Friday, April 15, 2022

Finding Bailey Chapter 4

Back at the Great Barrier Reef, Destiny went back to the sunken ship to visit Bruce and his gang of sharks and an eel. She had already found an alternative food source: algae and krill. Today was Step 4: Avoid the smell of blood. Destiny was behind the ship with Bruce, Anchor, Chum, and Murray.

“Today is Step 4,” Said Bruce. “Avoid the smell of blood. Want to know how I first met Chum?”

“How?” Asked Murray.

“It has been one year after I set up CAG, Carnivore’s Anonymous Group.” Bruce began. “It was only me and Anchor who made up the group. While looking for a third member, a shark charged at me like a torpedo! I grabbed him with my pectoral fins and didn’t let go until he calmed down. The first thing that I noticed when I first saw Chum was a fish hook stuck in his left nostril! He told me that he was caught by a fisherman, and a nosebleed caused him to attack them and go in a frenzy. I asked him if he would like to stop eating fish, and he agreed.”

“But why didn’t you yank the hook out?” Asked Destiny.

“I think it looks cool.” Replied Chum. He then looked at Destiny to see if she had any nostrils. “She doesn’t have nostrils, Bruce!”

“Good on you, mate!” Said Bruce.

———————————

The next day, Dory, Hank, and Bailey were now off the coast of Rockaway Beach, Oregon. Dory was telling Bailey about the epic adventure she and Marlin had when they went to find Nemo.

“And then there was this monster with sharp-teeth!” She said. “And strapped to it was something that said, don’t tell me.... P Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney!”

“You were able to remember that despite your disability?” Asked Bailey, whose nasal accent started going away with the colder climate they were approaching.

“Yes!” Said Dory. “Let me try again. P Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney! I remembered it again!” Suddenly, Hank noticed something: It was a boat, and humans were using a fishing net on a school of Albacore tuna!

“Dory!” He shouted. “Look out! Fishing net!”

“A fishing net?” Asked Dory, who then got caught in a net herself. “Aaahhh!!! Help!”

“I’ll save you, Dory!” Said Bailey. “One pull on the net, and the boat will capsize!”

“Sorry, that’s a no.” Said Hank. “If they see you, they might kill you, or worse, send you to an amateur aquarium!”

“Kill me?” Asked Bailey. “Swim for your life!” And he swam off as soon as the humans set their eyes on him.

“I know what to do, Hank!” Said Dory. “We have to tell all the fish to swim down!”

“As much as I like you, Dory,” Hank detested. “I have to decline that offer. You can do it if you want, but I want to give these humans a taste of their own medicine.” As Dory told the other fish to swim down, Hank climbed the outsides of the net and came across two fisherman.

“Look, it’s an octopus!” Said one fisherman. “Maybe we could turn him into calamari!”

“That’s squid, you idiot!” Said the other fisherman. “But we could always cut off his tentacles and fry them!” Hank then stood on four of his tentacles and sprayed ink at them.

“I can’t see a thing!” Said the second fisherman as Hank freed the schools of tuna.

“At least it can’t get any worse.” Said the first fisherman, only for the other net to nearly capsize the boat by Dory and another school of tuna.

“Next time,” Said the second fisherman. “We’ll do clamming, instead.” After Dory and the tuna escaped, Hank jumped back in the water and asked her where Bailey went.

“Where’s Bailey?” He asked. Shortly after that, Bailey returned to the fish and octopus.

“Sorry that I swam off.” Said Bailey. “I’m a catfish, sometimes.”

“Do you have the crumpet, Hank?” Asked Dory.

“It’s right here!” Said Hank, extending his tentacle to show the compass. “We better get going. It’s going to be a long swim.” The three of them then continued their long swim to Alaska.

Author's Notes: The backstory I created for Chum, one of Bruce's friends in Finding Nemo, is inspired by how Bruce went crazy after smelling blood. I also wanted to find a reason how Chum had the hook stuck in his nostril.
Albacore tuna are smaller than typical tuna, but they can live up to 12 years. These fish live in the Mediterranean.

No comments:

Post a Comment