Devonne Brown

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“I never thought I’d be standing on the deck of a cruise ship in the middle of the Baltic sea listening to whale songs, The notes and chords from their throats are stuff I only dreamed about,” Madeline watched the fog move over the waves. 

The famous clicks and moans of the whales under the water were more eerie than she thought they’d be. They thrilled her. The symphony of the seas, long drawn out phrasings human instruments couldn’t reproduce. The sound soothed her. 

A whale breached and blew water and mist from the massive opening in its head. The odor so gloriously foul it wafted up to the deck where she stood. If Madeline had been a bit closer, she’d probably have wretched from the stench. As it was, it blew harmlessly away from the ship and into gentle breaking waves. The whale took its clicks and magnificent song down under the boat with it. Maybe it would come back.

Madeline looked at the sun that wouldn’t set for weeks yet. She thought about the bronzer in her makeup bag and laughed. No wonder these people all had a tanned and ruddy faced look about them. Seasonal affective disorder took on a whole ‘nother meaning with this crowd. 

She’d been in England where the days lasted until ten o’clock in the summer, and the darkened at three in the winter, but this was ridiculous. Thank God for blackout shades indeed. Was it up to her to hold her concept of day and night together in this part of the world? Maybe she’d let the whalesong do it for her.