The Sound of Whales by Kerr Thomson Page B

liked maps, liked looking at exotic places around the world that were a million miles from Skulavaig. Lesotho sounded exotic.
    â€˜Never heard of it,’ Hayley declared.
    â€˜So why have you come to Scotland?’ Fraser asked.
    The African man gave a grim laugh. ‘I did not expect to come here. All I know of this land is that you have a monster in a lake.’
    â€˜This is perfect,’ Hayley said. ‘My mom is writing a book about people like you. She could do an interview.’
    â€˜You keep out of this,’ Fraser said.
    â€˜Oh, I don’t think so. Either I’m part of this little game or your dad will no longer wonder what happened to his boots.’
    Fraser’s outrage was instant and overwhelming. ‘You are the most  . . .  the most  . . . ’ He fizzed as he searched for the words. ‘The most annoying, conniving, stuck-up  . . .
    â€˜Enough,’ said Jonah softly. He clasped his hands together, as if in thanksgiving. ‘What’s done is done. The girl knows I am here.’ He turned to Hayley, a troubled dip to his eyebrows, his voice grave with a hint of pleading. ‘Will you promise not to tell anyone of my presence in this place? Especially your mother?’
    â€˜Only if you tell us what you’re doing here. We call Mexicans living in Texas illegal aliens. Is that what you are, an illegal alien?’
    â€˜If you mean have I been invited by this country’s government to come and stay, then the answer is obviously no. Otherwise I would not be hiding in a cave.’
    There was another term Fraser remembered. ‘Are you an asylum seeker?’
    â€˜Asylum seeker, illegal alien, these are just words.’ Jonah gave a deep sigh. ‘All I know is that I am very far from home.’
    â€˜So why come to this island?’
    â€˜I did not come to this island. This island came to me.’
    There was no more talk for a moment and above the crash of waves they heard a sound like a chant, a single note that changed pitch from low to high and back again.
    â€˜Down there,’ Jonah said, pointing to the waves, his finger trembling. ‘What is that?’
    â€˜That will be my brother.’
    â€˜Your brother? Will he talk?’
    â€˜He really won’t.’ Fraser gave a weary smile and said, ‘Dunny talks almost as well as he sings.’
    He trudged towards the breaking surf. Away from the cave it wasn’t completely dark and he could see the figure of his brother standing at the ocean’s edge. The moon had risen above the cliffs and cast a ghostly light on to Dunny and the water. The boy stood motionless facing the sea, making a quiet humming sound now.
    The African moved alongside Fraser and stretched out an arm. ‘Do you see there?’
    Fraser followed Jonah’s pointing, out beyond his brother, out beyond the breaking waves. Something moved in the water, something big and dark.
    A fin.
    â€˜Is that a shark?’ Hayley asked.
    â€˜It’s not a shark,’ Fraser said. ‘It’s a whale.’
    And he knew immediately that it was not just any kind of whale. It was the most wondrous kind. The kind you were not supposed to see off the coast of Nin.
    â€˜It’s a killer whale. An orca.’
    The fin rose slightly from the water and he could see a white flank and a round head. The moonlight reflected on its sleek body as it cut through the water. Fraser took a step forward.
    â€˜That’s amazing,’ he whispered.
    â€˜There’s another one,’ Hayley said.
    â€˜And another,’ said the African.
    Fraser looked and saw a pod of orcas swimming offshore. In all his life no one, not even Ben, had ever seen orcas off his little island. His heart pounded so fast he hoped the sound didn’t scare them away.
    He heard a splash and turned to see Dunny wading into the rolling waves.
    â€˜No, Dunny,’ he cried, and without thinking he ran