Then the whale dove forward, a rush of water and bubbles following. John felt the pressure like a fast train speeding by underwater. The rope pulled tight. Catherine had already started pulling him back. He kicked hard, not wanting to get caught in the animal’s path.
Halfway back, he looked behind him. The orca had turned and was circling at a distance. For a moment, it swam beside him, one dark eye meeting his. It didn’t feel like thanks—just awareness. A kind of understanding.