Continuing on their way to the Pacific through the Arctic Ocean, Cormac and Melusine continued to see the shadow of the Abenaki. Could it have been possible that by his stating that he was related to Ronemun, that the Abenaki's crew hoped that Cormac may lead them to the fabled Sea King? If Ronemun had truly sank the Essex and wrecked the Beaver, then Captain Abimelech and his men were seeking death.
How did the crew of the Abenaki even know where they were going? Did they have sonar onboard that tub? If so, then it was possible that they knew of Melusine. Upon bringing this up to his lovely companion, Cormac received the answer: "Then I better not do any pirouetting near the surface."
Cormac had heard the word "pirouette" before, knew it was something related to ballet, but had little to know idea it actually was, thus did he asked Melusine: "What is pirouetting?"
"It is a dance turn done on one foot." Melusine answered.
Pausing, Cormac looked down at Melusine's lower half. He was looking at a scaly, glistering tail, golden yet chiefly scarlet with a translucent fin. With raised eyebrow, Cormac commented: "'On one foot' you say."
Ceasing her swimming, Melusine turned to looked at her companion. In her reddish-brown eyes were an expression of mild annoyance, yet at the same time patient and understanding. "'Pirouette' means 'whirl' or 'spin.'"
Interest, Cormac inquired: "You took part in ballet, Melusine?"
Smiling, Melusine replied: "Since I was eight years old." Her smile fading, the Helena of the Deep then added: "Guess, I'm done with that now."
Gently taking her by the hand, Cormac uttered: "I'm sure dancing may exist down here as well. Your career may continue."
A small blush upon her countenance, Melusine asked: "What about you, Cormac? Did you ever do anything in regards to the performing arts back on the Surface?"
Shaking his head, the Young Egan answered: "There wasn't much of anything artistic in Brigid. No art gallery, no stage theatre, just an old movie theatre that had seen better days ten years ago and trust me, Melusine. I had lived in Brigid my whole life I can remember when that cinema had seen better days."
"So, you never wanted to be an actor then?" Melusine inquired.
"Not really." Cormac answered. Looking upward to the Surface, the Young Egan saw with those mismatched eyes of his, the Abenaki, its shadow cast upon him and the Surface-Born Merrow-Maiden. Sighing, he said: "I really hope that they won't be following us through the Northwest Passage. Though if they do, I don't see how they are going to reach Ronemun down in the Mariana Trench. It is like you said, Melusine. They are whalers."
"Not submariners." Melusine added. "Maybe they just hope he will appear."
Cormac could not help but hope the same. He and Melusine were alone in the vast expanse of the ocean. He enjoyed Melusine's company a great deal and in his heart, he felt something for her, but the fact was they were both sixteen and he alone was left to defend them. He was only grateful things were not quite so dangerous as he had been expecting, but would things grow even more dangerous in the Pacific?