Chapter Two
***********


"Hey, Chief. Pass me the soap will you? Thanks."

"You're welcome. How are you doing, Serendipity? You're not cooking in
that shell are you?"

**N-No! I'm okay, Daddy Blair.**

"You don't sound okay. What's the matter, Sweetheart?"

**Nothing, Daddy Jim. It's just -- will I ever hatch? I feel so helpless
in this thing. And I'm the cause of all the trouble you guys are in.**

"Hey! No way! You're not any trouble, so don't even think it. Right,
Blair."

"Right. It's not worth thinking about. You're our little girl, and when
you hatch we'll hold a big Hatching Party and invite all our friends and
show you off. And don't worry about this Invading Army from another
galaxy. By the time Jim and the Chopec and Moby Dick and I deal with
them, they'll be sorry they ever left their own planet! Right, Jim?"

"Right, Chief! There's just one thing I don't understand. Why doesn't
Moby Dick's blow hole smell like fish? I mean every other whale I've
ever met..."

"FISH!!! ME? REALLY!!! LIKE I WAS SOME COMMON WHALE!!! I'M
INSULTED!!!"

"Oh! We apologize, Mr. Dick. Really! Jim didn't mean anything by it. He
was just curious, that's all."

"WELL...YOU'RE FORGIVEN YOUNG HUMAN. JUST THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK NEXT
TIME."

"We will! Sorry.... Phew! Sorry about that, Chief. Never knew whales
were so grumpy."

"Yeah. A bit like Captain Banks, isn't he?"


*************************************************


"Yawn."

"Mom! You're awake. Feeling better?"
"Ah! Much better, Honey. How about you?"

"We're all fine. We had a bath. Tic and Toc went fishing. We're poaching
the fish right now."
"NOW MY BLOW HOLE *DOES* SMELL FISHY! YUCK!"

"Aww. We'll clean it out for you, don't worry. It'll smell all fresh in
no time."

"WELL ... ALRIGHT THEN. BUT I'M NOT GRUMPY!"

"No. Of course not."

"Blair? I'm sorry about yesterday. I was really tired. Your relationship
with Jim is none of my business."

"I forgive you, Mom. But you have to realize I'm all grown up now.
Okay?"

"Okay. But it's difficult. You see, when a mother realizes her child is
all grown up, it means that she is, well ... getting older. You know?"

"I know, Mom. But still, I have to live my own life. You can't live it
for me."

"Yes. It's just that your life is so much different from what I imagined
it would be. Can you understand that?"

"Mmmm. I guess I can. This vacation is certainly different from what I
imagined!"


************************************************


"This is really good fish, Honey."

"Well, thank Tic and Toc. It was something to see. They just jumped off
Moby Dick, caught a fish, leapt onto his tail, then ran up his back,
dropped the fish, and started all over. Then they suggested that we
poach it in his blow hole. Moby can heat up water really fast. He's got
an internal furnace or something."

"Yeah. I was really warm all night. Had a good sleep."

"We did too. Like sleeping on a warm water bed."

"THAT'S ME! WATER BED. JACUZZI. FURNACE. CROCKPOT!"

"Oh, go on Moby. You're having fun. Admit it now."

"HMMMPPH!"

"You want some fish?"

"HMMMPPPHH!"

**I'D like some fish. I'm getting tired of living off this egg. Can't
see anything but shadows. Can't eat or walk around, or...**

"I know, Serendipity. Not much longer, honest."

**I'm sorry, Daddy Blair. I'm just so frus.........**

"Serendipity? Sweetheart?? What's wrong?…. Jim, Serendipity just stopped talking in mid-word. Is she okay?"

"I know. I heard, Chief. I can hear her heartbeat. She's fine. It's
faster than normal, but she's fine. Just not talking."

"Serendipity? Can you hear us, Sweetheart?"

tap!

"Hey! That's good. I know! I'll ask you questions, and you answer with
one tap for yes, and two for no. Okay?"

tap!

"Great! We're making progress here! Are you alright?"

tap!

