew what she was talking about back then as it turned out, and her powers have only improved since.

  However, before I start on all this “politeness to humans,” please excuse me for explaining slightly snappishly, that Azure is the true name for your planet. ‘Earth’ is just dirt.

  ~~~

  Was it really over twenty million years ago? Is it even possible for you to imagine your planet as it was then? You humans hadn’t come down from the trees. I mean to say, your ancestors were still living a simple arboreal lifestyle . . .

  Chapter 1: Deities and Dolphins

  It began exactly twenty million, three thousand, two hundred and fourteen years ago as we were traversing the outer universe together.

  ‘Sister Sterne, this spirit, has failed in too many lives to achieve the purpose you speak of,’ I said. ‘Surely you do not intend to let it try again?’ Sterne was still only a sister back then.

  ‘But I believe in this spirit, Father Clement. I most respectfully request to be allowed to give it one more chance’.

  The spirit in question hovered beside Sister Sterne, secured by a curve of her aural wing. It was only faintly visible, an ellipse of soft light, shimmering against the darkness of space.

  ‘Look at it,’ I said, ‘It’s clearly tired and has grown disillusioned with its task. Don’t you think it needs an aeon or two in the great Hereafter to recuperate, before you send it back to the struggle?’

  Her evergreen eyes flashed.

  ‘I’m sure that is what the spirit itself might prefer, Father, but it has an important contribution to make to a planet and perhaps to the entire universe. I am not ready to let it give up.’

  We slowed briefly to admire the interplay of light and colour within a nearby globular star cluster.

  ‘But why is it that even you, as its deity, are unable to guess what it is this spirit has failed so repeatedly to discover?’ I asked.

  ‘I believe it is destined to ignite something so new in the universe, not even we divine beings have yet any concept of what it is to be.’

  ‘I’ll admit it is often the mortal creatures of the universe who initiate the most immortal trends.’

  Sister Sterne raised the spirit before her. We could both see how its glimmering faded when even the faintest of competing light sources, such as a small distant nebula, passed behind it. It was certainly tired.

  ‘Can’t you see that tiny spark?’ she said. ‘It’s easy to miss but I have a feeling that it conta
ins a strength that transcends even such deep spiritual tiredness.’

  I groaned inwardly – not this ‘light of the spirit’ nonsense again.

  ‘You’re too hard a taskmaster, my girl. You must realise that some souls cry out for a little fun!’

  We floated on at light speed, allowing a kaleidoscope of glittering star systems to spin by us. I paused and admired the intense colours pulsing through the incandescent veils of gas-clouds in the Tayili galaxy.

  ‘Supposing we were to agree to your request, Sister Sterne. Have you any idea what kind of life-form might allow this spirit to succeed with its one last chance?’

  She coughed. ‘I have given it considerable thought. Perhaps you’ve been correct all along about . . . er . . . certain things, so I have concluded that this spirit may indeed require a little laughter, to help it reach its full potential. I also consider that sound and hearing are crucial to its purpose. Finally I believe it needs to be consigned to a life-form which is as intelligent as possible without being so far advanced that it has “Past-Life Memory”.’

  She fidgeted with her spectral aura and I noticed a beautiful elliptical galaxy wheeling by beyond her left aural wing.

  ‘Perhaps, Father, I’ve made an error by always sending it into more superior life-forms that do have that faculty. I did this because I felt this spirit had a high purpose. But now, it has suffered so much, its memories are unhelpful. It needs a fresh, uncluttered beginning.’

  ‘Well there are many life-forms in the universe fitting your criteria,’ I said. ‘However, I’m a little concerned at your proposing to send it in at a lower level this time; it seems unusual to step backwards with one who is supposed to make a contribution to the universe.’

  ‘You may understand my thinking better if you saw the life-form I am considering.’

  ‘I will look, Sister Sterne, but I warn you I shall take some convincing that this exhausted spirit needs anything further than several aeons of solid rest.’

  ‘See that beautiful spiral galaxy on the far side of the universe?’

  ‘You mean Koru Maelstrom,’ I said. ‘A very sweet barred spiral. It’s within a family of galaxies I was quite active among myself, once upon a very long time ago.’

  ‘You may recall then,’ she said, ‘floating deep within that galaxy, among millions of other stars, a small star known as Sol? Orbiting Sol is a planet which could be very suitable, although it can be a savage place.’

  ‘Where is your compassion Sister Sterne? Ought you not seek out a gentle home for this spirit? Savagery has never encouraged it to achieve in the past.’

  ‘Please humour me, Father, while I explain. There is much beauty on this planet and beings of great intellect have begun evolving there over the last few million years. Let’s cast ourselves in its direction now; sweep with me across its surface. What do you see?’

  ‘I see brilliance, purity, and blueness, – a wonderful azure colour - but of course, this is Azure. I haven’t visited it for at least an aeon. I had forgotten what a jewel it is. Good gracious! Look at the life that has evolved since I was last here. You could be onto something with this my girl. I wonder you didn’t think of it sooner.’

  ‘Yes, I thought that liquid surface could prove perfect. Note the friendly, intelligent creatures cavorting there. Surely this spirit may thrive here at last, if it can inhabit a body like those. I notice their intellects are highly adapted to process sound. They are perfect in that respect. Even their colours are glorious.’

  ‘But look at them enjoying themselves, Sister. That’s the big thing; they’re having fun! My goodness, it makes me feel like jumping in the water myself and joining the frolic.’

  I stared eagerly down at the streamlined, leaping bodies of the dolphins, every colour of the rainbow, spinning and skipping from wave-top to wave-top. I knew Sister Sterne would be rolling her evergreen eyes at me behind my back, impudent minx that she was in those days.

  ‘Fun is all very well, Father,’ she said, ‘but I like the souls under my care to fulfil themselves. At the end of their lives they’re not likely to be appreciating all the good times they’ve had, they’re going to be thinking of their achievements.’

  ‘When you’ve observed as many souls as I have, Sister, you’ll soon see that these things can be all tied up together.’

  Sterne waved towards a pod of whales. ‘You see that much larger species? They have even greater intellect and advancement, but they do have Past Life Memory. The dolphins have none, so I deem them more suitable. But look deeper now, Father, down into the water. It’s worrisome is it not?’

  ‘Hmm yes, I now see the savagery you speak of. However, these creatures you’ve chosen seem well adapted to survive the dangers of their world. There is always risk.’

  While Sister Sterne floated above Azure, anxiously pondering, I circumnavigated the planet at a leisurely pace observing the various life-forms before returning to her side.

  ‘How are beings on Azure communicating these days?’ I asked. ‘There was little happening last time I was here, but it is clear even from a quick glance, things have progressed well since then.’

  ‘No land-based creatures have progressed beyond grunts or squawks,’ she said. ‘But the Azuran “ocean mind” long ago adopted the telepathic communication methods in use throughout the developed universe; they call it thought-streaming.’

  ‘I’m pleased to hear it. Communication could prove useful to this troubled spirit. So often it turns out to be the key.’

  ‘I’ve tried hard to think of the best for this spirit’s next phase, but I can’t make a better suggestion than this I have shown you.’

  ‘I think you have chosen well Sister. In fact, to my surprise, you have convinced me.’

  ‘Then we are agreed? There is to be another chance?’

  ‘One last chance. But if this spirit meets with failure again, I must insist we let it rest until all the worlds of the universe have mellowed an aeon or two.’

  Shortly afterwards, I departed from her to return to other business. Sister Sterne remained close to Azure, staring down into its sapphire seas, awaiting the perfect moment, while the problem spirit hovered beside her, shimmering softly.

  But my mood had been so lifted by my glimpse of the dolphins of Azure, I placed the planet and Sister Sterne’s problem spirit under permanent observation watch, along with all the others I was keeping within my fields of special interest, so I’d always be aware of events surrounding them. I returned often in person and spent much time with Sterne, supporting her in her work with the tired spirit, in its last lifetime of chance and so between us we watched its story unfold.

