The Magic Minute

 By Harriet May Savitz                         

                                          7^th Happening

             The first Fish to arrive at the Summit Meeting were the Sharks.  They had heard the Moray Eel was getting together a good fight.  They had also heard there was an important message delivered from LOWER DOWN to the Fish.

            Usually when a Shark was nearby, sea animals cowered for the Shark was one of the greediest eaters and killers.  To be feared, for certain.

            The Shark who was facing the Moray Eel was 40 feet long, with skin covered with scales.  When she opened her mouth to speak, there were several rows of long sharp teeth that looked threatening indeed.  The Shark never worried about losing any of his teeth, for as soon as one left, another grew to take its place.  Usually the Moray Eel would be concerned by the proximity of this Shark.  But now there was no need to worry about the long sharp teeth accompanying the 40 foot long Shark.  LOWER DOWN had promised there would be no enemies to fear during this Magic Minute.  It would be a slice of time given to them when all things were possible, and nothing would be as it had been.

            “I heard we have to go after the Tenants,” said the Shark to the Moray Eel.  “It should be a good fight.  I’ve been needing a good fight for a long time.”  The Shark looked pleased and eager to get going.

            More Sharks arrived.  Hammerheads, Whale Sharks, White Sharks and even the Blue Sharks.  The largest among them, the Whale Shark, was more than 50 feet long and had jaws large enough to swallow a tenant if he chose.  The Whale Shark was eager to get going.  “I have never met a Tenant that I liked,” the Whale Shark said.  “They are nothing but BAD NEWS.  They get in the way and they certainly never look like they know where they are going.  I think the sooner we get rid of them, the better.”

            The Basking Shark had his own reasons to get rid of the Tenants.  Usually he spent his time basking in the sun when he came to the surface, but now there would be no sunbathing until this job was done.  An order had come from LOWER DOWN and there would be no sunbathing until the TENANTS were destroyed.  At least that is the way the Basking Shark thought about it.  The TENANTS had proven they only cared about themselves.  Certainly they did not care about the sea or anything in it.

            The White Shark, known as the Maneater, the Blue Shark, named for its color, and the Hammerheads, with their hammer-shaped heads, felt the same way as the Basking Shark when asked about it.

            “The TENANTS think they have all the power,” said the Blue Shark.  “Let’s show them just who is powerful.”

            “Someone needs to teach them a lesson,” said the Hammerhead.  “We have been silent too long.”

            “They are no match for us,” said the White Shark.

            Other Eels arrived at the Summit Meeting.  The Electric Eel, not a true Eel, but looking enough like an Eel with its long snake-like body and its strong electric shock, caused an uneasy stir when it arrived.  One did not want to make an enemy of the Electric Eel.

            But the Moray Eel reminded everyone that this was a Summit Meeting, and they were joined in one purpose.  They had one enemy.  The TENANTS.  All of their anger, and their weapons were aimed toward one goal.  “Get rid of the TENANTS and get rid of the BAD NEWS.”

            The Conger Eel arrived next.  The Swallowers and Gulphers followed.  All those who arrived kept their distance from the Sharks, for it was well known that they were the greediest eaters of all the sea animals.  It would not be easy to put aside old habits.

            The Whale Shark, the largest among them, and like her fellow Sharks, had as her diet every sea animal available, including her own kind.  But now she spoke quietly and with genuine friendliness to those who were gathering nearby.  “I feel so friendly toward everyone here today,” she said convincingly to the Armored Catfish, the Pipefishes, and Seahorses.  Though they were coated with their own armor of hard scales overlapping like shingles, and often bearing tiny needle-like spines which easily provided their protection, they remained uneasy so close to the Whale Shark.

            “I feel different than I have ever felt before,” said the Whale Shark.  “Almost pleasant.  As if all of us are one.  United.  Do you feel that way also?”

            The Armored Catfish, the Pipefishes, and Seahorses appreciated the Whale Shark’s sudden comradeship.  They just hoped the gigantic Shark was enjoying a period of fasting which they were known to do for long periods of time, rather than the hearty feeding frenzies their appetites demanded.

            “We certainly do feel friendlier toward each other,” they admitted.  They believed this Magic Minute would continue to protect them from the fifty foot long Shark who usually enjoyed eating everything available. 

            LOWER DOWN said it would be so.  They would be protected by the Magic Minute for as long as it lasted.  None of them was sure how long that would be.

                “Just relax, will you.”  The common Puffer offered his input.  A flabby looking fish, he moved about with little fear.  If he were attacked, all he had to do was fill a special bladder-like chamber with sea water to defend himself  But now he didn’t have to worry, he told the others.  “We’re like one big family.  I never felt like I was part of a family before.”  The Armored Catfish actually agreed with the Common Puffer, which was a most unusual occurrence.

            The Angler Fish cruised nearby, glowing with a lighted lure in front of him that looked like a lit antennae.  The light in the lure was supplied by luminous bacteria shining through a skin that had lost its pigment.  For the moment, he enjoyed just cruising among the large gathering.

            Arriving soon after were the Kissing Fish who played their tug of war game even now to test their strength, holding their mouths open and grasping each other by the jaws, pushing and pulling in the water.

            “Let’s keep an order to this Summit Meeting,” reminded the Moray Eel.  The Kissing Fish settled down.  The Moray Eel was unaccustomed to giving orders and having someone follow them.   But to his surprise, more fish kept coming to this Summit Meeting than he would have imagined.  And they were coming because of him and the message he had to deliver.  To have such power delighted the Moray Eel..  They were waiting to hear what he had to say and he had no idea yet what that would be.  For the message from LOWER DOWN said much without saying anything.

            The Flying Fish glided through the air.  The transparent fish looked like their bodies were made of glass as they joined the meeting, and along with them, the Archer Fish who shot water at its prey, and even the Black Swallower joined the group.  The Swallower had such a large stomach; it could swallow other fish whole, sometimes fish larger than the Swallower itself.

            The Moray Eel felt the discomfort of the others increase as the Black Swallower made her way within the group.  It was time now to share his idea.  The idea that had come to the Moray Eel in the middle of the night.  He had never had an idea before the message from LOWER DOWN and it felt strange, like bright lights going on in his head.  The idea grew stronger until the Moray Eel felt he would burst if he didn’t share it.

*   *   *