"Okay. Then is something else wrong?"

tap!

"There's some reason you can't talk, but it's not because you're sick,
or..."

tap tap!

"You're afraid of someone overhearing?"

tap!

"Ah! But who? Oh! I Know! The army that is chasIng us?"

tap!

"Could they hear us, as well?"

tap tap!

"Just you?"

tap!

"Jim! Did you hear that? The army is close enough to hear Serendipity... Jim? Jim!"

"Sandburg. There's a space ship of some kind overhead."

"I don't see anything, Jim."

"It's really high up. Just a small one, a scoutship, maybe?"

tap!

"I think we should speed things up here. Try and get to land faster."

TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP!!


***********************************************


"Okay, everyone! Listen up! Gotta have a Pow Wow here. Everyone present
and accounted for?"

"Sure thing, Chief."

'I'M HERE, KID."

tap!

"Right here, Honey."

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Great! Now, we have to get to Peru as soon as possible. Mom? Are you up
to flying the carpet now?"

"I don't know, Blair. I'm feeling more rested, but I don't know how long
it will last. Especially at top speed."

"Well, the alternative is for Moby Dick to go faster."

"OH, GREAT! NOW I'M A SPEED BOAT!"

"Yep! That's you. But the problem is, will we be able to hang on. If
they spot us, it would be a good idea for Moby to dive, and lose
them..."

"NOW I'M A SUBMARINE."

"... and lose them. But we'd drown. So..."

"WELL, I COULD CARRY YOU IN MY MOUTH. JUST HOP IN."

***
"Oh, wow! How are we going to work this?"

"Well ... everyone get on the carpet. I can fly us into Moby Dick's
mouth."

"Good idea, Mom. Then what?"

"I suppose we could hang on to one of his teeth. I can tie us all
together, I brought lots of rope. Then hook the rope over his tooth, and
we're safe."

"Great, Jim. But what about when Moby opens his mouth and we all drown?"

"I WON'T OPEN MY MOUTH. YOU THINK I"M STUPID OR SOMETHING?"

"No! Of course not. Just trying to account for all possibilities. You
may have to breathe or something. These things happen occasionally."

"WELL, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO OTHER WHALES IT HAPPENS THROUGH THEIR
BLOWHOLES, REMEMBER? BUT NOT TO ME. NEVER BREATHE, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T
NOTICED."

"Ah, Jim?"

"Nope. Doesn't breathe, Sandburg."

"Oh, wow!"


***********************************************


"Pssst! Chief! Could you help me with this rope?"

"Sure, Jim. What's up?"

"I just wanted to tell you -- you know we haven't been alone much lately
-- that I really love you, you know."

"That's great, Jim. Why do I sense a 'but' coming here?"

"There's no 'but' here, Sandburg. Except for your butt, and it's a
pretty terrific butt, by the way. No, I just needed to tell you that,
you know -- in case. This whole crazy adventure has made me realize --
my life was always so ordered and sensible. I always did what was
expected of me. Tried to be normal, to fit in. Well, most of the time. I
broke out a few times, but -- then this whole Sentinel thing happened
and I met you and had all those mystical -- but I'm really happy and I
love you and I don't care that -- I've just realized that I'm totally
insane and I'm probably locked away somewhere hallucinating, but I hope
I never wake up because it's worth it just to be with you!"

"Wow, man! That's gotta be the longest speech I've ever heard you make.
But you're not hallucinating, Jim. I mean think of it. This situation is
so crazy it must be real. Do you really think you could make it all up?"

"No. Maybe not. It doesn't matter. I want you to have something. Years
ago I was at a fair and I won a grab bag of stuff at the shooting range.
This was in the bag. I've carried it around all these years. I've kind
of thought of it as a good luck charm ... but here!"

"Jim! Oh, that's ... that's so ... Wow!"

"It's just a crackerjack thing. I'll buy you a real one if you like when
we get home, but ..."

"No! No, put it on my finger, man! There! Now kiss me. Ah! Now let's go.
We better go fly into Moby Dick's mouth now! The Aliens are after us."