  ~~~

  Read on, or if desired . . .

  Return to Table of Contents

  Chapter 2: Unborn

  A baby was conceived shortly afterwards among the dolphins of the Northern Islands School on the planet Azure. A few days later the embryo dug itself firmly into the wall of the uterus of its mother, a rainbow dolphin called Pearl.

  Sterne and I were pleased to observe the cells of the embryo dividing and developing at a healthy pace. The problem spirit had made a powerful beginning to its sentence on Azure.

  ~~~

  As was usual with dolphins, Pearl suspected the pregnancy from the moment of conception but she noticed nothing different about this one. No strange tinglings. No premonitions; only the usual sense of fulfilment of a new life beginning; as though every blue seemed bluer and every wave danced for her alone.

  Late one afternoon, a few weeks into her pregnancy, Pearl swam with a group of old friends across a glittering ocean. They’d hunted well, and now cruised in anticipation of sunset while quietly discussing a mathematical conundrum of interest to the group. They swam parallel to a line of small islands just visible to the west. The western horizon was rising up towards the sun and would soon hide it altogether leaving the ocean in darkness. The eastern sides of the islands were already in shadow although the sun still blazed above them.
The sea was almost too bright but looking east, all was smoothly luminous.

  The dolphins perceived another group of their own kind ahead, swimming unusually slowly. There was no alarm shown by any of the dolphins in either group. Not all those in the slower group were even aware Pearl’s group was approaching. She guessed they were a team of practical astronomers at work. The vocation had always interested Pearl, and she might have chosen it for herself, had its demands not conflicted with her standards of motherhood.

  The astronomers in the group were lost in their work, and would have been unsafe without the team of minders who guarded them. Pearl noticed how rarely the astronomers breathed. She wondered where exactly they were in mind at that moment. Were they still within the Koru Maelstrom home galaxy? Or visiting one of its millions of near or distant cousins? Were they still spinning along their thread-like paths between the galaxies listening for signals that called them in? Or were they already conversing with the inhabitants of an alien world?

  She noticed one minder fussing more and more anxiously over one of his charges, before finally gently nudging him to the surface to remind him to breathe. The sound of the exhale was like an explosion in the minds of the watching dolphins, communicating the intensity of the work in progress. He who had just breathed, rolled slowly down and meandered into the increasingly inky depths. The minder, calmer now, cruised in his slipstream. Pearl recognized the golden-bodied dolphin who had breathed. He was Rigel, leader of the astronomers, and father of the baby she carried.

  ~~~

  Rigel is not what Pearl called him of course, but that is the name you humans have for the mighty star whose name he bore, so it's the closest translation we have.

  ~~~

  As Pearl and her group swam on, they continued the discussion that had so absorbed them before seeing the astronomers. Pearl listened to the glittering thoughtstreams of the friends around her.

  Here we all are, she thought, enjoying sharing our knowledge of mathematics, but it wouldn’t be ours to share, if not for our astronomers, who brought the seeds of mathematics from alien cultures to enrich us.