’LL BE THE first to admit that in terms of book learning, we’re right up there with, like, sheep and goats. So you won’t be stunned to hear how surprised I was to find out that islands don’t float on top of the water. You can’t go under them, even if you’re in a schmancy expensive submarine.

“Islands are formed several different ways,” Brigid explained helpfully while I tried not to snarl at her. We were standing around a topographical (read: lumpy) map of Hawaii and the surrounding ocean. “Hawaii was formed by an underwater volcano spitting hot magma up from the earth’s core. In fact, scientists believe that one volcano formed all the islands of Hawaii, as the hot interior core rotated beneath the earth’s crust. Right now, the Big Island is being formed. In ten million years, there might be yet another island, past the Big Island.”

“Huh,” I said, feeling more trapped than ever. We’d been on the sub for eight hours and had explored every last inch of it. I felt like I hardly had room to breathe. It was like,Hello, Claustrophia? It’s me, Max .

Now I was being forced to witness Dr. Amazing’s brain at work, as Fang paid attention to her every word.

“Which is why we have to go around the islands to get to the area where the fish die-off was observed,” said Captain Perry. “Right now we’re passing the Molokini Crater, which is a big sea-life preservation area.”

“Huh,” I said. We were in a large tin can under six hundred feet of water, and I couldn’t escape. I was starting to feel dizzy. Was the subrunning out of air? Where did weget air from, anyway? We needed tosurface . We needed to surface, and—

Max. Go lie down. You’re having a panic attack.

What?! I thought wildly.

You’re having a panic attack, the Voice went on.Go lie down on your bunk and slowly breathe in and out .

“Uh, I’m tired,” I mumbled. “Think I’ll go rest.”

I stumbled out of the situation room and staggered down the narrow corridor, squeezing past sailors. I felt like I might pass out any second. Every cell in my body wanted to get off this sub. Even knowing that it was the only way to rescue my mom didn’t make it any better. I’ve been locked in cells and dungeons and dog crates and never panicked like this.

You’re okay,said the Voice soothingly.Go lie down. There’s plenty of air .

I fumbled my way into the small storeroom that had been turned into our bunk room. Inside, I collapsed on one of the bottom bunks, trying not to throw up. A minute later, the door pushed open.

“Nudge?” I croaked, my hand over my mouth.

“Nope,” said Total, trotting up to my bunk. He had a cold, wet washcloth in his mouth, and he put his front paws on my bunk and dropped it on my face. It felt incredible. Then he nimbly jumped onto the narrow bunk and curled up by my feet.

I pressed the wet cloth to my face and tried to breathe in and out slowly. Just like the Voice had told me. I moaned softly, suddenly overwhelmed by my life.

“You’ll get your sea legs soon,” Total said. “Or we can rustle you up some Valium or something.”

“No!” The only time I’d had Valium was when my mom gave me some during an operation to take a chip out of my wrist (long story). In my hazy stupor, I’d said all sorts of stupid, embarrassing things. There wasno way I was going to do that again.

“Suit yourself,” said Total, pushing my legs over to give himself more room. “Listen, Max, while I have you here—“

“Trapped in my bunk with a panic attack?” I said.

“Yeah. Anyway, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” he went on.

Oh, this was gonna be good. What would it be now? Sub chow not up to snuff? Lattes not available? Had he encountered more discrimination against Canine Americans?

“It’s about Akila.”

I lowered the washcloth and peeked at Total with one eye. “Yeah? You miss her, huh?”

“It’s more than that.” Total licked one paw, collecting his thoughts. “It’s—you know I’m nuts about her.”

“Uh-huh.”Nuts being the operative word here.

“Amazingly, she feels the same way about a mutt like me,” Total said. “Well, now we’re thinking about… marriage.” He sort of mumbled the last word.

I sat up, eyes wide, swallowing my shocked laughter. This wasn’t funny. It was cute but not funny. Total’s feelings were real, even though he was a—Canine American.

“Marriage?” I said.

“Yeah.” Total flopped down and draped his head over my ankles. “I know we’re just two crazy kids—how can we possibly make it work? She’s a dedicated career dog. How could I ever expect her to settle down, raise a few litters? And me? I’m a flying, talking dog. I’ll only make her life more difficult, no matter where we go or what we do.”

I knew how he felt. Only too well. Reaching out, I scratched his head between his ears, the way he likes.

“Also, how could I ever leave you guys?” he said, his black eyes sad. “I know how much you depend on me. How could I leave you to fend for yourselves?”

“Um,” I said, but he interrupted me.

“But Akila can’t fly! How canshe come withus? She’s eighty pounds of gorgeous, long-legged purebred, but she can’t fly.” His voice broke. “I tell you, Max—this has been keeping me up at night. I haven’t been able to eat for days.”

I’d heard him snoring just yesterday, when we’d been waiting for the sub, and I’ve never known him to miss a meal. But I knew what he meant.

For once, I didn’t have any answers. I was having a hard enough time with my own ridiculous romantic life, much less being able to worry about anyone else’s. “Total—if you decide you need to stay with Akila—well, you saw how Nudge made that hard decision. I saw something written on a T-shirt once—it went: ‘If you love something, let it go. If it comes back, it’s yours.’ If we, the flock, have to let you go, we’ll somehow make that sacrifice.”

“No, no, Max, I couldn’t ask that of you,” he said. “I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch like that. I just wish—well, I wish life was perfect and love was easy.” He sighed.

“Me too, Total. Me too.” I was already old enough to know that neither option was possible. Not for Total and not for me.