Pinocchio under the sea

by Gemma Mongiardini-Rembadi

No one had ever told Pinocchio what this fish was. Still, even he could easily guess its name. Its strange shape is so much like that of a large hammer that it is unmistakable. It was the terrible hammer that Tursio had spoken about.

“I am lost,” breathed Pinocchio, closing his eyes and throwing himself flat amongst the seaweed.

Who could have blamed the poor boy for being frightened? He had seen that large gray mass coming nearer and nearer with wide-open mouth. He had seen the large black and gold eyes at the ends of the head, gleaming brightly with thinking of the coming feast. Poor fellow!

But just as he was imagining himself in the shark’s mouth Pinocchio realized that the minutes were passing and that he was still alive.

“He may have changed his mind about committing a marionetticide,” he reflected with eyes still closed.

Time passed, and thinking that the shark had not courage enough to attack him, Pinocchio had the courage to—open his eyes. He could hardly believe what he saw. The shark was moving away. Still, he could see that the fish was going because he had to, not because he wanted to. Looking more carefully then, he saw a strange sight. Three small fish were sticking to the sides of the hammerhead, and were pulling him away. Our hero had never seen such strange-looking animals as those three fishes. They were small and narrow, and on their heads each had a large flat object, which looked just like a dish.

If the dolphins had been there, they would have told Pinocchio that these dark-colored fish are called remora. With the flat disk they can attach themselves to other fish. Sometimes they let themselves be carried. At other times, when they feel in the mood for mischief, they pull others along wherever they wish. This is what happened to the shark.

“Those fish certainly saved my life,” thought Pinocchio. “But I hope the shark won’t do to them what he wanted to do to me.”

Feeling in need of a place of safety, he tried to hide himself in a large hole in a rock. But he had hardly put one foot in, when he felt his shoe being pulled off by a large claw. Two eyes at the ends of two long sticks glared ferociously at him. It was a large lobster. Pinocchio had disturbed Mr. Lobster while he was looking for dinner, and so had been punished. Happily for Pinocchio the lobster was satisfied with the shoe! If the claw had taken hold of the foot also, it might even have gone through the wood, and then, poor Pinocchio!

In disturbing the lobster our hero must certainly have offended its whole family. Before he could realize it, the sand before him was full of horrible crustaceans. Frightened out of his wits, he could just look and wonder when they would stop coming. From every hole in the rock they came, little ones, big ones, flat ones, round ones.