Read Online Eye of the Whale by Douglas Carlton Abrams - Free Book Online
Authors: Douglas Carlton Abrams
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father bring in the whale, and he knew that the children’s stomachs were groaning with hunger as they waited for the feast that would soon be theirs.
Several young boys were swimming in the bloodstained water around the carcass, eager to get as close as they could to the enormous monster. Numerous yachts carrying wealthy Americans, Canadians, and Europeans looked for anchorages in the rough shallows. Their countries had abandoned the hunt for the leviathan and now condemned it, but these foreign families could not hide their fascination.
The crew was working hard, and much of the blubber had already been flensed into three-foot-long white strips. These were being boiled down in cast-iron coppers, and the air was thick with the sticky smoke of cooking fat. Teo felt it on his skin and in his nose and lungs.
He glanced at the official from the Japanese government, standing on the bloodied slab in his suit and smiling as if he owned the place. He gave Teo a thumbs-up. Behind the man, Teo could see theenormous Japanese factory fishing boat in the distance. Some said it had received permission to fish these waters in exchange for development money. Teo’s lip curled as he swallowed his distaste for the islanders’ newest “investors.” The old whaling station was good enough. They hadn’t needed this new one or the devil’s bargain that had been made to get it.
K AZUMI LOOKED AT the carcasses of the whales with pride, knowing the role he had played in the success of the hunt. The cultural celebration reminded him of the traditions he had witnessed during the dolphin hunt in Taiji, and as he looked into the faces of the young children, he knew they were dreaming of someday being on the whale crew. Traditions were important to hold on to; they were so quickly slipping away all around the world.
He had brought joy to the island and would soon bring prosperity. The large budget of the Japanese Fisheries Development Department allowed him to be a benefactor for many. He took special pride in knowing that these children would be studying at the new school he was instrumental in helping to fund. The department also supported individuals and institutions that were essential to its goals—including Elizabeth McKay’s university.
R AFEE HELD OUT a part of the calf they had cut off, smiling wide. “Here your trophy, Cap.”
Before Teo could respond, Uree shouted, “Cap, Noble say come quick.” There was worry in his voice.
Teo hurried over to Noble, followed by Uree and Rafee.
“Cap, somethin wrong with the calf.”
Teo looked at where the butcher had split open the calf and was shocked to find oozing sores and lumps like nothing he’d ever seen.He winced at the strange odor coming from the whale’s carcass. “Dump the calf. Take the motorboat and dump it.”
“Whole whale?” Rafee asked.
“We eat the cow,” Teo said.
“Cap, is a whale we wasting.”
“I say dump it. That final. ” His tone did not invite further comment.
Teo walked away from the crowd buzzing around the carcasses. Rafee was still looking after him, holding the whale part, incomprehension on his face. The whalermen were talking about how they were going to drag the calf back into the sea, but no one’s heart was in it.
K AZUMI SAW THE WHALE PART that Rafee held, its pink flesh draped over his hands like a sacred offering.
“I’d be interested in buying that from you, sir. Name a price,” Kazumi said.
“Sorry, this not for sale. This the captain’s trophy. He’ll be wanting it when he back in his right mind.”
Kazumi noticed something strange about it, something that confirmed his worst fears about the whales. “Five hundred dollars, U.S.”
“Happy to take your money, but is not mine to sell.”
T EO LOOKED OUT from the cay into Friendship Bay. The bright blue, gray, and red roofs spread across the lush slope of the island. He had handed the shotgun to Rafee and told him to keep watch. Teo had had enough.
Several young boys were swimming in the bloodstained water around the carcass, eager to get as close as they could to the enormous monster. Numerous yachts carrying wealthy Americans, Canadians, and Europeans looked for anchorages in the rough shallows. Their countries had abandoned the hunt for the leviathan and now condemned it, but these foreign families could not hide their fascination.
The crew was working hard, and much of the blubber had already been flensed into three-foot-long white strips. These were being boiled down in cast-iron coppers, and the air was thick with the sticky smoke of cooking fat. Teo felt it on his skin and in his nose and lungs.
He glanced at the official from the Japanese government, standing on the bloodied slab in his suit and smiling as if he owned the place. He gave Teo a thumbs-up. Behind the man, Teo could see theenormous Japanese factory fishing boat in the distance. Some said it had received permission to fish these waters in exchange for development money. Teo’s lip curled as he swallowed his distaste for the islanders’ newest “investors.” The old whaling station was good enough. They hadn’t needed this new one or the devil’s bargain that had been made to get it.
K AZUMI LOOKED AT the carcasses of the whales with pride, knowing the role he had played in the success of the hunt. The cultural celebration reminded him of the traditions he had witnessed during the dolphin hunt in Taiji, and as he looked into the faces of the young children, he knew they were dreaming of someday being on the whale crew. Traditions were important to hold on to; they were so quickly slipping away all around the world.
He had brought joy to the island and would soon bring prosperity. The large budget of the Japanese Fisheries Development Department allowed him to be a benefactor for many. He took special pride in knowing that these children would be studying at the new school he was instrumental in helping to fund. The department also supported individuals and institutions that were essential to its goals—including Elizabeth McKay’s university.
R AFEE HELD OUT a part of the calf they had cut off, smiling wide. “Here your trophy, Cap.”
Before Teo could respond, Uree shouted, “Cap, Noble say come quick.” There was worry in his voice.
Teo hurried over to Noble, followed by Uree and Rafee.
“Cap, somethin wrong with the calf.”
Teo looked at where the butcher had split open the calf and was shocked to find oozing sores and lumps like nothing he’d ever seen.He winced at the strange odor coming from the whale’s carcass. “Dump the calf. Take the motorboat and dump it.”
“Whole whale?” Rafee asked.
“We eat the cow,” Teo said.
“Cap, is a whale we wasting.”
“I say dump it. That final. ” His tone did not invite further comment.
Teo walked away from the crowd buzzing around the carcasses. Rafee was still looking after him, holding the whale part, incomprehension on his face. The whalermen were talking about how they were going to drag the calf back into the sea, but no one’s heart was in it.
K AZUMI SAW THE WHALE PART that Rafee held, its pink flesh draped over his hands like a sacred offering.
“I’d be interested in buying that from you, sir. Name a price,” Kazumi said.
“Sorry, this not for sale. This the captain’s trophy. He’ll be wanting it when he back in his right mind.”
Kazumi noticed something strange about it, something that confirmed his worst fears about the whales. “Five hundred dollars, U.S.”
“Happy to take your money, but is not mine to sell.”
T EO LOOKED OUT from the cay into Friendship Bay. The bright blue, gray, and red roofs spread across the lush slope of the island. He had handed the shotgun to Rafee and told him to keep watch. Teo had had enough.
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