"Yeah. This has to be real. No way could I make this up."





***************************************************


"All aboard!!"

"Okay, Mom. Tic and Toc, are you with us?"

"Chirp!"

"Chirp!"

"Great. Serendipity?"

tap.

"Okay, Mom. We're all ready. Do your thing."

"Right. Now let's get this show on the road. Concentrate. Think liftoff.
Okay, we're moving. Ah! We just need a little more height. Blair? Could
you give me some help? Just add your concentration to mine?"

"Sure, Mom. LIFTOFF!!"

"EEEEEEEKKK!"

"CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP!!!"

TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP!!!

"HEY! We don't need to fly to the moon, Chief!"

"Whoa! Sorry, everyone. Didn't know I could concentrate THAT well! Some
ride, huh?"

"Sure thing, Chief. They should turn it into a ride at Disneyland."

"Right, Honey. That last loop the loop was great fun. Now that we're on
an even keel, let's taxi in to Moby Dick's mouth. Okay?"

"Sure, Mom. Sorry about the daredevil stunt, guys. Don't know what
happened there."

"Y'ALL COMIN' FOR A VISIT? OR WHAT?"

"There. We're in. =A0 Your tongue makes a great landing strip, Moby."

"GOSH. THANKS GUYS. ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A LANDING STRIP. I'LL HAVE TO
ADD THAT TO MY RESUME."





*************************************************



"Hey, Moby! We're all safely lashed to your tooth."

"GREAT! JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED. THREE HUMANS, TWO PENGUINS AND AN
EGG. ALL TIED TO ONE OF MY TEETH. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS WILL DO TO MY
REPUTATION?"

"That's nice, Moby. Glad you approve. Well, you can take off, now. The
faster you go, the faster you'll be rid of us."

"SO YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET AWAY FROM ME, HUH?"

"Not at all, Moby. Not at all."

"WELL ... OKAY. HERE WE GO. HANG ON. WOO-HOO! ZIPIDEEDOODAH!!"
..............................................

"Chchchiiieeeff?"

"Yyeeeaaahh, Jjjjiiimmm?"

"Yyyooou oookkkaaayyy?"

"Iiiiii tthhhhiiinnnkkk sssooo, Jjjjjiiiimmmm-Llllooovvve. =A0 Iiiii
jjjuuuusssstttt wwwiiiissshhh iiiitttt wwweeerrreee lllliiiggghhttt
iinnnn hheeerre. =A0 Cccaaann''ttt ssseee. =A0 Wwhhoooaaa!
Tttthhaaattt'sss tttooo bbbrrriiiigghttt. Bbettterrr. Ttthhaannkkss,
Mmmoobbbyy!"

"WHY ARE YOU THANKING ME? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?"

"Iiiii ttthhouugghhttt yyoouu tttuurneeedd aaa lliiighhttt oonnn iiinn
hhheeerrree."

"NOPE. NOT ME!"

"Ttthhheenn wwwhhhhooo dddiiiddd?"





**********************************************


"YIPEEYIYOKIYAY! GALLOPING ALL THE WAY! HERE COMES QUICK DRAW MCGRAW!
…."

"Ttthhee lliigghhttss tthheerre, Bbbllaaiirr Hhoonnneeyy. Wwweee nneedd
iiitt. Qquuiitt wworrryyiinngg aabboouutt iitt."

"III kknnooww Mmoomm. III jusst ddoonn't lliikke myysstterriies.
Mmmooobbbyyy??? Cccoouulldd yyyooouu sslloowww ddoowwnn jjuusstt aaa
lliiitttlleee plleeaassee!!!"

"OH! SORRY! THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO GET TO PERU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

"Thanks! We DO want to get there fast, but we want to get there in one
piece, too. Okay?"

"UNDERSTOOD ... FLINTSTONES! MEET THE FLINTSTONES! THEY'RE A MODEL
STONEAGE FAMILY! FROM THE TOWN OF BEDROCK THEY'RE A PAGE RIGHT OUT OF
HISTORY!..."

