Fishpaste: Nicholas and Jennifer

Negotiations are a Go

Mr. G.T's hands shook, "how the hell can you write? " he whispered to himself, his eyes wide.

"Well, I can talk as well but I -"

Mr. G.t let out a yelp on hearing the fish's voice - he sounded authoratative, deep and clear, enunciating every word.

Mr. G.t searched for a spade to use as a weapon from his tool belt, but it was empty. His mouth quivered, "who are you and what the hell do you want? "

Mr. G.t thought he heard the fish sigh, "I am Nicholas desoto, " he said blandly, "king of the Coral Lands, son of he-"

"I know who you are!" Yelled mr. G.t in distress. "What do you want from me! " it took everything in him not to sink to his knees.

"I am here to negotia-"

"Negotiate what?! What have I ever done to you?!"

Nicholas's eye remained fixed on mr. G.t, "take me inside to your barn. We shall indulge in conversation in private."

Mr. G.t felt dizzy. Was he hallucinating? Nevertheless, he gave a silent, hesitant nod of his head. Negotioatins over, he would send nicholas away without second thoughts. And if he did not comply he would kill him.

As mr. G.t pondered on picking up the fish and himself taking it inside, it started to walk itself, on its small tail fin, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As he went inside the barn, Mr. G.t could have sworn he saw his eyes flicker to the tractor, Jennifer.

**********************************

"I am here to make peace."

Mr. G.t blinked vacantly. "Peace? What about? "

"I wish to utilize your pond for my own purposes," replied Nicholas. Mr. G.t pressed his hands into the wooden table upon which he sat until his knuckles were white. "Stay away from my pond," he said through gritted teeth.

Nicholas sighed in frustration, folding his fins over his scaly, moist chest and leaning against the wall. He too was atop the table upon which mr. G.t sat. "My kindom is suffering from overpopulation. The Coral Lands have no place for my palace, especially following the December High Tide. I intend to rebuild it. And your pond is my only option.

"Where the hell are tue Coral Lands? And how the hell did you get into my pond?"

Nicholas shook his stiff, fishy neck, "I have sources. But that is not the point. Give me the water or I will bring my Ray Army upon you."

The dizziness Mr. G.t felt earlier on returned. But he composed himself and feigned interest in nicholas's blabber. Who did he even think he was? He was a fish. A fish. A fish. Just calling him by a name, 'nicholas, ' made Mr. G.t feel like he was going mad. He was talking to a fish.

Mr. G.t listened to what Nicholas had to say. Some more crap about being anhialated by fish. At last, Mr. G.t lost his temper.

"You filthy water breeding tuna! " Mr. G.t hopped violently of the table, grabbing Nicholas by his tail, who in turn, gasped in surprise,"stay away from me and my pond!" At that, Mr. G.t flung him, rather ungentley, out of the barn's open window, and he skid against the coarse soil until he finally slipped into the water. However, before sliding in, Mr. G.t could have sworn he saw a single, mourneful tear running down his cheek.

But the tear wasnt the thing that disturbed Mr. G.t. It was the fact that the entire time he was talking to Nicholas, he could feel him breathing. He didn't know how to explain the feeling, but it was like an internal force was dragging him down, slowing his breath, whenever it got faster, to match the rhythm of nicholas's gills. And in the tear that ran down nicholas's cheek, there was a red tint. At first Mr. G.t thought it was blood, but then he followed his unwavering gaze and realized it was the reflection of Jennifer.