THE S.O.U.R.C.E.: 2nd Edition

By Suzanna L. Royse

THE S.O.U.R.C.E.

An ESCAPE? You've got to be kidding! IMPOSSIBLE!

Supposedly an escape from Ocean World can never happen, but a group of injured and disabled marine mammals recuperating at the park wants to go home. Against all odds, with an outrageous plan and teamwork, they miraculously escape to freedom.

Homeward bound on a journey filled with danger, the escapees encounter a couple of adventurous children, a magnificent sea creature, and her totally unpredictable twin.

This unlikely group of characters forms a unique family and ends up on a challenging mission with a vital message they must share with the world.

But how? And who would listen anyway? After all they're just kids. What do they know?

AWARDS

STORY MONSTER APPROVED: Honors authors in the field of children's literature whose books inspire, inform, teach or entertain.

Middle Grade Fiction

Environmental/Recycling

ROYAL DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD

Green Book/ Environment

Middle Grade-Fiction

NAUTILUS BOOK GOLD AWARD

Middle Grade-Fiction

PURPLE DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD

Green Books and Environmental

Middle-Grade Fiction

READERS FAVORITE SILVER AWARD

Children's Fable

Children's Audio-book

5 Five Star Reviews

BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD

Pre-Teen Fiction

INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD

Animals/Pets

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638609421

Book preview

1

The Champions

He had ridden thousands of rails, jumped more curbs, and spun more midair three-sixties on his skateboard than any other kid in the state. Even with that, he was always looking for something new and unusual to challenge his ability and talents. Fearless, he would try just about anything to create another one of his mind-blowing tricks.

This undisputed skateboard king, better known as Sky Ryder, had just expanded his kingdom by capturing the West Coast skateboard championship.

Clickity-clack, clickity-clack, clickity-clack, you could hear him ripping along a block away. He was on and off the sidewalks, jumping curbs and trash cans as he barreled down the street to hook up with his best friend Silk. Equally talented, she had easily captured her division at the same championship competition.

The two friends loved creating and perfecting break-dancing style tricks on their boards. Ryder specialized in hair-raising stunts and eye-popping maneuvers, and Silk added gymnastic acrobatics to her freestyle performances. Wearing a shirt, jeans, a backpack, and a boogie board strapped to his back, Ryder came flying around the corner and crossed the street toward Silk’s house.

When he arrived at her driveway, she was waiting for him, outfitted the same way.

Wow, Ryder, you look super cool!

You too, he replied, awesome prizes we won, huh? The trip to Ocean World, wetsuits, backpacks, boogie boards, and these custom-made skateboards with our names on them—unbelievable.

Silk agreed, Yeah, and just for doing what we love to do best.

Got that right, said Ryder as he pulled a sports drink out of his backpack, chugged half, and motioned to Silk, come on, it’s flying time. This is going to be a blast!

The day began with an early start, so the two adventurers had plenty of time to do everything they wanted to do. It was the first time the pair was going to skate on their custom-designed wheels.

Heading to the beach, they planned to ride along the bike path, surf with their boogie boards, and visit a fun-filled entertainment pier. The pier was a great place to hang out. It had all kinds of shops, food stands, and a double Ferris wheel that spun high out over the water.

The two stepped on their skateboards, and off they went. They zigzagged through the neighborhood toward the road that would take them down to the highway along the ocean.

In no time, they reached the stop sign at the top of the canyon above the beach. Ryder spun around on his rear wheels and stepped off. Silk did the same as he took some snacks out of his backpack.

Here you go, he said as he handed one to her and then ripped open the wrapper on his. Silk watched as he devoured his trail mix bar and washed it down with the rest of his energy drink. Finished in less than a minute, he barked out a couple of obnoxious belches and tossed his trash over his shoulder. The wrapper and empty drink container landed in the drainage ditch next to the sidewalk. Silk confronted him as she put her trash in her backpack.

Why did you do that, Ryder?

What are you talking about? he asked, completely clueless.

Tossing your trash, she responded, pointing to the ditch.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuh! Why do you think? To get rid of it! he said, ignoring her concern. He rolled his eyes, jumped on his skateboard, and headed down the sidewalk along the canyon road.

You’re a trashing pig, Ryder! she snapped, shaking her head in disgust as she followed behind. The road to the beach paralleled the drainage ditch. As Silk skated down the sidewalk, she saw Ryder’s trash. It was being washed down the hill along with other debris by runoff water.

When they reached the bottom of the canyon, they followed the sidewalk down into a huge cement drainage pipe leading under the highway. Whooping like a howler monkey, Ryder shot through to the other side. As Silk followed close behind, she noticed his container and wrapper floating in the drainage water next to them.

