Mama Turtle, Kochi, and Mr. Hammerhead - Off We Go!

"Mama Turtle?" Kochi asked, as he crawled out from underneath her. "What happened to your flippers? Oh, they have been cut like Mr. Hammerhead's fin! I'll take care of you."

"Thank you," Mama Turtle said, still dizzy from her fall. "But how can you help me?"

"I got you here - didn't I?" Kochi demanded. "I am taking you somewhere - aren't I?"

"For the love of God!" Mr. Hammerhead said. "If you can, please save me now."

Kochi didn't get a chance to reply. They fell again, three of them, and landed with a splash in a giant glass-like container, like massive aquariums. Mr. Hammerhead and Kochi fell together in one glass aquarium, Mama Turtle fell into the next one. In front of them was a baby whale. There were more ahead of them, behind them, all linked, and on wheels. They were inside a glass tunnel and the ocean was above them. Kochi stared in wonder, while Mama Turtle and Mr. Hammerhead sent out a prayer of thanks.

"Aaaaaaaah!" Mama Turtle said, closing her eyes. "This water... is good. It eases my pain."

"Yes!" Mr. Hammerhead said, his eyes half-closed as well. "I can breathe now."

All of a sudden, there was a shout from somewhere above them -

"Stop! I'M MARTY, A CLOWN FROGFISH! I'VE LOST MY CORAL REEF! HELP!" (*)

Everyone looked up.

Through a tube-like entry point, came a small lumpy-looking fish, who fell with a splash into Mr. Hammerhead and Kochi's container. It was a clown frogfish, who was sobbing dreadfully.

"There, there," Mr. Hammerhead said gently. "Don't cry, Marty."

"We're ready to move now - I hope?" Kochi said. "Is everyone ready? Are we all on board?"

"STOP! STOP! STOP!" Another voice came from above them. "PLEASE. I BEG YOU."

"Who is it now?" Mr. Hammerhead asked, with a sigh.

"It's so tiny I can hardly see it," Mama Turtle said, peering.

"I'M A PORPITA-PORPITA," a blue button-like creature said. "I JUST ESCAPED MYSELF."(**)

"CAN WE START NOW?" Kochi said. "BEFORE WE ALL AGE AND DIE?"

The water-containers began to move. Slowly first, then picking up speed until they were at a brisk pace. A tunnel headed out of the ocean was to their left, but that was not the direction they turned toward. They descended, with a whoosh, then everything went dark.

"Anyone know where we're going?" the little Porpita-porpita piped up.

"An island in the North Pacific," Kochi said. "Named ZAFF-RE-GRALD."

TO BE CONTINUED.

(*): Marty's Egg Yolk and Raspberry Jam Problem

(**): How to Confuse A Jelly-Fish - Part I