The Last Wave

Fly Like a Penguin

Volume 3

The Last Wave

Marty Love

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2016 Marty Love

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Also available from this author at Smashwords.com:

Fly Like a Penguin, Volume 1, The Long Way Home

Fly Like a Penguin, Volume 2, The Smell of Evil

Cover photo by Blessing-light

Bad artwork by Marty Hey-I’m-a-writer-not-an-artist Love

Published by Love’sNotes

Dedication

This book is dedicated to those of you who have read the first two books of this series and have come back for more.

Preface

The Last Wave is a continuation of what has come before in Volumes 1 and 2. The Smell of Evil (Volume 2) had a satisfying ending, but it still left some questions unanswered, mainly concerning Hopper’s young daughter, Malvina, who had been given the Curse of Curses by the evil Great White Seal. Volume 3 answers all questions remaining and most likely brings an end to the Fly Like a Penguin series.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1--The Wanderers

Chapter 2--The Quest of He

Chapter 3--Hopper’s Prophecy

Chapter 4--Return to Antarctica

Chapter 5--The Endangered

Chapter 6--The Prophecy’s Fulfillment Begins

Chapter 7--In Search of Pennings

Chapter 8--High in the Sky

Chapter 9--The Plans of the Endangereds

Chapter 10--The Plans of the Rockhoppers

Chapter 11--Hoping for Pennings

Chapter 12--The Plans of the Rodents

Chapter 13--Malvina and Konrad

Chapter 14--The Travels of Jack and Hoppalong

Chapter 15--The Quest for Pennings Continues

Chapter 16--Heading North

Chapter 17--The Gathering of the Endangereds

Chapter 18--Downriver

Chapter19--Malvina in Peru

Chapter 20--The Great Migration

Chapter 21--Harlequins

Chapter 22--The Final Showdown

Chapter 23--The Last Wave

More Than You Might Want to Know

Connect with Marty

Is this the end

Is there hope beyond the last wave

May my eyes behold the one my heart craves

Will I see you again?

Chapter 1

The Wanderers

Heartily, the singer sang. It was a low, loud, and long song, ringing out in the northern sea:

Well, I’ve been to the depths at the bottom of the sea

And I’ve seen lots of sights you might like to see…

Hey, does that rhyme?

Kilometers and miles have passed without number

Inches and centimeters in winter and sumber...

Hmm...

You call that a song? shouted some puffins who were resting on an iceberg, but the singer sang and swam on, heedless to the opinions of any nearby hearers.

A whale I am, and there’s nothing I’d rather be

Even if I could fly around like a bee...

Hey, does that rhyme?

No! He can’t do that! That’s not a rhyme, it’s a...a...synonym!

No, it’s not a synonym, it’s a...a...a...

For there’s nothing like traveling the world in the ocean

I’ll go where I’m led as I get the notion.

Oooooh, I’m a whale, a whale, a whale away, a whale

Sing a whale, a whale, a whale away, a whale!

Wail away, oh whale, oh wail away, oh whale!

Wail away, oh whale, oh wail away, oh whale!

If a storm was a-raging while the north wind blew

It mattered very little to a whale that is blue…

Hey, does that rhyme?

No! It’s a...a...an antonym!

No! It’s not an antonym! It’s a...a...

Away in the deep where it’s calm and all wet

Wouldn’t you like to see all the creatures I’ve met?

Many may wonder how much I might weigh

But I just smile as I pass by on my way…

Hey, does that rhyme?

No! It’s an onomatopoeia!

No, it’s a...a...a...a homonym!

"Yes! It surely isn’t a rhyme, is it?

And, this can’t be called a song, can it?

I have places to go and things I must do

Such is the life of one called Bhill Blue…

That’s me!

Oooooh, I’m a whale, a whale, a whale away, a whale

Sing a whale, a whale, a whale away, a whale!

Wail away, oh whale, oh wail away, oh whale!

Wail away, oh whale, oh wail away, oh whale!

Away! Away! Take the whale away! Far, far away! heckled the puffins.

Continuing his long, long song, the whale swam somewhat towards the north in Baffin Bay, which is between Greenland and Baffin Island, in the far northeast of Canada. This was indeed the famous Whilliam Blue Whale, or Bhill Blue, for short.

The last time we heard of Bhill, he was heading toward the Indian Ocean after helping a famous group of Rockhopper penguins far to the south. His travels have taken him many places, and now we find him in the Arctic. Yes, it is cold there, but Bhill doesn’t mind, because he has layers of blubber to keep him warm.

As he neared the northern part of the bay, he stopped singing, lifted his great tail high in the air and dove under the water, for here the surface of the sea was covered with ice. He knew he was close to his destination and his reason for being there.

After heading briefly toward the north, he swam to the west in a narrow strait between Baffin Island and a smaller island called Bylot. Ah, here’s the place, he said with a smile. This ought to be kind of fun, but it might hurt my head.