Upon reaching the other end, the sidewalk connected to the bike path. It was there Ryder stepped off his wheels and flipped his board up into his hands. Stepping off her board, Silk glanced back at the tunnel.

What’s going to happen to all that stuff? she asked, pointing to his trash and the garbage floating toward them.

You mean you can’t tell? he said sarcastically. Really, Silk! It will just get washed out to sea and sink. You know, out of sight, out of mind—no big deal. Who cares anyway? he added as he dropped his board next to her. "Enough with the trash talk. Come on now; it’s fun time. We’re at the beach!"

Silk rolled her eyes and shook her head as they simultaneously stepped on their boards and sailed off, side by side down the bike path.

2

The Beach

As the pair skated south toward the pier, they talked about the incredible trip they had won to Ocean World Marine Mammal Entertainment Park. During their visit, they had a rare behind-the-scenes tour of all the performing marine mammals, known as cetacea.

That experience was beyond exciting. But it was the miracle baby, a gray whale named Nikki, that dominated their conversation. Silk and Ryder were still amazed at how Ocean World had rescued, then rehabilitated her over the past year, and planned within a short time to release her back into the ocean.

While visiting the young whale, Silk and Ryder learned from her keepers how she came to Ocean World. They found out she was born early in the Fall of the previous year, during her mother’s six-thousand-mile trip from the Arctic to Baja Mexico. Nikki’s mother was heading to one of the lagoons along the Baja peninsula. There, in calmer waters, the gray whales give birth to their over one-thousand-pound calves each year.

When she had just a few hundred miles to go, a sudden storm came blasting down from the north. Its winds whipped up massive waves that battered and tossed her around. Weak and exhausted from fighting the powerful currents, Nikki’s mother went into labor.

Sadly, Nikki was born into the grip of the storm that swept her away from her mother. In shock from her early birth, and without her mother to help support her, she struggled to stay afloat. By some miracle she survived, and the incoming tide washed her up onto the shore.

Luckily, people living along the beach found her and contacted Ocean World. The park’s veterinarians and trainers immediately went to her rescue and shipped her in a padded transport van to their facility. Over the following year, they nursed her back to health. Having gained sufficient weight, she was now ready to be set free to join the gray whales migrating south to Mexico.

As Ryder and Silk continued to talk about Nikki and their experience at Ocean World, they cruised along the beachfront path to the breakwater jetty just north of the pier.

When they reached the jetty, they headed to the end, where they took off their equipment and pulled on their wetsuits. Although they were ready to surf, they decided to explore first and started climbing down the boulders to the water’s edge. As they began to look for crabs and other sea life, something caught Ryder’s attention.

"Look, Silk, look! Do you see it? Out beyond the breakers.

What is it?"

Yeah, I see it too! But wait a minute, there’s more than one, and they’re all different, said Silk.

What are they? asked Ryder. Shark! yelled Silk, See the fin?

Yikes! I think it’s attacking that-that-that white, you know, one of those what-cha-ma-call-it’s.

You’re right, but what’s that other—

Suddenly, out of nowhere, squawking and flapping its wings, a pelican with a twisted bill appeared right in front of their faces.

Whoa, what are you doing? demanded Ryder as he threw his arms up to ward off the attacker. Frantically waving his hands didn’t do one bit of good because the determined pelican kept it up. It seemed as if it was trying to get their attention rather than attack them.

Back off, big mouth! Scram! ordered Ryder.

Watch out! screamed Silk as she grabbed his arm, trying to pull him away.

Let go! I’m not afraid of this squawking feather duster! said Ryder as he jerked away.

Ryder didn’t realize that it wasn’t the pesky pelican Silk was worried about; it was the massive set of waves coming toward them. Terrified, she tried to warn him, but it was too late.

The first wave broke over the end of the jetty, knocking them off their feet. The second one crashed right into them and washed them out into the ocean.

Tragically, they were no match for what came next. Smashing down directly on top of the two was a wall of water as tall as a house. The monster wave pounded them under the water, into the grips of a deadly riptide.

3

The Harbor: Months Earlier

It was known as the best place to visit in the harbor. This popular fun spot, called the Sunset Strand, was an extension of the mainland that jutted out into the water. Located quite a distance from the harbor entrance, it was protected against the current of the incoming and outgoing tides. It was the perfect place for the Sunset Marina, with its slips and docks for boats of all sizes.

Built along the top of the strand was a variety of shops and cafes. But the most popular restaurant of all was at the very end. It faced west and was the only one that had a patio over the water for outdoor dining.

On top of the