I woke before sunrise and noticed a change in the pressure of the air. I walked out of our sleeping quarters and found Gary standing at the side rail. Max and Pei were both at the helm guiding Hi-Sun and looking busy.

"Can you feel the change?" Gary called out without even turning to see that I had come out behind him. "We are nearing the high point of our planet as well as the centre core of this pressure system. The system continually generates the roaring swells of the ocean from the centre we are now approaching. It is located on the high point, centred at the very peak of the planet, reaching out to touch Lady-Sun."

I walked to stand beside Gary at the rail, then turned to him as I spoke.

"I can feel it now — we are within hours of our destiny. I still haven't figured out how I will get to the location I am looking for, as it lies directly on the pinnacle of the high point, possibly 50 leagues beneath the surface."

"You are a wilder man than I, young Lord. I have no idea what you have in mind or how powerful you are. But I am behind you with all of my heart and I tell you here that you can count on me to my very death if that is what it takes." Gary gave me a good solid stare and turned his mouth just enough to entice my smile.

"You know, I have a feeling that getting to the location won't be too much of a problem — that is, once I figure out that 'minor detail'. But I know that this journey is travelling very smoothly. From my feelings and recall of my past gone tasks, this journey may just have some little surprises in store that we never would have counted upon. We are surrounded by friendship and good power. Let's keep our minds set on this being exactly how the rest of our mission will stand."

Gary nodded and then bounded up to Max and Pei, commanding them to bed down for some sleep.

"You have done another good night's work my two little starlings. Get yourselves some sleep, for possibly tonight we close in on the peak of our journey. We need your wits about you both. I need each one of you ready to dance on your toes."

The ocean swells had changed so much now. The wind had dropped and instead of the long lines spanning the horizon, we now had fatter standing mountains with curves curling out of sight and losing the lines of each other in bulging, swollen swells of lifting water. We seemed to be at the generation point of these long driving waves. As we passed over them they accelerated away, driving out from behind the path we had just carved. We must be nearing the centre of the pressure system. The time had come.

Mila also woke and came to stand beside me. Lady-Sun had still not cracked the horizon, but the light of a powerful clear day already illuminated the sky.

"We are getting closer, aren't we, my Lord?"

I nodded, holding her a little closer to instil my feeling of confidence. Mila just smiled and suppressed a laugh at something she had just thought of. "Today is going to be a big one, isn't it?" she said.

I smiled back and agreed.

"It certainly is my love. I am excited and feel like stepping out of myself. It is time for me to show this planet what I am made of."

Just as I was about to express a little more warning of wild expectancy, Gary called out loud and sharp.

"My Lord, down below! Left and right, hovering wide at each side. These are not friendly fellows."

Out to either side there were sleek and gliding slicer sharks. Their shining skins catching the reflections of clean water and morning sky. The silvery, glistening sharks darted and weaved in groups of more than a dozen as they pushed on the outer limits of our dorsal pilots. Each had a sharp, slender body, their cold lightning-fast eyes gleaming — aware of the dorsal pilots at our keel, and of us, far, far above.

"They fear the dorsal pilots, for the dorsals have the supreme power and knowledge of our ocean. But they cannot be trusted for one moment. They are both dirty scavengers and capable of vicious attack at any instant. I have seen them in groups of three and four, but never had them closed in on either side with such intention as they have here today. Not one of them is feeding, so I cannot quite see what it is they are following us for."

Gary then took control of the helm and ushered Max and Pei both off to sleep.

"My lady, come to the helm and I will show you how our dear Hi-Sun feels in your hands." Gary took Mila between his arms and showed her the control and guidance of Hi-Sun. Mila smiled and gave Hi-Sun her due respect.

Gary looked at me and once again gave me that cheeky, but at the same time, reassuring smile.

"You will make it, my Lord, and your lady is going to be fine."

I received his message without a single spoken word. I wished that I had such certainty of what I was yet to actually do.

The peacefulness and friendly spirit of our journey had taken a darker tone. Deep within, I knew that the task before me would not simply fall into my lap. This lifetime, this mission — it would test every limit I had.