Pinocchio under the sea

by Gemma Mongiardini-Rembadi

In fact, a short distance away, a terrific fight was in progress. The wolf had now attacked the baby whale. This made the mother furious. She tried to hit the shark with her tail, but he was too quick for her. The poor cetacean was getting the worst of it. The wolf’s mouth, provided with four hundred sharp teeth, was tearing the whale’s side to pieces. Blood was pouring from them both, and it seemed as if the whale could not hold out much longer.

A second dark body now made its appearance. It was as long as the whale, but much larger. Its head was enormous, and from the top of it rose a single high column of water.

“The sperm whale! The cachalot!” breathed Marsovino, and it seemed to Pinocchio that the dolphin turned pale.

It was not to be mistaken! It was the terrible whale! And he seemed not at all frightened by the sight of the fighters. Instead, opening wide his mouth—and such a mouth—he threw himself on them. With a snap of the great jaws the sea wolf’s tail disappeared.

And then, as if the battle were not fierce enough, a long bladelike object appeared on the scene. The sides of the blade were provided with sharp teeth. Behind the blade was a dark head. The new arrival was the sawfish, coming to see what the matter was. Without much ado it started to deal blows, first on this side, then on that.

Not even the sperm whale escaped the terrible saw. Long ragged tears were soon seen on its body. Cries of pain were heard on all sides. The sea was a sea of blood.

Finally the whale, seeing that she was lost if she stayed there long, tried to escape. As swiftly as she could, she swam away with her baby.

Though the whale was gone, the fight still raged. The wolf and the saw, although both of the same family, are sworn enemies. Not paying much attention to the sperm whale, they started to battle with each other. But the wolf was so exhausted by the loss of blood that it could not do much. The cachalot, seeing himself overlooked, threw himself on the sawfish. But as quick as a flash the sawfish dived and came up on the other side of the giant. Angrier than ever, the whale now turned to the wolf and in an instant snapped his head off.

The whale was satisfied. Pouring blood from twenty wounds, he left the field of battle. The sawfish was left alone in all his glory. He was hurt but little. Very calmly he started to make a dinner of the sea wolf, or at least of what was left of him.