Lou the Shrimp - Canto IV: The Adventurer

The Song of Lou
Canto IV: The Adventurer

Canto I
Canto II
Canto III

“A whole phalanx of the Prawn army is descending upon us! Lou, the twelve of us cannot defeat that horde. We have no chance. We must either surrender, or die.”

“Joey, do not despair. It is me they want.” Again, he had the look in his eyestalk. Again, destiny urged its will. “I will go to them. I will go now.”

O, mellifluous Laurie, inspiration and guide. Please inspire these brittle mouthparts to speak. Imbue my tale with the gravity of your wisdom, the scope of your ken, and the brevity of your patience. Please help me wake up Doug and Lisa.

Through darkened trenches and silent currents Lou and Malaco skittered to Lou’s old secret meeting place.

Back in the dungeon of the palace, Terterus’ rage slowly turned to calm. He was surprised at the sense of relief he felt at the lifting of the weight of his long held secret. “Yes, he was a shrimp,” he spoke as if to Lou, though only the stone walls heard, “Yes, I, like you, am a foundling.” As he spoke a cold calm came over his face. “Yes, the legend it is. The role I must act out is before me. Father, you must die. But how? Yes, I know the role, but where are my lines? What is my cue?”

Malaco had curled up in the corner to sleep, but Lou treaded, unable to sleep, staring out the window at Estuaria below. “Why me? I just want to live my life like anyone else, eat algae, swim, fertilize a nice, freshly molted female. I didn’t ask to be a hero. This is no game. This is my life.”

Just before dawn the alarm began to sound in the distance. The few shrimps out scattered. The Pratols began to organize and move with purpose. A struggle in the palace square grabbed his attention. It was a shrimp being dragged into the center by some prawns. “Oh no! It’s Mr. Fringe!” As Lou made for the door, Malaco’s firm claw quieted his anxiety. Another group of prawns came from the palace dragging a martini glass with them. There was a swift motion from one of guards. They left what used to be Mr. Fringe slumped over the lip of the glass.

“If we’re going to do this, let’s do it. We need to get Joey, Sam and the others.” Lou’s rostrum was set and firm.

“Lou, shouldn’t we—“

“—It’s Caridio. Time wasted is lives wasted. Let’s go.”

The next night found Caridio, Malaco, Joey, Sam, Betty, and Norman high above Estuaria in the Outer Reef. Believing they had escaped unnoticed, they decided to rest there for the night. None of them noticed the bulky shrimp retreating quietly from the shadows below back toward town.

“Charge!”

The shell trumpets blew and thunderous surges from the advancing army jolted the refugees awake.

“They’re upon us! There must be hundreds of them!” Norman beat a hasty retreat, followed closely by Betty and Sam.

“Caridio, come on. I’ll guard your back.” It was Joey. Malaco and Joey pushed Caridio to turn and run, which he did.

“Did you see who was leading the Prawns to us?” Malaco called as they darted through the coral.

“It was a shrimp, but one I don’t know,” replied Joey.

“His name is Troy. Troy Tailwhipper.”

The trio soon came upon Norman, Betty, and Sam. They had stopped at the far edge of the Outer Reef. Few from Estuaria had ever ventured this far. No one had ever gone further. Beyond in the darkness all they could see was a flat sand plain.

Malaco was convinced that there was another reef just beyond where they could see, but the others thought it was suicide.

“Here they come!” squealed Sam.

“We’re done for.”

“It’s me they want. You all go with Malaco. He will lead you to safety.”

They didn’t budge.

“Remember who I am. Caridio commands you to go.” Fate was guiding him. Malaco got them going. Once started, they made great haste.

Caridio followed close behind at first, then slowed, then stopped and turned.

“Terterus, brother, do not pursue me.”

Prawns lined the edge of the coral. They had stopped there, but at Lou’s words, Terterus angrily held up the cocktail toothpick. The entire prawn army began their charge.

“It is your mistake, Terterus.” Lou’s words were drowned in the thunder of swimmerettes. He looked up and waited. Then, as the prawns looked about to pounce on him, he darted beneath the sand. In a blur of confusion and a cloud of mud the entire prawn army disappeared.

It was Norman, looking back, who said it first. “It.. it’s the netting of the nine hundred.”

Lou reappeared from under the sand and caught up with his followers. For followers they now were. No longer would they question Caridio. No longer would they look upon his face without awe. No longer was anyone like him. Lou was once again alone.

Next Issue:
Canto V: The Hero