"Moby? Where did you hear all this stuff?"

"OH, I'VE GOT AN ANTENNA IN MY HEAD. PICK UP RADIO, TV, POLICE BAND,
EVERYTHING. I'M UP ON ALL THE NEWS. BUT I LIKE THOSE OLD TV SHOW THEME
SONGS. SPACE ... THE FINAL FRONTIER ... THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE
STARSHIP ENTERPRISE ... DA DA DA! DA DA DA DA DA! DA DA!!"

"Well, if you're so up on all the news, I wish you could tell me who
turned a light on inside you. Eh?"

"MAYBE YOU'RE RADIOACTIVE. GLOW IN THE DARK."

"Very funny. You know something? This light is very useful. I can tell
you something about yourself that even you probably don't know."

"OH, YEAH?"

"Yeah! There's graffiti written inside of you. A fence with a face
looking over it. And some words."

"OH, NO!"

"Oh, yes: JONAH WAS HERE!"


*****

"I'M SORRY, KID, BUT I CAN'T HELP YOU. HUMILIATING AS IT IS TO CONFESS
THIS, I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TURNED ON A LIGHT
INSIDE ME. SINGING KIYI YIPEE YIPEE YAY YIPEEYAY. SINGING KIYI YIPEE
YIPEEYAAAAY!!"

"Thanks, Moby. Great help. What is it with you and yodelling, anyway?"

"I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SWISS GOATHERD. MY PRESENT FORM ISN'T
PRACTICAL, BUT I LIKE TO KEEP IN PRACTICE. YODELODELAYEEYOOOO!!"

"Whatever floats your boat, Moby."

"HEY! I'M A WHALE. DON'T NEED A BOAT!"

"True. Hey, Jim? You okay?"

"I'm fine, Chief. 100%"

"Uh-huh! I just wish I knew what was up with these Aliens that are
chasing us. LIke where they are or something, because ... Oh, no! MOBY!!
They're right overhead. DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!"



**************************************************



"SIX MEN SITTING ON A DEAD MAN'S CHEST. YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM.
DRINK AND THE DEVIL HAD DONE FOR THE REST. YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF
RUM!"

"Uh ... Moby?"

"FULL FATHOM FIVE THY FATHER LIES; OF HIS BONES ARE CORAL MADE; THOSE
ARE PEARLS THAT WERE HIS EYES; NOTHING OF HIM THAT DOTH FADE BUT SUFFER
A SEA CHANGE INTO SOMETHING RICH AND STRANGE. SEA NYMPHS HOURLY RING HIS
KNELL: DING-DONG. HARK! =A0 NOW I HEAR THEM -- DING DONG BELL."

"Uh ... Moby?"

"YEAH, KID?"

"Can we have a more cheerful accompaniment?"

"WHAT? RUM ISN'T CHEERFUL ENOUGH FOR YOU?"

"Well, we need to stay sober, okay?"

"HOW BORING! =A0 WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN AND HE WANTS TO STAY
SOBER."

"Okay, let's talk about what we want to do when this is all over. I want
to go on vacation."

"Chief, we're on vacation!"

"Oh, yeah! I forgot for some reason. What about you Mom?"

"I'd like to go to the Celebration of Harmonic Convergence in Tucson,
Arizona. But I think I'm going to miss it. It's in mid August!"

"Well, don't give up hope Mom. You never know. If you're meant to go,
you'll go. What about you, Moby?"

"I WANT TO TRY OUT FOR THE NEXT SUMMER OLYMPICS."

"Oh? In swimming?"

"NO. GYMNASTICS."

"Oh. Tic and Toc?"

"Cheep cheep chirp click chirp cheep cheep!"

"Cheep click chirp!"

"Ah. Sounds interesting. They say they want to see the exhibit of
Princess Diana's Dresses. It's on in Vancouver right now, until
September 6th. What about you, Jim? You must have something you'd like
to do?"

"Yeah, Chief. I want to go to the bathroom!"



