deck to check out the science tech lab Between you and me I think he needs help with Lumagine Still working on that mind-control fabric huh Hasn’t he tried like twenty times Twenty-six actually That’s nothing for Emmett It took him fifty seven attempts to invent his emoto-glasses That’s what my mom would call super stick-to-itiveness Cruz noticed how Sailor kept a hand against the wall as if worried that any minute a giant wave would capsize the boat He brought a bunch of extra seasick bands I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you wanted to borrow one I’m fine she said though she didn’t let go of the wall It takes a few days to get your sea legs he assured her Living in Hawaii for the past seven almost eight years Cruz had spent most of his life in or on the water He knew the swaying motion of a 364-foot ship like Orion could take some getting used to but he was sure everyone everyone on his team would adjust They’d already had some practice back at the Academy’s Computer Animated Virtual Experience simulator the CAVE Taryn says there are snacks in the galley said Sailor We have a few minutes before our meeting You want to grab something on the way Cruz was a little hungry Sure One sec He snapped his suitcase shut and went to put it in the closet What’s this Sailor had picked up a postcard off Cruz’s desk It’s from my aunt She frowned How can you tell She didn’t sign it It says Begin with the birth year of Peary’s first man and then there’s a bunch of numbers It’s a game we play Aunt Marisol sends me coded messages on postcards I decode them using books art or music or whatever the clues lead to Sweet as So what does it say 10
POSTCARD Begin with the birth year of Peary’s first man 1-12-9-29-43-19-12 2-14-43-2-17-13 Cruz Coronado Explorer Academy Orion Not sure yet You can help me decode it if you want She rolled her eyes If I knew where to begin Cruz crossed the room to lock the veranda door Rule one Always start with the picture Sailor flipped the card The photo was of a round sea creature its mottled brown-and-white head and creamy-colored tentacles cradled in a circular shell with wavy brown and white stripes I know this animal animal she cried It’s a mollusk but I can’t think of the name Not a hermit crab Nautilus She snapped her fingers That’s it Cruz grinned And what book or song do you know that has a naut Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Nautilus is the name of Captain Nemo’s submarine He laughed I told Aunt Marisol she needs to make these harder 11
Cruz grabbed his tablet computer and tucked it under his arm He nodded nodded toward the postcard Bring it with As they left the cabin the door locked automatically behind them Turning right out of his stateroom Cruz followed Sailor down the narrow passage A tall sturdy security guard in a black jumpsuit stood near the elevator Her ID tag read K Dover They said hi and she said hi but her eyes lingered a bit longer on Cruz than on Sailor Officer Dover tipped her reddish blond head at him as if to say So you’re the one I’m here for Cruz had thought having extra security on board would make him feel safer but all it was doing so far was making him feel singled out Beyond the elevator the hall opened into a sunny atrium On the other side of the ship were the faculty staterooms Aunt Marisol’s cabin was the second door on the left side Not left he corrected himself port He needed to start thinking in boating terms The bow was the front of the ship and the stern the back You went fore or forward to the bow and aft or backward to the stern If you stood facing the bow the right side of the ship was known as starboard and the left was port A pair of grand staircases curved up each side of the round atrium their ornate brass rails leading to the lounge on the third deck The open lounge had plenty of seating plump red and blue chairs in groups of four for hanging out with friends as well as straight-backed chairs clustered around taller tables for doing homework homework A large TV screen took up the back wall The other three walls were glass offering a sweeping view of wherever Orion was going At the moment the ship was navigating the murky greenish blue waters of the Chesapeake Bay Potted lemon lime and orange trees flanked the doors leading to the outdoor bow deck Lush green limbs drooped under the weight of ripe fruit Certain they were fake Cruz reached for a lemon Better not let Chef Kristos catch you or you’ll be washing dishes for months Cruz whirled around to see a young man in a navy shirt and matching 12
pants I I only wanted to see if they were real he sputtered Did the same thing myself when I first came on board the man said his Australian accent dropping the r so the last word sounded like on bawd If you think this is something have a gander at the hydroponic garden on the observation deck Chef Kristos grows most of the veggies we eat right here on the ship I know said Sailor Do you think Chef Kristos would let me help take care of the plants I miss my garden back home Can’t hurt to ask The man rubbed his chin and the emerald green eyes of a silver chameleon on his ring winked at them Do I detect a bit of the Kiwi there Sailor grinned I’m from Christchurch New Zealand Melbourne born and raised Sweet as I’m Sailor York and this is Cruz Coronado We’re explorers The man ruffled his messy crop of cinnamon hair Tripp Scarlatos Marine biologist aquatics director and Ridley pilot The mini sub Cruz’s ears perked up You drive the mini sub Yip Best job on the boat In fact I’m late for a meeting with Monsieur Legrand and he does not like to be kept waiting though I’m sure you know that Hooroo As Sailor and Cruz passed the security station next to the purser’s desk a beefy guard with a thick dark mustache and a gold hoop earring caught Cruz’s eye The gold ID tag on his massive chest read J Wardicorn He glanced at them but did not smile or nod Turning down the corridor that led to the galley and classrooms Cruz could feel the guard’s eyes boring into his back More scrutiny Sailor was studying his postcard as they walked Who is Peary’s first man I know that one Cruz had just finished reading a book about explorers a book Aunt Marisol had loaned him Coincidence Hardly It’s Matthew Henson He was the first African-American explorer to go to the Arctic He navigated a bunch of Robert Peary’s expeditions and 13
