Partly because he is bleeding.
Partly because they can't stop, due to being obligate ram breathers, the result of non-functioning spiracles.
Guys..... begins Sweezus.
Then he notices: Woah! Their eyes look heaps funny.
Their eyes have rolled back. They are sleep swimming.
Arthur doesn't know the sharks are sleep swimming. He tries to kick one away.
The kicked one wakes up.
Gblgblwok! Who did that? Is it a seal? Or a person? One way to find out is: TEST BITING!
The shark opens its jaws and closes them round Arthur's leg.
A complication arises.
It spots Sweezus.
Another one!
Great white sharks can sense animal generated electromagnetic fields as little as half a billionth of a volt from some way off.
And somewhere, someone has thrown eel ends into the water!
Meanwhile shark number one ( the kicked one) has come to a conclusion.
Arthur has too many bones.
Both great white sharks head off to the shallows where Ssü-K'ung Shu has discarded his eel scum.
The dark bay waters run deep and silent. Arthur feels his leg for teeth marks.
Thanks, bro, says Arthur. You saved me.
No worries, bro, says Sweezus.
.........
Half an hour later, outside Number Six cabin.
A knock on the door.
Yoohoo! It's Irene! How's that eel stew going? I've brought you an onion! Oh! Who's behind me?
Vello opens the door. And eely-oily lemony smell floats from the cabin.
Irene stumbles in, followed by Sweezus and Arthur.
Ah! says Irene, are these your young friends? I'll just leave the onion, and get going.
She's about to leave when she notices Arthur is bleeding. Oh dear!
Ssü-K'ung Shu hands Arthur a tea towel.
Shark bit me, says Arthur, showing Shu the teeth marks.
Did you see it? asks Irene.
There were two of them, says Arthur. Circling.
Is that normal? asks Irene, looking at Vello.
Why ask me? says Vello. Here give me that onion. Or is it too late for an onion? What do you think, Shu?
Too late for an onion? says Shu. Is there a time frame?
Are you sure you know how to cook? says Vello.
Sweezus sniffs the eel-oily atmosphere. Not delightful.
How hard can it be? I'll do the onion.
So, says Irene, do sharks usually swim about in pairs, Mr Cousteau?
Oh, oh, hmm, err, yes, sometimes, says Vello. As I have observed many times from the windows of my underwater dirigible......sometimes they roam about in packs, looking for anything at all that is dangling.....
Good heavens, says Irene.
Yes indeed, says Vello. No doubt Arthur was dangling.
Bleeding, says Irene. They're attracted by bleeding.
And bleeding, says Vello. Has it stopped yet? This stew could do with more colour.
Everyone looks shocked, except Arthur, who likes the suggestion.
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