To Swim

Alpha, Nancy & Songmark Characters Copyright Mr. Simon Barber

used with permission

To swim, or not to swim, that was no longer the question Alpha Rote knew. Before her was the harbor of her future, while within that future some four hundred yards away was her first destination. It was but a buoy just off Meeting Island. Reaching it she would rest exactly ten minutes, as counted by an egg timer mounted upon said buoy. Five turns of the small hourglass, watched most carefully by one of her tutors on a waiting water taxi. Then she would make a turn to Starboard, that would be her right she reminded herself and swim to a small navigational hazard known as Keelbreaker Rock. There, should she survive the jagged rocks surface she would pick up a small package with her name upon it. Even touching another package would be cause for instant dismissal from Songmark she had been warned. All so simple so far, it was just that she was to deliver that package, unopened, to Miss Devinski not one second more than exactly one hour and thirty minutes from when she started and Miss Devinski was sitting atop the cliff they used to practice climbing upon. It was a challenge that the shrew and her dorm mates were actually looking forward to. She paused her thinking, changing tracks as easily as changing shoes. Had it been such a short time ago that she had feared even touching the waters about Spontoon she asked herself? Her thoughts drifted as she waited with her friends for their start time.

It was the beginning of the year and Alpha had started in a much different dorm. That had been a disaster though for many reasons, most of which should remain unmentioned in pleasant company. One reason though had been her absolute refusal to enter the harbor waters without Nancy at her side. Nancy knew the monsters in Spontoon’s harbor Alpha had believed. Either they were afraid of her, or somehow she could control them. Either way in Nancy’s company Alpha knew that she was safe, but alone? Alone she would become some strange beings meal, or in rare cases unwilling mate. It had been the straw that finally found her tossed out of her first dorm, tossed out to land in a certain Nutra’s rather large lap.

“You will learn to swim” Elizabeth Juniper had stated that first afternoon. There had been no question in that larger womans voice. “We will not lose our place in Songmark for likes of you” she had continued. Then the three of them had frogmarched Alpha down to the harbor with a second year following. Once there Elizabeth had simply picked up the smaller shrew by collar and tail, then tossed her out into the water as far as she could.

Horrified Alpha had come to the surface sputtering. It was only breast deep for her where she had landed after all. Turning towards the shore she made to escape the horrors that must already be slithering towards her just under the surface. Instead Elizabeth had met her half way, picked her up again and tossed her further out. “There is water taxi waiting. Swim to it” the young woman ordered, again advancing upon the terrified shrew.

“Monsters” Alpha managed to gasp, still spitting salt water. She was barely able to hear, what with water flooding both ears. Elizabeth though continued to advance.

“There are no monsters in Spontoon” the Nutria snapped back. “Other than crazy little shrews trying to make her own rules. Swim.”

It was true that Alpha had learned to swim in the protected cove Songmark used for those without the skill. Learned to swim and learned that she enjoyed doing so. As long as Nancy was with her, or the area was carefully protected. Of course she had no idea that under Songmark definitions the word protected simply covered riptides, crashing waves and tourists. Had she known that the rope that crossed the tiny bays entrance was only there to keep boats out...

“I die” she stated, still backing up. Water was now lapping at her shoulders, any moment she would feel a tentacle wrap about her body or some gelatinous material began enveloping her. Death was now certain. It was too far to the shore even if Elizabeth allowed her to pass, and the nutria had no such intention of doing so. With a sob of pure terror wrenched from her breast Alpha Rote turned, located the waiting taxi and started swimming. ‘I will never make it’ she told herself over and over as her arms and legs pumped. ‘It is too far. They wait for me to come to them. Nancy will never know the fullness of my love.’ Almost she cried as she swam. Almost, but Alpha was a brave young woman. She soldered on, at least until she became aware that something large was beside her. With a scream of pure horror the little shrew folded up into a ball and vanished under the water.

“Should have told you I’d swim with you” Elizabeth had explained sometime later. Alpha was laying on a dock now, the afternoon sun baking into her body and slowly drying her fur.

“Estimate swallowed half ocean” she admitted, then rolled on her side and emptied yet more salt water back into the harbor. “Thought meat for monster.”

“Why thank yah” Elizabeth laughed, slapping Alpha’s exposed rump with a free paw. “Ah have been called many things buh never a monster.”

Alpha groaned, even the sting of Elizabeth’s strike hardly made its way through to the shrews numb brain. “Not you. Monsters in water.”

Elizabeth paused, looking back to her companions. It was the second year, a fox who quietly explained to the three about Cranium Island and the madness of even approaching it, even in the air. With this new information the three simply looked at each other. “But she comes from thear” Katrina argued, her Southern drawl evident even though she made an effort to suppress it.

“And is probably one in twenty who were born there to survive” the fox explained, her own Hawaiian accent barely detectible. “On Cranium Island you wake in the morning not knowing if you are in bed, or some things stomach. This is true Mrs. Rote?”

“Is true” Alpha agreed. “No monsters in these waters?”

“Other than rich fat old Euro’s wanting young females? No Mrs. Rote, I swear by Akua that this is so.”

“Then I swim to water taxi. Alone” the Cranium Island Mad Scientist decided.

That had been months ago Alpha reminded herself. It was true she had discovered, there were no Cranium Island monsters around Spontoon. She could swim as much as she wished, and oh how the water loving shrew loved to swim.

“Ready?” Elizabeth asked softly, her voice breaking into the shrews remembrance. “One minute.”

“Bet you my special chocolate bar Nancy give me I win this time” Alpha whispered back. Elizabeth was the only one in their dorm she could not beat in the water. Of course that wasn’t saying much, being a nutra the stronger Eastern Uavapacal native was as at home in the water as out, while her two other dorm mates were only adequate swimmers as yet. They did not hold the passion for swimming that Alpha now had. Still Alpha held the hope that one day she would come in first.

“No bet. I need strength to climb” Elizabeth answered, even though her love of chocolate was becoming legendary.

A moment later a very calm, almost bored sounding voice of one of their instructors announced “Time” and they were off.