**************************************************


"OH, NO! NO WAY, NO HOW. I AM NOT A PORT-A-POTTY, UNDERSTAND? YOU SHOULD
HAVE GONE BEFORE WE LEFT!"

"I did. But that was ages ago. I may have super hearing and super sight
and super smell and on and on -- but I do NOT have a super bladder. It
has limited capacity, and it has reached that capacity NOW!"

"Okay, look. Everyone calm down ..."

"I keep telling my bladder that, but it won't listen..."

"... everyone calm down, and let's think. Now maybe we can surface for a
short time. If we only knew whether or not the Aliens were still
there.... Oh! They're gone for now! Good. Moby, you can surface, and Jim
can deal with this problem. Probably we all should, eh? Just hang on,
Jim."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry, Chief. It just makes me grumpy. We've been
travelling at top speed for some time without a pit stop. When I was in
the Rangers, I had to hold it like this, but that was years ago."

"HERE WE ARE, BACK AT THE SURFACE. HOW DO YOU WANT TO WORK THIS?"

"Well, it sure would be nice to be on dry land for a short break, eh
Chief?"

"Right. I'm not sure if we're near land. See any land, Moby?"

"NOPE. NONE IN SIGHT."

"Aw. Wish I could conjure up a nice deserted Island for you Jim, with
palm trees and every..."
!bump!

"...thing. What was THAT, Moby?"

"THAT WAS ME, BUMPING INTO THE PALM TREED ISLAND THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED
RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!"





*********************************************


"Get outa my way, Sandburg!"

"Sorry! You are in a hurry, aren't you? Moby? How are you gonna get off
the beach? I don't think we can push you off!"

"DON'T WORRY. TOLD YOU I WAS A GYMNAST. WATCH THIS!"

"Wow! That is some backflip!"

"THANKS. FOR MY NEXT NUMBER, A FRONT TUCK!"

"Wow, again! You should try for the Olympics. Mom? Need any help there?"

"Thanks, Honey. I'm fine."

"Good. Serendipity? You okay?"

tap!

"Good.  I wish we could really chat. Hang in there!"

tap!

"Ah! That's better, Chief! Sorry for running off like that, but it was
safer, trust me!"

"Jim. Get this island. It's perfect. Soft, sandy beach.  Grove of
palm trees. Shaded pool. Whales and dolphins frolicking in the surf. The
sun just setting. It's ... it's like an ad for Club Med, only better. So
romantic. All we need is some love song playing in the background and
..."

"LOOOOOVE IS A MANY SPLEEEEENDOURED THIIIING!!!"

"Oh, God! Moby and the Frolicking Whales are playing tonight!"

"LOOOOVE IS A MAAAANY SPLENDOURED THIIING!"






*************************************************



"Hey, Mom?  Serendipity? How you doin'?"

tap!

"We're fine, Blair. Are you feeling better, Jim?"

"I'm fine, Naomi. Where are Tic and Toc?"

"They went off to explore the island, or something."

"Ah. Blair and I were thinking that we were safe here for now. What do
you think about staying for the night? Moby?"

"SURE! I'M A BIT TIRED OF CHARGING AROUND WITH YOU GUYS TIED TO MY
TOOTH. NEED A BREAK."

"Yeah. Let's stay."

tap!

"Mom? Whatcha doin', now?"

"Tying a sheet to two palm trees."

"So I see. Um, what for?"

"Well, Moby is going to show us a movie."

"Oh? How are you gonna do that, Moby?"

"I TOLD YOU, I HAVE AN ANTENNA IN MY HEAD. PICKS UP RADIO AND TV WAVES.
I'M GONG TO PROJECT THE TV WAVES ONTO THE SHEET AND WE CAN ALL WATCH
TV!"

"Um, I'm not sure if that is technically poss..."

"There we go, Honey! HBO! What are they showing? Oh, great! Moby Dick!"


*****

"What did YOU think of the movie, Moby?"

"WELL, NAOMI, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING."

"Moby."

