Sick Squid

by Lazarus Gray

            Gyro thrust his giant tail once, twice, three times. The ocean floor sped along beneath his massive, fat body. He used to love this place, but the last few seasons he had noticed some big changes. The warm waters of the north Pacific ocean had begun to empty of their usual vibrant array of life, and the entire area had generally become unpleasant.

Though it was breeding season, Gyro hadn’t seen many other whales. He figured they’d gone searching for a better breeding ground; nobody seemed to like these waters much anymore. It appeared that this season would be a non-event in terms of humping female humpbacks. Gyro was sad – he enjoyed breeding, and had fathered eighteen calves since he had been old enough to figure out how.

He gave one melancholic glance around and turned to the south. If he couldn’t breed this year, he might as well go visiting in his spare time.

“Cough... coughcough. Erm... ‘Scuse me Mr. Humpback, sir...”

Gyro slowed to inspect the creature that he had drawn up alongside. He was a medium sized cuttlefish. His tentacles were all over the place, and he looked to be slightly intoxicated.

“Yes, little cuttlefish, what can I do for you today?”

“Well normally, sir... Coughcough... I wouldn’t bother you, but I seem to be having some trouble getting my bearings, and I must say... coughcough... I’m feeling a shade pale today. Could you perhaps tell me which way is south?”

“Of course!” Gyro nodded in the direction he was heading. “It’s that way.”

“Why, thank you so much Mr. Humpback, sir... I’ll head there immediately. Perhaps the cooler water will make me perk up a bit.”

“It’s a pleasure, my young friend. Listen, I’m heading that way myself. Perhaps we could collaborate. If you tuck yourself under my fins and cling onto my belly, I’ll be happy to give you a ride.”

“Oh Mr. Humpback, sir, I couldn’t possibly impose.”

“Nonsense! Poor fellow. I just happen to be on the way to visit a friend. He lives on an island, well to the south. The waters down there sound like they’ll be just what you need!”

The cuttlefish did as he was asked and when he was firmly attached, Gyro swept his huge tail and they were quickly on their way.

“Be sure to stick close, little fellow. The less resistance, the faster we’ll be there.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n.” The cuttlefish huddled close to the giant whale’s belly, and within half a day, they were in sight of the island.

“Thank you, Mr. Humpback, sir. You’ve saved my life. I should leave you now and let you visit your friend.”

“Perhaps you’d like to meet him. He’s a Unicorn, don’t you know?”

“Oh! A Unicorn! I would love to meet him!”

Another sweep of the tail, and they were in the bay, where a pure white Unicorn stood upon the shore.

“Gyro! Good to see you!” The Unicorn nickered and nodded his head.

“And you, Howard...” Gyro shook his passenger free, grabbed him in his mouth and tossed him to the shore.

“Here’s that sick squid I owe you, by the way...”