He descended to the bottom of the strait, then raised his head and swam for the surface at ramming speed. The concerned reader may be wondering what is wrong with our good friend Bhill that he is heading to the surface at ramming speed when the surface is now ice. He or she may be thinking that might hurt the big head of Bhill. The answer is yes. It is ice at the surface, and it probably will hurt the big head of Bhill. Why he is doing that will be left for a little later.

* * *

Four huge white bears stood in a circle in the middle of a seemingly endless white field. The only thing disturbing the whiteness was a black and white bird in the center of the bears’ circle. He was actually a fairly large bird, but the bears towered over him. Standing over four feet tall, he had a noble bearing, a pointy beak, pretty yellow markings along his throat, and flipper-like wings. And if you were familiar with penguins, you could see that he was quite old. For that was what he was, an old Emperor penguin.

Now I must interrupt, because I know some well-intentioned readers are thinking, and possibly even saying, What is that numbskull talking about? Penguins don’t live in the Arctic! Penguins and Polar Bears don’t live in the same place! Before you snap the book shut, refusing to read another numbskully word, let me agree with you on most points. However, notice you said live. It is true penguins don’t live in the Arctic, but just because I’m telling about a penguin in the Arctic, it doesn’t mean he lives there. This penguin is a Traveler. In fact, he is none other than the famous Emp the Wanderer.

Of the four bears, one of them was not only huge, he was immense, gargantuan. Also, he was quite big, but not, I might add, as big as Graham, the famous and friendly Gray Whale. This bear’s name was Pole. The others were Ursa, his mate, and their children Bruni and Ursula. Pole glared at Emp, What d’ya mean by coming here to my territory? You see this place? Nothing but white as far as you can see. I like it like that. Then you come along, a creature as has no place being here, and you put a speck on my land. Do you know what I do with specks on my land?

I could make a guess, said Emp.

Hey! Specks on my land don’t talk! Have you noticed how big I am? How do you think I got so big?

Well, maybe a bunch of penguins got together and had a tug-of-war with you and stretched you out.

What is this? growled Pole. Now this speck is talking about penguins! We don’t stand for them here either. They don’t belong here. But if they come here, they’ll end up like you!

Well, I guess I’ll be going now, said Emp. Any penguins who come here can jump back in the ocean like I’m going to do. I’m glad I stopped by on my travels. Nice place you’ve got here. No need to show me out. I’ll find my way. Nice family you’ve got here, too. Fine looking bears. Well, see you some other time, perhaps! said Emp, as he sauntered between Ursula and Bruni.

Pole thundered, Wait just a minute there! You can’t just go jump back in the ocean! Not unless I say so. This is my white field, and whoever else is here does what I say. If they don’t, well, they end up wishing they had. So come back over here. It’s time to be eaten. I’m hungry. These other bears may be hungry too, but I’m bigger and hungrier.

Nice of you to invite me to lunch, but I gotta run now. Ta-ta, as they say.

Ursula, grab that penguin and bring him here!

Emp dodged around Ursula and was waddling as fast as he could toward freedom, but the bears easily surrounded him again.

Pole glowered down at Emp, Do you realize who you’re dealing with here? I am Pole, the Pole, and all you see here belongs to me. Nobody escapes from me. I’m the biggest of all the Polar Bears, in fact of all bears, and that makes me the biggest in all this white world. Therefore, it’s mine, and those who are here do as I say. I don’t stand for anyone disturbing my order. That’s what you’re doing, so you need to be eaten.

Well, Polinski, said Emp. I’m from far away, and I like to travel around and see new things. That’s why I’m here. I had no desire to intrude on your fine orderly system. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll just be on my way.

But I do mind! The only thing that can correct the situation is for me to eat you. And no one can stop me.

Heh-heh, I have a friend who could break this field of yours in two. And you could do nothing to stop him.

That’s what they all say before I eat them. They have some friend that only they can see, and who never happens to be around at the time they need him. Even if there were such a friend, I’d eat him too. So, where is he, anyway?

He wanders around as much as I do. He’s always helping somebody. He could be anywhere, in any ocean.

Then he’s probably not here, since this is a big white field, and not an ocean. Stop talking about invisible friends, and get this being eaten business out of the way. Bears! Bring that penguin over here.

As the other three bears closed in on him, Emp asked them, What’s in this for you? Aren’t you just as hungry as Polarski over there?

Yeah, I am mighty hungry, said Bruni with a furtive glance at Pole. I wouldn’t mind having at least a bite...

Get that penguin over here!

As the bears reached for Emp, he darted around to the outside of their circle and waddled away a short distance. He heard a cracking noise and rolled downhill as the ground rose up behind him. He lost sight of the bears, because a hill rose between them. A spray of water splashed over the top of the hill, which began going back down. The ground, which was actually ice, was splitting all over. A pool of water now separated him from the bears, and in the water was a familiar looking Blue Whale.

Ow, that hurt! said Bhill. Better jump in, Emp. Those bears can swim, you know. But not as fast as you.

