Page 5 - P_691 The Abyss Surrounds Us

Now comes the real test of whether he’s ready to start
bonding training. I nod to Swift, and she plucks the radio off
her belt. “Swift to navigation, get us moving at a slow clip,” she
orders.
The Minnow’s engines are right below us. They roar to life,
kicking up a steaming froth in the water as the boat crawls for-
ward. Bao lifts his head, shuddering as the heat hits him, then
starts to paddle after us. It could be simple curiosity driving
him, though. We need to set a pace and see if he keeps it.

Most of Reckoner training is a waiting game, and it’s one that
makes Swift steam at the ears. She sits on the counter where
I’ve grown used to sleeping, knees drawn up to her chin, toss-
ing the radio back and forth from hand to hand. I would have
thought the monotony of ship life had prepared her for a cou-
ple of boring days, but apparently there are better things to do
today aboard the Minnow than watch a beast pup swim.
Bao keeps the pace that the ship sets, and for the first
time this morning, I allow myself to relax. If he continues
to follow these instinctive patterns, his imprinting behav-
ior will engage, bonding him to the Minnow, and the part
that’s up to him will be over.
Which means the part that’s up to me is days away.
Bao’s cunning. He’ll learn quickly. He’s a Reckoner, bred to
be trained. And I’m going to train him to kill. Not to defend
a ship, no—this beast is going to be taught to hunt down and



P_691 The Abyss Surrounds Us 12/1/15.indb 77 12/14/15 12:57 PM