My name is Mowery Juble, and I and my family live in a village on a small island in the South Seas. I am a fisherman by profession, and have been for many years, and like all fishermen I have many stories to tell of strange and marvelous creatures I have encountered on the sea. I would like to tell you of one such encounter, and the story of how my village and island were saved.
I had left early that dawn to go fishing. The sea was calm and peaceful, and it seemed to drag me along with it. I had no idea how far I had rowed, or what direction my course would take me, but I wasn't concerned. I thought that I knew the sea well enough not to be in any danger. But something happened that changed my way of thinking forever.
I had been rowing for a fair amount of time, when I suddenly came upon a large mountain in the middle of the sea. Curious that I hadn't noticed it before, as it was so tall and wide it seemed to drown out the sun for sixty miles, I decided to row closer and investigate. As I neared the mountain, a thick fog came out of a crevice in its base and enveloped me.
I couldn't row any further for fear that I would smash my boat on the jagged rocks I had seen, that were sticking out of the water at the base of the mountain. While I was waiting for the fog to clear, the silence was suddenly shattered by a howl so loud and fierce, the air shuddered as it cut through! Then two giant shapes, the likes I have never seen before, shot out of the water right in front of me, into the air, and seemed to hover there as if part of the sky. I watched, paralyzed, as one of the shapes lunged for the other. When they collided, the fog was pierced by a brilliant light, almost like lightning,and for one horrifying instant I saw clearly what those shapes were!
They were a Giant Whale, and a Giant Electric Eel, who was even longer than the Whale! The Whale gave another shattering howl and twisted in the Eel's strangling grasp as they began to fall, and broke loose just as they hit the water. I wasn't as lucky as the Whale though.
As the Eel hit the water it's tail lashed out, cutting my boat in two and sending me spinning through the air. I hit the water, hard, and went deep. As I struggled to reach the surface of the water, I got caught in an undertow, and the current pulled me into a small cave below the water's surface.
The tunnel I was being pulled through seemed as if it would go on forever. But just when I thought my lungs would burst, the tunnel slanted sharply upwards, and the water current half pulled half pushed me to the water's surface, and towards air. I gulped it gratefully, blinking in the sunlight, and wondered hazily where I was. Then I spotted a shore or low cliff and swam to it, pulled myself upon it and fell into a deep sleep.
When I awoke, it was much later, and the last of the sun's rays were just disappearing behind the tall cliffs that surrounded me. "Cliffs?" I thought, "Where am I?" The air was warm, much warmer than it should be for an October evening, and I could hear bubbling. The sound seemed to come from behind me, in the direction of the water I had pulled myself from, just hours before. I turned slowly, and pulled myself to the water's edge. It seemed to be glowing below the bubbling surface, and hot steam rose as the bubbles broke through. I cautiously reached my hand out towards the water, but the heat was so strong that I pulled my hand back without touching it. It was then that I realized where I was...Inside the mountain! To make matters worse, I realized that it wasn't a mountain at all, but instead was a huge volcano, and it was threatening to erupt at any moment!
I stood up, too fast, and stumbled against a wall. I had not yet regained my strength. With a sudden shock, I remembered that my island really wasn't that far from here, and I knew when this place erupted that not only my life, but also the lives of my people would be lost. I HAD TO GET OUT!!!
I started clawing frantically at the smooth surfaced walls that towered above me, trying to find some way, any way that would lead me out of this nightmarish place. I feverishly called for help hoping that someone, anyone would hear, and be able to help both me and my people. With the last echoes of my frantic cries reverberating off the walls, and no help in sight, I became silent and fell to the ground in despair. As I lay there, resigned to my fate, I felt a low tremor in the rocks below me, and thought, "The end begins,".
Suddenly, a roar filled the air, and a tremendous crash followed, echoing off the far walls. I twisted sharply to the left, ducking under flying debris, and recognized the Giant Whale whose fierce battle I had witnessed earlier that day. The Whale seemed to be waiting for me, and I knew he was there to help. The tremors of the Volcano were becoming stronger. There wasn't much time. I didn't know how the Whale would help, but I trusted that somehow, he would.
I pulled myself to my feet, and ran to the Whale. Then climbing onto his back, I used a net of tangled seaweed that I had found, and tied myself to him. The Whale pulled away from the hole he had made in the Volcano, and turned. In the moonlight some distance away, I could see a number of whales, dolphins, and other aquatic creatures. They were forming a ring around the Volcano, and it was apparent that they were waiting for us.
The Giant Whale, with me on his back, swam to them, and connected the circle. Then all that were gathered began in unison to swim around the Volcano, going faster and faster with each completed circle. To my amazement, I saw the water begin to rise between us and the Volcano, and it rose until it became a huge wall of water surrounding the Volcano! Just then the Volcano erupted, splitting wide open, and the hot lava began pouring out, BUT THE WATER CONTAINED IT! When the hot lava connected with the water, and began to cool, it created a thick mist which became thicker and more stifling by the moment, but we continued swimming.
When the last of the lava had cooled and the mist had evaporated, the aquatic creatures stopped swimming and allowed the water to return to its natural state. Then the crowd of sea animals that had helped the Giant Whale contain the Volcano dispersed, leaving me and the Whale to watch as the first rays of dawn appeared in the sky.
While I watched, I wondered out loud how I was going to get home, without a boat. As if in reply, the Whale turned, and started swimming in the direction of my island. I can still remember the faces of the people in my village, as they watched me riding the waves on top of a huge whale.
The Whale stopped some distance away from the island, as it was becoming too shallow for him to swim. I jumped off his back, into the water, and swam to shore. My family ran to me and we stood together on the beach, and watched as the Giant Whale, turned around and swam out to sea.
Well my friends, that is my story, and so I bid you farewell.
The End
by Celia Helen Tracy
copyright © 2000 Celia Helen Tracy