"Can you feel the pressure change out here? Now we have life and some real power driving our keel." Gary looked like he hadn't moved from his post. I felt like I had only just closed my eyes, but the sun was now well up.

"Don't worry, my young adventurer, Hi-Sun always has that effect on our newbies." Gary laughed and gestured me to come to the deck. Mila still slept like an angel in our quarters.

"Come and feel the speed my friend. We are carving an excellent run and should be able to keep driving this line for a good while."

As I stepped onto the deck I could feel the incredible velocity through the air. Ahead and marching powerfully toward us lay huge lines of ocean swell spanning the horizon, left to right, stacked up and pulsing far beyond what we could see. We were cutting into these mountainous walls of water at just the slightest angle but now the height and span between peaks had risen to an overwhelming magnitude. Somehow we were still gliding on that same even plane, but I had to grip the timbers, for I felt swayed and near falling.

"Take a look below now, young man. We have friends that joined our journey some time through the night." I took the port side and gripped even tighter. Hi-Sun had somehow grown taller, her driving keel now multiple lengths below us. Hi-Sun had just naturally telescoped exactly to the height needed to pass over the high swells and maintain a steady plane.

Below us we had a strong school of dorsal pilots gliding at the wavelength of our driving wake. The water bulged out from either side, giving them a cushion of energy as they steered their free ride.

"Why have they joined us?" I asked.

"I'm not really sure, young friend. It has been the custom since the dawn of the draw boats. Some say they were created as our protectors, but I can't imagine what they did before the ride of our time. I am sure that they have been here for eons before us. Perhaps it is only now that they have it so easy to play and express their talents on this free and easy ride."

It was a magnificent sight — watching them below us, caressing and drifting in our wake. With them I could feel some type of protection. Although multiple lengths below us, I could see the faces of each of them looking up at me. Each seemed to introduce themselves, then rolled aside for the next to take their turn.

"It's quite ok!" said Gary, "They are saying hello to you and I can feel that there is something just a little bit different with you on board young man. You can tell me all about it, but only when you are ready. The right moments of this journey will come to mind."

As I calmed down, so did the overwhelming power of the sea. Hi-Sun was drawing a lovely long line as if she knew exactly where we were bound.

"I am not really sure who is driving this boat, Gary. Hi-Sun seems to be the spirit in control of our destiny, but you stand there at her helm."

Gary looked at me and smiled. I felt that he was telling me — I know what you know, and Hi-Sun knows it too, and we are all working with you. Not a word was spoken.

He smiled again and then gestured to my quarters. "Young Mila is waking up, my Lord. You may have to assist her for I feel she may be a little more fragile at sea than yourself."

"Lord!" Hmm. Mila would never let that slip. How could Gary possibly know?

I stepped into our quarters and Mila lay on her side with her gorgeous eyes on me and a relaxed warm smile.

Mila and I spent one of the most amazing days of our lives together. Our dorsal pilots all introduced themselves to her one at a time, rolling under to let the next one take its turn. Surprising to us all, she took to the sea with no surprises and seemed to lift herself into a new state of woman. We joked and played and feasted as our appetites had risen to the occasion.

Below us our company was growing with new members of the dorsals introducing themselves to us through the day. Each one unique in their own way.

Max and Pei joined us as the day progressed after a long night at the helm for the two of them. As we found out, that would be their shift, to guide us through the night and push the progress of our journey. What was ahead of us, I will think of tomorrow, for today is the grandest day of my life.