The Cruise of the Talking Fish by W E Bowman

Author:W E Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473549531
Publisher: Random House

16 Only a Miracle Can Save Us

I am writing this on top of my cabin, where we have retreated to escape the cats. They are now feet deep on the deck, doing things more quickly than ever. Somewhere amidst the seething mass kittens are being born at an unprecedented rate, and Batters is getting all the suffering he could ask for. There is nothing we can do about it. Even if we could agree to throw them overboard it is too late to do so; they have turned vicious, and it is as much as we can do to defend ourselves against them. At their present rate of breeding they will overflow us in a day or two, and that will be the end.

We discuss the possibilities of escape. Willy hopes the cats will start falling into the sea; but so far they show no sign of doing so. Hugo puts his faith in our finding an island. He has found one on his chart and says that for all he knows it might be just over the horizon. C.J. says we ought to prepare our souls for the worst; he is preparing his in the middle of the roof, out of reach of the jumping cats. I try to do the same; but with little success. I have just discovered an unsuspected weakness in my character. I find that although I would not want to have drowned the cats myself I should be a great deal happier than I am if Willy had drowned them. I cannot reconcile this with my philosophy; and until I have done so I shall not be fit to die.

The truth has been kept from Neptune; but he senses our mood and is an unhappy oyster. His depression has communicated itself to Darwin, and they sit in their cage like two small monuments of misery. The pearl is quite off-colour, and the milk has curdled.

Moby Charlie has deserted us, which seems like an omen. I fear that the end is very close. Only a miracle can save us.

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