The Crab Doctor and the Lobster: A Maritime Film Noir 2

Nephrops Norvegicus.  aka Prawn. Langoustine. Scampi.

Scene 2: North Sea. Cromer Pier. Underwater.

They set up office in the shelter of Cromer Pier. The tide was ebbing, people were packing up. The doctor tried whistling but it was no go.

*

The doctor was filing his prescriptions. Scampi was filing her abdomen. There was a lot of filing to be done. The North Sea could be cold.

*

The doctor was getting used to having someone around. The sea felt better, fresher, more crablike. Dreaming again? asked the lobster. Cute.

*

Langoustine was laid back. She shifted with the currents. Chill, she said. The doctor frowned and drew himself up to his full crab height.

*

Let us, said the doctor, take care to descend into the depths. The Islets of Langoustine. Her eyes were at an interesting angle.

*

Whenever their carapaces touched it was like toasting their partnership. The North Sea at its nuptials. Not yet, thought the doctor.

*

Listen doctor, said Langoustine, do you hear? A whisper was running along the sea bed, a thousand sea-pens scribbling.

*

What are they doing? asked the doctor. Writing Shakespeare, replied Scampi. They'll be some time about it, he snorted.

*

To be living among Brittlestars and Dead Men's Fingers! Might as well have stayed in the surgery, grumbled the doctor while Scampi slept.

*

It's the bed we must lie on, Langoustine, said the doctor. The salt current. He stroked his moustache. It was all that remained to him.

To be continued...