A bark from the beach captures my attention, and I realize we’re nearing the shore. An angry elephant seal slaps the sand and yells at the whales, who swarm us from every side.
“They’re going after the weanlings,” Hank says. “If we can just get?—”
Before he finishes, an Orca dives under our raft, charging the shore. It sends Hank and I careening off the side, and I land in the cold water with a smack.
Panicked, I kick my legs and reach for Hank. A massive dark shape swims against me, practically swallowing me up with its force. I manage to scramble free and swim, thrashing wildly.
“Hank! Hank!” I yell, terrified that he’s hurt, that I’ve lost him.
A screaming elephant seal captures my attention, and when I turn, there’s blood in the water. The shock of it freezes me in place. “Hank!” I yell out again, tears streaming down my face. I see a killer whale burst onto shore, but the seal escapes.
Two arms grab me, pulling me into a tight embrace, and Hank takes me with him as we swim from the mayhem.
“You’re safe,” he says, his voice rough in my ear. “Thank god.”
I swim with him, pumping my legs and arms. When we get to shore down the beach, we grab hands and run, sprinting as fast as we can.
Hank and I collapse at the bend. I pull him into my arms and hold him, desperate to feel his body against mine.
“What the fuck,” I gasp.
Hank squeezes me back, keeping me in his embrace. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Are you?”
“I’m fine,” Hank says.
We both look up. Down the beach, the killer whales are in retreat. An elephant seal nurses an injury, but seems otherwise fine. And beyond it all, the raft floats out to the ocean.
Hank’s hand lands between my shoulders. “Sorry about your raft.”
“I stand by what I said. That raft is still a testament to us.”
“Even more than before. It survived an attack by killer whales. That’s one well-constructed vessel.”
I lean against him, finding comfort and warming myself from the frigid sea. “Thanks, Hank.”
Lucky I’ve got the best guy in the world here with me, because I don’t know how many more days I’ll survive.
