Cool Names

Captain Baudin tows the Nachoo away from the rocks.

He stops towing.

The Nachoo bobs up and down on the surface.

Come out, lad, says Captain Baudin.

I'm out, says the baby cuttlefish, coming out.

Face that way, says Captain Baudin. Tell me what you see.

Rocks and bushes, says the baby cuttlefish.

Very good, says Captain Baudin. Now, as to the mapping...

Yes, says the baby cuttlefish. 

Of course I didn't do my own mapping, says Captain Baudin. 

Who did it? asks the baby cuttlefish.

My surveyor, says Captain Baudin. He took his theodolite, chains and compasses and disappeared, sometimes for up to three days.

Does that mean you don't know how to do mapping? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Not quite, says Captain Baudin. Because I know what he did. He measured the angles.

Let's do that, says the baby cuttlefish.

We can't, without the proper the equipment, says Captain Baudin.

How will I learn? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Captain Baudin ponders.

Are you interested in botany? asks Captain Baudin.

What is botany? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Trees and bushes, says Captain Baudin. You've already spotted some bushes.

Does that mean I'd be good at it? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Yes, says Captain Baudin. As a botanist, you go ashore for up to three days, but you don't have to measure the angles.

So what will I be doing? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Picking up samples, and bringing them back to the vessel, says Captain Baudin.

Samples of bushes? asks the baby cuttlefish.

Not only bushes, says Captain Baudin. Flowers and grasses. 

I can do that, says the baby cuttlefish. 

It won't be easy, says Captain Baudin. My botanist had fingers for collecting his specimens.

I have eight arms, says the baby cuttlefish.

So you do, says Captaing Baudin. And you have your own Nachoo. Would you like me to tow you ashore, so you can make a start on your new occupation?

Yes, captain, says the baby cuttlefish. 

You remind me of my former botanist, says Captain Baudin. He too was respectful.

What was his name? asks the baby cuttlefish.

A long name, says Captain Baudin. As I recall, it was Jean Baptiste Louis-Claude Theodore Leschenault de la Tour.

I wish I had a name, says the baby cuttlefish.

Take one of his, says Captain Baudin.

The baby cuttlefish is excited, 

He's going to be a botanist.

With a choice of cool names.