Marco asked. “Just the fate of the human race? Don’t you have something more challenging for us?” But the Ellimist wasn’t paying attention to Marco. “We do not interfere in the private affairs of other beings,” he said. “But when they are in danger of becoming extinct, we step in to save a few members. We love life. All life, but especially sentient life forms, like Homo sapiens. Your species. This is a very beautiful planet. A priceless work of art.” “You’ve obviously never seen our school,” Marco said, still giddily trying to joke. Suddenly, without warning, the Ellimist did it again. He opened space. We were no longer standing in the Yeerk pool. We were no longer underground at all. We were underwater. Deep underwater. But the water did not seem to touch my skin. And when I breathed, there was air. Still, I felt fear tingle the back of my neck. We stood — me, Cassie, Jake, Marco, Ax, and Tobias … Tobias, in his own human body — in the middle of an ocean. Suspended in the water, but dry.