"OKAY. IT TOLD THE STORY FROM THE HUMAN VIEWPOINT ONLY. I WAS JUST A
CARDBOARD CHARACTER. THEY REVEALED NOTHING OF MY INNER FEELINGS. I WAS
JUST THERE AS WINDOW DRESSING, AN EXCUSE SO THAT THE HUMANS COULD REVEAL
THEIR INNER SELVES. THE MOVIE IS CALLED MOBY DICK, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT
CAPTAIN AHAB."

"True. All too true. If you want movies made from the Whale perspective,
then Whales are going to have to make movies themselves."

"YOU ARE RIGHT, NAOMI. PERHAPS I SHOULD START MY OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY.
MY FIRST MOVIE COULD BE CALLED CAPTAIN AHAB."



**********************************************



"Ah. This is the perfect place, Jim."

"Yes. Nice and secluded."

"Hmmm. Some soft grass. Palm trees all around. Pool to swim in after.
Perfect ... Mmmmpphh ... Oh, you are so gorgeous. I just want to touch
you all the time, just slide my hands down your ... Mmmmpphh. Stop that!
I'm making a speech here, you big goof ... Mmmpphh. Okay. I give up.
Kiss me all you want."

"Thanks, Sandburg. That's very big of you. Mmmmppphh."

"You know, we could take our clothes off. That might make some things
easier. Mmmmppphh."

"Yeah. Good thought. It's good to be alone for a change."

"Oh, you've got that right! It's been how long?"

"Too long if you ask me. =A0 Mmmmpphh."

"Cheep click chirp?"

"Tictic? Toctoc? I don't mean to be impolite, but what are YOU doing
here?"

"Chirp chirp cheep click chirp!"

"Something important? Can't it wait? Please?!"

"Chirp chirp cheep!"

"Okay! Coming, Jim?"

"Well, I thought I was!"



**********************************************


"Jim! We are NOT going to cook Tic and Toc for dinner. Or my Mom either.
And certainly not Moby Dick. He's too big for one thing."

"Mumble mumble."

"I'll make it up to you, I promise. You know I always do."

"Mumble mumble."

"Yes! I really will. All night if you like."

"Mumble mumble mumble."

"Hey, Mom?"

"Blair? What are you and Jim doing back so soon? I thought you were gone
for the night."

"Mumble mumble."

"Yeah, so did we, Mom. But Tic and Toc say there's something we have to
see. Right now, apparently."

"Mumble mumble."

"Jim isn't very happy."

"Well, what is it?"

"Don't know. They're going to show us. Thought you should come along."

"Mumble mumble."

"I'LL COME TOO, KID."

"You? Moby, you can't walk on land. Your ancestors could but that was
millions of years ago. Gonna grow legs again?"

"NOPE. DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. GOT A JAR OF SOME KIND?"

"Yeah, I think so. Let's see.... Here we are. Now what?"

"FILL IT WITH SOME SEA WATER. NOW HOLD IT OUT, AND..."

!splash!

"Whoa! That is SOME trick! Oh, boy. A little Baby Dick!"

"Mumble mumble mumble mumble."

************

"Come on, Jim! Where's your curiosity?"

"Mumble mumble."

"Yeah, well, dial it down or something. Let's find out what Tic and Toc
are up to. Then we'll go back to our little palm grove and ..."

"Mumble mumble mumble!!"

"Okay, okay! I'll stop talking about it already! You know, I feel just
as bad as you."

"Mumble."

"Chirp cheep click!"

"Yeah, yeah. We're with you. And be quiet, Jim."

"Growl."

"Well, here we are. Where are we, exactly?"

"Cheep cheep chirp chirp!"

"I can see it's a cave. Now what? Yeah, I guess going inside makes
sense."

"Growl."

"Stop growling, Jim."

"Cheep cheep click cheep chirp."

"Yeah, I see. Fossils."

"Cheep click chirp cheep cheep!"

"Wow! That's neat. Hey, everyone! Tic and Toc tell me that this is a
shrine of the Great Fish Spirit. They are very honoured. When they go
home, they will be regarded as pilgrims."

