Chapter 384
In the realm of misfortune, Milly found herself ensnared. Just as the prospect of triumph gleamed near, a swell surged towards her.
Splash!
Though the wave lacked force to hurl Milly into the brine, it bespattered droplets that dampened her grasp upon the rocky
crevices. Stones once sleek grew slicker still with the added moisture, and swiftly her fingers began to slide.
It was the end…
Her strength waned.
With teeth clenched, Milly summoned her final reserves, seizing the fishing net and flinging it vehemently toward the distant sea. In this act, she slipped entirely from the rock…
Splash! The seawater enveloped her senses, ears and eyes inundated from every direction, accompanied by vertigo and anguish.
Strangely, at that juncture, Milly harboured no remorse. A pang of remorse stung her for perishing upon the isle her brother had dispatched her to…
Through the fog, she fancied she glimpsed the juvenile great white she had just cast away buzzing towards her, tail wagging desperately, ensnared still in the ragged fishing net.
Milly was speechless.
Was this little rogue defying her? She had cast it forth with all her might, yet here it swam again!
Had her rescue been in vain?!
Wait…
Something felt awry…
Gliding towards her was not solely the naive juvenile great white, but also a colossal great white shark, stretching seven to eight meters-a veritable sovereign of the deep!
The great white shark trailed cautiously after the juvenile, likely its progenitor.
Milly was in disbelief.
What was this fledgling intending? She had saved it, only for it to summon its mother for a repast?
As her form descended deeper, the seawater slowly eroded her limbs and entrails. Her consciousness ebbed…
Well, death was inexorable. If they craved a repast, so be it. Should they decline, other sea creatures would indulge.
Milly found herself in exhaustion, her eyes closing slowly as she awaited the final ebb of oxygen from her lungs and the inevitable approach of death.
Perhaps it was a trick of her psyche, but she felt no pain coming for her. There was no feeling of being devoured. No, instead she felt herself elevating somewhere.
Milly was confused.
Could this be a last moment’s illusion?
With a reluctant opening of her eyes, she saw the vast mother great white shark, which had followed the baby great white earlier and was now swimming beneath her. With its colossal form, it gently lifted her, ascending steadily. It seemed careful of its dorsal fins, so as not to harm her, choosing a flat spot on its back to bear her weight.
So, it wasn’t here to consume her, but to save her?
In essence, while she rescued the baby great white, this mother had been nearby all along. Seeing her plunge into the water, it hastened to her rescue?
Was this what they called the ‘awareness of all things’?
Splash!
“Cough, cough, cough…”
At last, Milly emerged, greedily drawing in the fresh air around her. After a bout of coughing, she expelled the seawater from her lungs.
The great white shark gently guided her to the shore, emitting a deep buzzing sound, suggesting she could disembark. The baby great white, trailing behind, circled with excitement, visibly jubilant.
Yet, one couldn’t help but notice the fishing net still entangled around its head, appearing rather foolish and oblivious.
Understanding they posed no threat, Milly sighed with relief. She tenderly patted the great white shark’s back and whispered softly, “Wait a moment, I’ll remove the fishing net from the little one’s head first. It’s riddled with wounds; if we delay, they could fester.”
Buzz, buzz, buzz… resonated the deep voice of the great white shark, its gaze upon the baby great white akin to a parent observing their playful child at home.
Milly was a little amused.
Ah, so all parents look at their kids like they’re idi*ts when they do stupid stuff.
The young great white shark, heedless of its mother’s minor vexation, swam towards her in obedient curiosity, nudging her leg with its cocked head.
Charmed by its affection, Milly extended her hand to tenderly caress its head. With practiced ease, she untangled the knotted fishing net ensnaring its form and flung the decrepit strands towards the shoreline, ensuring they posed no threat to other seal creatures.
Liberated from the entanglement, the juvenile great white circled exuberantly around its mother, manifesting palpable joy. Yet, the elder shark, mildly exasperated by its exuberance, administered a reprimanding flick of its tail, propelling the youngster a short distance away before resuming a composed demeanour.
Amused by their exchange, Milly reached out once more to console the crestfallen juvenile, whispering softly, “Your injuries are but minor abrasions. Rest beside your mother; you shall mend swiftly, I assure you.”
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
“Such a dutiful creature.”
As Milly prepared to ascend to the shore, her gaze discerned an unexpected sight on the mother great white’s flank-a profusion of goose barnacles…
Goose barnacles, known for their proclivity to adhere to larger marine entities, subsisted by siphoning nutrients from their hosts. Even the formidable sharks, sovereigns of the oceanic domain, found themselves powerless once these diminutive hitchhikers took hold.
The secretions from these barnacles elicited an agonizing itch upon the host’s hide, a torment they bore relentlessly.
To sharks, goose barnacles were an irritant; to humanity, a coveted marine delicacy of unparalleled rarity and difficulty in procurement. A pound of goose barnacles commanded prices nearing 22.5 bucks in the market, with superior specimens fetching up to 75 bucks per pound!
Here lay this culinary treasure before her…
“Cough, cough. Allow me to cleanse these barnacles from your form, and you’ll find relief,” Milly proposed, addressing the mother great white with a hint of concern, gesturing towards the encrusted barnacles.
To her astonishment, the great white shark comprehended her intent with apparent clarity. It acquiesced docilely, turning its bulk to facilitate her efforts.
Milly rejoiced inwardly at its understanding and cooperation. With meticulous care, she dislodged the barnacles from its massive frame, completing one side with a substantial yield.
Just as she prepared to depart, the great white shark shifted subtly, emitting a series of buzzes, suggesting she attended to the other flank as well.