Chapter Six
Harold and James quietly slinked their way up to the bridge while expecting the worst. To their shock and amazement they saw Captain Smith crouched down and dangling a herring above the water leaper's snapping jaws.
Even more surprising stewardess Mayda O'Brian was alive and well. She was even laughing at the tricks.
"You're alive!" James gasped.
"Yes, no thanks to either of ye!" Mayda coolly replied.
"Yes, gentlemen, you deck officers need to learn that you let the lady run first," Captain Smith said. "By the way, we have learned how to communicate with the water leaper?"
"What does it want?" Harold cautiously asked.
"A free meal."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"So, it doesn't want to eat Harry?" James asked.
"Oh, it did and but it's too full of fish right now."
"But it may try to eat him later?"
"I tend to doubt it. It doesn't like its food on the run."
The water leaper turned to look over Harold who promptly screamed and ran away shrieking that he didn't want to be made into a stew.
"It doesn't like fast food then?" James asked.
"It does not Mister Moody. For your information it also isn't interested in mating. It's not mating season. I can't tell what gender it is as it's revealing no secrets."
"I think they look at each other and get pregnant," Mayda said.
"Really? I've heard of some little yellow butterflies that do that! Nature really is fascinating."
"Now what do we do?" James interrupted.
"We can return it to the sea," Captain Smith said. "I do imagine this may not be the last time we see it."
"Poor Harry is never going to sleep again at this rate!"
Captain Smith carefully picked up the water leaper by its tail and left the bridge. With one swift movement he cast it back into the sea.
"You're being quite calm about this, sir," James remarked when the captain returned.
"I've been in odd situations. Wait until you see the mermaids, now they know how to party! Oh, and I need to go see Miss Ruby."
"Are ye goin' to be dancin' around a fairy ring tonight, sir?" Mayda asked.
"It won't be me, my dear. I've signed up Mister Lightoller, Moody, Lowe, Pitman, and Boxhall to her event. I'm sure it will be especially entertaining. The water leaper might even join in."
Though they were busy confusing passengers with their siblings act Henry and Will suddenly stopped.
"Did you just hear five men scream in unison?" Will asked.
End.
