I Overhear Animals' Thoughts to Feed My Family

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Little Tiger Whale

”What’s that sound?”

”I think something’s coming!”

”Watch out! It’s huge!”

Zhao Ergou’s eyes flew wide open. He stared in terror at the two colossal plumes of water erupting from the sea’s surface. Two black-and-white behemoths flickered in and out of view, their massive fins beating the water like oars. The spray they kicked up was at least ten feet high as they charged rapidly toward the fishing boat!

”Fuck, it’s whales!”

”Hold on! Hold on to the boat!”

Zhao Wenjun let out a desperate, inhuman roar. He bit his lip and gripped the gunwale for dear life. On the other side of the boat, Zhao Wenwu’s expression also grew grim, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go of the fishing net. He simply spread his legs and squatted, bracing for impact.

Just moments ago, the boat had been filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest. In the blink of an eye, it had become a scene straight out of the apocalypse.

”It’s okay! Don’t be afraid!”

”They’re Tiger Whales! They aren’t coming for us!”

Zhao Wendong suddenly shouted, his voice laced with excitement and relief. He had just heard the Tiger Whales’ thoughts—or rather, their plea.

’Will this human save me? Only humans can save me. Can he understand what we mean?’

’Human, please save my child! It’s going to die!’

Zhao Wendong stood up and slowly walked to the side of the boat closer to the Tiger Whales. He reached his hand out toward the two of them, one large and one small.

”Third Master, it’s dangerous!”

Zhao Wenjun quickly cried out, trying to stop him. Zhao Wendong just shook his head, signaling that everything was fine.

”Aaaah-ah-oh-woooo, ay-ay-ay-oh-oh!”

The Tiger Whales called out rhythmically. The smaller one slowly drew its head near, making contact with Zhao Wendong’s hand. Man and whale froze, as if passing a message between them. The other three men stared, dumbfounded. ’What the fuck? Can he really do that?’

Time seemed to stand still, yet it also felt like an eternity had passed. Zhao Wendong patted the Little Tiger Whale. It seemed to have established some kind of trust, a spiritual connection, with Zhao Wendong, and it knew this human would help it. The whale slowly opened its mouth toward Zhao Wendong. From a distance, it looked as if it were about to swallow him whole.

”I’m fine. Don’t talk, and don’t move.”

Zhao Wendong spoke preemptively, causing Zhao Wenjun and Zhao Ergou to swallow the screams that were rising in their throats. Only Zhao Wenwu’s eyes shone, filled with incredible envy.

”Third Master, I want to talk to them too! I’m your brother, you have to teach me!”

After speaking, he even started imitating the Tiger Whales’ calls, though his impression was completely off.

”Awooo-awoo-aw-oh-oh.”

’What is that big human saying? I don’t understand him.’

Zhao Wendong heard the Little Tiger Whale’s thought, his own ears filled with his second brother’s awful screeching. He felt a deep sense of exasperation. Thankfully, Zhao Wenjun intervened, landing a swift kick on Zhao Wenwu’s butt. The kick put an end to his wolf-like howling and, with it, his dream of communicating with the whales.

Zhao Wendong carefully examined the Little Tiger Whale’s open mouth and, sure enough, he found something. A tattered old fishing net was tangled around its teeth and inside its mouth. The ropes of the net were digging deep into its oral cavity, and several wounds were continuously oozing blood. Feeling a pang of sympathy, Zhao Wendong gently patted it again. ’This little guy must have been suffering for a long time.’

”Aaaah-wooo, wooo-oh-wooo...”

The Little Tiger Whale’s cries were full of sorrow and helplessness.

’Human, do you see? Please help me! It hurts so much!’

”Scissors! Give me the scissors!”

Zhao Wendong reached a hand behind him, and the quick-witted Zhao Ergou immediately passed him a pair of scissors. They were the ones they usually kept on the boat for cutting nets.

”Don’t be scared, this will be over soon. I’ll help you!”

Zhao Wendong soothed the Little Tiger Whale with a gentle voice as he began using the scissors to clear the fishing net from its mouth.

The net was tangled deep inside its mouth, forcing Zhao Wendong to lean so far in that more than half his body disappeared between the whale’s jaws. Zhao Wenjun and Zhao Ergou, who were holding him steady, watched with their hearts in their throats, breaking out in a cold sweat. Zhao Wenwu, however, just kept staring with shining eyes, completely captivated and envious.