Hey! yelled Pole, You can’t do that to my field. I have a mind to come over there and eat you instead of the penguin.

I wouldn’t advise it, said Bhill. Sorry about your field, Pole. Next time maybe you should locate it over the ground instead of the ocean, so wayward whales don’t bump their heads and break it. I better be going now. Perhaps we’ll meet again.

* * *

As Bhill swam south along the west coast of Greenland, Emp sat on his head, not because he was tired, but it was better to talk with Bhill that way. After expressing his thanks to Bhill many, many times, he grew thoughtful, wondering what he should do next.

Bhill, here you are, and here am I. Once again you make a special trip to help someone out of a jam. And how many times have you helped me out? Here you are, a Traveler, like me, but wherever you go, you end up helping somebody. What have I accomplished? What good have I done anyone else? What’s the use of all my wandering around the world, besides satisfying my own curiosity? And you know what? I’m never satisfied. There’s always something more I want to see. And look at you. You’ve seen as much as I have, but you haven’t seen everything either. Still, you always seem satisfied.

Bhill had wisely let Emp have his say, and now he answered, It’s just what I’ve been called to do.

Emp said, It seems I should have known what I was called to do a long time ago, and it should have been something that helps others, and not just me. Now, the time is getting nearer when I’ll swim my last wave. I’m afraid it’s too late.

It’s never too late till the last wave’s been crossed, said Bhill.

Emp continued, I need to go back to the beginning. When I was young, I saw the way the Emperor Penguins waddled around, proudly looking down on the smaller penguins and other creatures, and thinking the way they’ve always done things is the only correct way. If anyone slips up or thinks something different, they let them know they’re really out of line. If the wayward penguin continued doing things ‘wrong,’ he would be shunned, or perhaps even banned from the colony. Well, I saw all this and said I didn’t want any part of it; so I decided to travel. Emp the Wanderer they call me. But now I wonder if I’m really any better than they are. I was right in seeing their way was wrong, but really I was pretty proud of myself for being one of the few who did. Could my pride have caused me to miss hearing my calling? So I’ve traveled on my own. Sure, I’ve been pleasant to folks I’ve met, but have I done anything of lasting value for any of them? I’ve even become somewhat famous. Folks seem to have a good opinion of me, and that always made me feel pretty good, but in the end, what good is it?

Bhill asked, So, what are you going to do, my good friend?

Well, I’ve wandered alone for so long, just doing as I pleased, that I don’t know how to do anything else anymore, but the lesson must be learned. So the first thing I need to do is say, ‘He…e…e…e…lp!’ Then I’m returning home, and as I go I will ask, if it’s not too late, to be shown my calling. Before I eat my last fish, swallow my last mouthful of krill, and swim that last wave, I want to know I’ve done something for someone else, and not just for me.

So the two great friends, a Blue Whale and an Emperor Penguin, commended each other to the one who made them and parted ways, Emp to the south in the Atlantic Ocean and Bhill along the coast of Greenland, heading for places unknown.

Bhill took up a new song as he glided along the surface of the sea:

Oh, I see a Puffin

And he looks like a...

His song was interrupted by a puffin resting on a floating block of ice. Oh no, I hope you’re not going to say I look like a muffin. I hate that when they say that. I don’t look like a muffin, and I don’t taste like a muffin. I’m not even named Muffin or Muff or Muffy.

I suppose your name is Puff or Puffy, said Bhill. Or maybe Puffo.

No, those are my cousins. My name is Ruffin, usually called Ruff.

Did you know, added Bhill, that Puffins used to be called Penguins. Of course that was before people discovered real Penguins. I’m not sure why they gave them the name you used to have, but there you have it. You guys look more like Puffins than Penguins anyway.

Ruff replied, Is there any reason you can think of why I should care about that, or about Penguins. I don’t even know what a Penguin is.

Oh, I met a Puffian

Who was such a ruffian...

Oy, said Ruff. Please take him away! Far, far away!

~~~~~~~

Chapter 2

The Quest of He

Easily we switch to another part of the world (not necessarily at the same time as the preceding chapter), where we find a famous family of Yellow-eyed Penguins preparing themselves for changes about to take place in their lives. This was indeed the family of Ho, Ha, and He, who lived in New Zealand, which is about as far from Greenland as you can be, and still be on the Earth.

Since we left them last, they have continued being normal penguins, living in obscurity and doing the usual penguiny sorts of things like swimming, eating, standing on the rocks with their wings out, and gabbing with their neighbors. The main difference now is that He is no longer a little fellow. He has his adult feathers and is full grown. The time has come for him to be on his own.

The usual plan for a young penguin would be to find a mate from among the female Yellow-eyes in the area, make a good nest, and start raising little penguins, just as Ho and Ha had done. But He hadn’t yet been particularly attracted to any of the available Yellow-eyes.

The Legend of Oi occupied his thoughts. Ever since the Rockhoppers had visited them quite a while before, when Ho had told them that story, he