Page 11 - Nutshell 1

Horatio Algae Turns the Tide

Horatio Algae, recently retired from the Emergency Oil Spill Task
Force, was relaxing with his colony of cyanobacteria in a tide pool in the
coastal rocks of Southern California. A large wave washed over the pool’s
basin, bringing with it another of his phylum. Horatio recognized the
newcomer instantly.
“Algernon Bloom! I haven’t seen you since that off-shore platform
collapse up in Santa Barbara.”
“Eh? Who is that?” Bloom wiggled over to the other alga. “Is that
you, Horatio?”
“Yes, it’s me, old friend. I never thought we’d meet again. What
strange quirk of fate has brought you here?”
“No quirk at all,” explained the visitor. “I’ve been traveling up and
down the coast for many moons with a very important message.”

Horatio, despite his resolve to remain merely an observer of the
foibles and follies of marine flora and fauna, felt the old excitement
pulsing in his membrane.
“Oh?” he said, “And what might that be?”
Algernon was somber. “A new threat has arisen. It’s terribly serious,
but nobody will listen to me. I hope you will.”