Finally, after snipping through all the tangled parts of the net—inside, outside, and around the teeth—Zhao Wendong slowly pulled the tattered remains out of the Little Tiger Whale’s mouth.

Zhao Wenjun finally understood.

”My God, Third Master, it came to you for help?”

”Incredible! These Tiger Whales are so smart!”

Zhao Wendong tossed the old net onto the deck and said with a smile,

”They’re the apex predators of the ocean, and also the smartest animals in it. Their intelligence is comparable to... hmm, let’s put it this way: they understand things that even our second brother here doesn’t!”

”Really?”

Zhao Wenjun and Zhao Ergou looked utterly shocked. Only Zhao Wenwu blinked, feeling like he’d just been insulted, but he had no proof.

The Little Tiger Whale waited until Zhao Wendong was all the way back on the boat before trying to close its mouth. After flexing its jaw a few times, it leaped joyfully from the water with a sharp, happy cry.

”Eee-eee-oh-oh-oh!”

’Haha! I’m all better! The human saved me!’

’My child is saved! Humans really are our good friends.’

The two Tiger Whales, one large and one small, simultaneously broadcasted their thanks and chirped with joy. A broad smile spread across Zhao Wendong’s face. At that moment, he felt even happier than he had after landing a boat full of fish.

”They’re singing! I understand! They’re singing!”

Zhao Wenwu yelled, his face ecstatic. He even started wiggling his butt to the rhythm of the Tiger Whales’ calls—and believe it or not, he was perfectly in sync.

The two Tiger Whales circled the fishing boat, calling out for a while before gradually swimming away.

”Why are they leaving?”

Zhao Wenwu said, a little disappointed.

”What else would they do, stick around for New Year’s? Let’s go, we need to head back too. It’ll be dark soon.”

Zhao Wendong and the others started the journey home. The engine roared to life, struggling to move the heavily loaded boat. To help it along, Zhao Wendong and Zhao Ergou each took an oar and started paddling on either side.

They hadn’t gone far when the two Tiger Whales, large and small, suddenly reappeared. They swam rapidly toward the fishing boat, and it looked like they were carrying something in their mouths.

”Third Master, they’re back!”

Zhao Wenwu shouted in pleasant surprise. Zhao Wendong hurried to the side of the boat and looked at the two Tiger Whales.

When the Tiger Whales got closer, the men were stunned to see they were carrying two plump spotted seals in their mouths. Each one had to weigh at least several dozen pounds.

The two Tiger Whales swam slowly to the boat’s edge and tossed the spotted seals onto the deck. Then they backed away, bobbing their heads and calling out. Zhao Wendong and the others waved back. This was torture for Zhao Wenwu, who was busy holding the fishing net with both hands. He thought he’d snagged an easy job, but now he was missing his chance to interact with the Tiger Whales. It was a huge loss! All he could do was shout at the top of his lungs.

”Goodbye, Tiger Whales! Goodbye! I’m Zhao Wenwu! Remember me!”

’Thank you, human. Thank you for saving my child. We have to go now. Goodbye.’

’Human, I’ll come back and find you.’

The thoughts faded, and the two Tiger Whales slipped beneath the water, gradually disappearing into the distance.

”Holy crap! These Tiger Whales give gifts?”

”Third Master, two seals! We hit the jackpot! They’re so smart!”

Zhao Wenjun was both overjoyed and thrilled, laughing so hard a snot bubble appeared at his nose.

”These seals are so fat, hahaha!”

Zhao Wendong was just as happy. He had only lent the Little Tiger Whale a hand, not expecting to receive anything in return.

The seals had already been killed by the Tiger Whales, and most of their blood was drained. Zhao Wendong told Zhao Ergou to wrap them in the three damaged fishing nets and hold on tight so they wouldn’t fall into the sea. With their boat laden with a bountiful harvest, the four of them continued their journey home.

When they were hungry, they ate dry rations. When thirsty, they drank water from their flasks. Third Master’s brazier was relit, and the four men took turns piloting the boat and holding the nets in the sea. The others would warm themselves by the fire to rest. Otherwise, they’d never make it through the night in their wet clothes.

The sky grew darker and darker, with only the fiery sunset clouds in the distance offering the sun’s last hurrah. When they set out, the sun had risen at their backs; now, on their return, it was setting behind them.

As visibility grew lower and lower, Zhao Wendong shouted,

”Light the torches!”