human
The girl is young and the man is old, said King Anko, in a soft voice.
gpt
But I'm quite sure Cap'n Bill isn't as old as I am.
human
How old are you?
gpt
I can't say, exactly. I can remember several thousands of years back, but beyond that my memory fails me. How's your memory, Cap'n Bill?
human
You've got me beat, was the reply.
gpt
I'll give in that you're older than I am.
human
Are you well?
gpt
Pretty fair, said Cap'n Bill.
human
How's yourself?
gpt
Oh, I'm very well, thank you, answered Anko.
human
I never remember to have had a pain but three times in my life. The last time was when Julius Sneezer was on earth.
gpt
You mean Julius Cæsar,
human
No; I mean Julius Sneezer, insisted the Sea Serpent.
gpt
That was his real name--Sneezer. They called him Cæsar sometimes, just because he took everything he could lay hands on. I ought to know, because I saw him when he was alive. Did you see him when he was alive, Cap'n Bill?
human
I reckon not,
gpt
That time I had a toothache, continued Anko;
human
Did it hurt to pull it?
gpt
Hurt! exclaimed the Sea Serpent, groaning at the recollection.
human
My dear, those creatures have been called lobsters ever since! The second pain I had way back in the time of Nevercouldnever.
gpt
Oh, I s'pose you mean Nebuchadnezzar,
human
Do you call him that, now? asked the Sea Serpent, as if surprised.
gpt
He used to be called Nevercouldnever when he was alive, but this new way of spelling seems to get everything mixed up. Nebuchadnezzar doesn't mean anything at all, it seems to me.
human
It means he ate grass,
gpt
Oh, no; he didn't, declared the Sea Serpent.
human
He was the first to discover that lettuce was good to eat, and he became very fond of it. The people may have called it grass, but they were wrong. I ought to know, because I was alive when Nevercouldnever lived. Were you alive, then?
gpt
No,
human
The pain I had then, remarked Anko,
gpt
What did you do?
human
Well, first I transformed the octopus into a jelly fish, and then I waited for the tide to turn. When my tail was untied the pain stopped.
gpt
I--I don't understand that,
human
Thank you, my dear, replied the Sea Serpent, in a grateful voice.
gpt
People who are always understood are very common. You are sure to respect those you can't understand, for you feel that perhaps they know more than you do.
human
About how long do you happen to be?
gpt
When last measured, I was seven thousand four hundred and eighty-two feet, five inches and a quarter. I'm not sure about the quarter, but the rest is probably correct. Adam measured me when Cain was a baby.
human
Where's the rest of you, then?
gpt
Safe at home, I hope, and coiled up in my parlor, answered the Sea Serpent.
human
When I go out I usually take along only what is needed. It saves a lot of bother and I can always find my way back in the darkest night, by just coiling up the part that has been away.
gpt
Do you like to be a sea serpent?
human
Yes, for I'm King of my Ocean, and there is no other sea serpent to imagine he is just as good as I am. I have two brothers who live in other oceans, but one is seven inches shorter than I am, and the other several feet shorter. It's curious to talk about feet when we haven't any feet, isn't it?
gpt
Seems so,
human
I feel I have much to be proud of, continued Anko, in a dreamy tone;
gpt
I don't b'lieve I'd care to live so long,
human
So long as seven thousand four hundred and eighty-two feet, five inches and a quarter?
gpt
No; I mean so many years,
human
But what can one do, if one happens to be a sea serpent? Anko inquired.
gpt
There is nothing in the sea that can hurt me, and I cannot commit suicide because we have no carbolic acid, or firearms, or gas to turn on. So it isn't a matter of choice, and I'd about as soon be alive as dead. It does not seem quite so monotonous, you know. But I guess I've stayed about long enough; so I'll go home to dinner. Come and see me, when you have time.
human
Thank you,
gpt
I'll take you over to his majesty's palace when we go out, and let you see how he lives.
human
Yes, do,
gpt
Oh! exclaimed Trot;
human
King Anko forgot to tell us what the third pain was about.
gpt
So he did, said Cap'n Bill.
human
We must ask him about that, when we see him. But I guess the ol' boy's mem'ry is failin', an' he can't be depended on for pertic'lars.