"How fortunate for them, Chief. Can we get back to what we were doing
now?"

"Yeah. No! Wait, Jim. What's this?"

"Looks like a pool. So what? Can we get back to..."

"Jim. Get your mind above your belt for one minute, will you? There's
something in the pool. Hmmm. A book of some kind."

"Chief! You and your books."

"A book, and a staff. Let's see.... Oh! Yes! I see! That's amazing!"

"Chief? Sandburg?"


***********************************************


"Chief? Sandburg? Darwin? Blair? Lovebug?"

"Lovebug? How disgusting can you get?"

"Who was that?"

"Me. Over here in the jar."

"Oh. You. Your voice has gotten a lot higher."

"Well, yeah. I'm not as big as I was. But you... what a baby. =A0 Just
because the Kid isn't paying attention to you for a few minutes, you
start whining. Waaah! I want my Blair!"

"Who the Hell ARE you anyway?"

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts and minds of men? Heh heh heh!
The Shadow knows!"

"Shutup! You're not The Shadow. You're just a fictional whale who got
put in the dryer at too high a temperature, and shrunk. Not a moment too
soon in my opinion."

"How nice. Have you told him how you really feel about HIM?"

"Yes. Not that it's any of your business."

"No. I mean how you REALLY feel. Have you told him that you resent him.
That you resent how much you love him and need him. That you were angry
when he nearly died and left you, and that's why you had trouble talking
about it. That you resent everything that takes him away from you. That
you hated his dissertation and you were glad when he..."

"SHUT UP! I DO NOT RESENT HIM!"

"Jim? Jim-Love? Are you alright? What's the matter?"

"Nothing, Chief. Nothing. What's the book about?"

"Are you sure....? Okay. It's a book about magic, written by a great
Sorceress. She lived in this cave a long time ago, and she buried her
book and staff here, to await her successor. But... I'm having trouble
reading all of it... there was a ring as well. The ring carries most of
her power. Hmmm. There's no ring in the pool that I can see. Oh, well.
It's probably all a work of fiction, anyway. But interesting. I'll try
and read more tomorrow. You tired?"

"A little. But it's okay if you want to spend more time here and read
more of the book. I can wait."

"No. It's late. 'Night, Mom. Jim and I are going now. Can you take care
of Serendipity? Good. 'Night, Sweetheart. We'll see you tomorrow.
'Night, Tic and Toc. Thanks for showing us the cave. Moby? You want us
to take you back?"

"Nah. I'll stay here with Naomi and the others. Have a good time, Jim."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Okay, Jim. Let's go.... Now, Jim. What was all that about? Hmmm?"



*************************************************


"Okay, Ellison. Stop trying to BS me. What crawled up your ass and
died?"

"Nothing."

"Jim. Give me your hand."

"What?"

"Your hand. Idiot. Give it to me."

"Why?"

"So I can kiss it. There. And hold it, like this. Now, let's walk back
to our little palm grove. Look at the moon. Isn't it wonderful?"

"Yes."

"So ... what got your shorts in a knot?"

"Him. Moby Dick. He didn't like it that I called you Lovebug."

"You did? Aw! That's nice. Sorry I missed it. I got all caught up in
this book."

"I know. You see, I wanted you to stop and ... pay attention to me.
Chief? Do you think I'm, well ... evil?"

"EVIL? You're joking! Who said that?"

"Moby Dick. He thinks I want to own you."

"Do you?"

"NO! Well ... maybe a little. I'd like to have you around all the time.
I wish you didn't ... but I wouldn't ever hurt you. Purposely, I mean.
I'd never try to control you. It's just that..."

"Jim! You want me with you all the time?"

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"For what? That's wonderful. No one ever wanted me that much. Not even
my mother. This deserves a reward. Just wait until I get you in that
palm grove!"

"Then you don't mind?"

"No. I'd mind if you did try to control my life. But you don't. You know
I'd never stand for that, don't you?"

"I know. But, Chief ... mmmmppphh. Yeah! No one better interrupt this
time, or they're dinner."

Chapter Three

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