Distant Echoes Read Online Free PDF Page B

language barrier with sea mammals. She’d be able to hold her head high without shame. That day had been too long in coming.
    Nani bore no injuries from the day before that Kaia could see. She gave the dolphin a final pat then slogged through the waves to the pier that tottered like a drunken man out into the water. Damaged in the 1992 hurricane, it needed replacing, but her grandfather had been reluctant to do it. He’d helped his father build it seventy years ago, and he couldn’t let it go.
    She hoisted herself onto the weathered boards and let her legs dangle in the water. The sound of the surf soothed her as she watched the dolphin frolic. After about fifteen minutes, Nani swished past Kaia’s legs then rolled onto her back. When Kaia reached to touch her, the dolphin darted away as if to coax Kaia into going for a swim with her.
    “Not today, Nani,” she said. She began to sing a song she remembered from her childhood, one her mother had made up. It was about ´ ohana , or family. Singing the words about the closeness of family, she felt her depression lift. Sometimes she felt she didn’t have an ´ ohana with her mother and father gone, and the song reminded her that family was more than parents. She needed to go talk to her grandfather, but not yet.
    T hat girl never could sing,” Oke Kohala said. His smile stretched across his brown face. He rose and moved toward the house.
    Jesse’s lips twitched. Kaia’s voice had carried over the waves, and he had to admit she sounded a little like a tern—all squawk and no tone. But he’d still felt the heart in her song. He watched Kaia come toward him like Ni`ihau, the Hawaiian goddess of the sea. Fanciful stuff, but she really was lovely. Her long hair was bound in a French braid that hung over one shoulder and nearly touched her waist. High cheekbones jutted out from the sweet curves and angles of her face. Shapely black brows made an emphatic statement over her large dark eyes fringed with thick lashes. Her full lips drooped with weariness. Her naturally tanned skin looked kissed by the sun, and her eyes were as soft and melting as a black-tailed deer’s.
    Her eyebrows winged up when she saw him. “Good morning, Commander.” Dressed in white shorts and a turquoise tank, she seemed an extension of the Pacific behind her. “Have they found any more survivors?” she asked.
    He shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
    “I thought I’d run over to the hospital later today and see if there is anything I can do.”
    “You did plenty. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    A blush touched her cheeks, and she looked away. “Anyone would have done the same.”
    “Not everyone has a dolphin to help them.”
    Her eyes brightened. “Nani is remarkable, isn’t she? She’s so intelligent and knew what to do without being told.”
    He took a deep breath. “That’s the other reason I’m here. I need your help. Yours and Nani’s.”
    She frowned. “I don’t know what I could do to help the navy. Or is this personal?”
    “No,
this is for the navy, for your country actually.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “Why does it sound like I won’t like it?”
    At least she sounded amused. He took hope. “As a native of Kaua’i, I’m sure you’re aware of how important this new defense system is?”
    She nodded. “Everyone has been talking about it.”
    “The missile system we’re testing is vital to national security. It’s the best we’ve tested yet—until yesterday.” It revved Jesse to talk about it, and he leaned forward.
    “Sounds exciting. But where do I come in?” She took a step back.
    He realized he was getting into her personal space and retreated. “We’ve had some disturbing security leaks at the base—desks riffled, hard drives destroyed, things like that. The last breach left one sailor dead.” Kaia’s eyes widened. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned that part. “We think it came from the sea. You and Nani could help patrol offshore