You Are Better ThanThat

Ageless lobster is strong, but the Catcher is younger.

Locked in a murderous embrace they drift slowly upwards.

( Like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, falling down Reichenbach Falls, but in the opposite direction)

They break the surface just as Nietzsche surmounts the last breaker.

He spies the two enemies fighting.

Stop! cries Nietzsche. You are better than that!

Nietzsche is proud of this sentence.  He has used it a lot, although generally with little effect.

Ptich! spits the Catcher, ripping at Ageless. I may be better than that, but he isn't!

This is what quite often happens.

Ageless takes advantage of the Catcher's momentary lapse of attention.

He reaches behind the Catcher and snaps off his swimming leg.

Yeow! cries the Catcher.

The Catcher pokes Ageless wildly in the rostrum. Then yanks his antennule.

Pax! cries Ageless. Pax, Portunus! I am blinded and smell-impaired now!

Foolishly, the Catcher stops pulling. Ageless lunges forward and bites off his testes.

Nietzsche is close now. One hand could stop this. But he will try words one more time.

Go apart, and seek solitude my brothers, says Nietzsche.

Wunderbar! Ageless and the Catcher drift apart.

Thank you, says the Catcher.

Thank you, says Ageless.

It was nothing, says Nietzsche.

It WAS nothing.

They were not thanking him, but each other.

Would you like a lift back to shore on my surfboard? asks Nietzsche.

Yes, they would, please.

He lifts them up.

Ageless, with his injured rostrum and antennule. The Catcher, with only one swimming leg, and no testes.

Nietzsche starts paddling. He looks up towards the cliff where Lauren and the others are watching.

How fine it would be if, instead of paddling, he caught a big wave in.

He stops and looks behind him. Yes, a big wave is coming.

Don't do it! advises Ageless.

Yes, don't do it, says the Catcher. I wouldn't.

I intend to try, says Nietzsche. Nothing ventured.....

The wave is very close now. Nietzsche stands.

Wobbles.

Surges forward.

..........

See that ! says Lauren.

What? I didn't see anything, says Surfing-With-Whales.