1بخش

Listen, Tommaso, do we really need to fish near the island?

Eh, you worry too much.

I don’t know.

What if the old stories are true?

Oh, come on, Giacomo.

You really believe in sea monsters?

Too many strange things have been seen in these waters.

They’re all just stories.

Tall tales to keep us away from a great fishing spot.

But, Tommaso.

We’re fine.

Ah, that’s more like it.

What is that?

You missed.

Let’s go, before it comes back for us.

I told you they were real.

Oh, what a monster!

Horrifying!

Fish out of the barn!

Fish out of the barn!

No, no, no!

Mom’s gonna kill me!

Caterina!

Wait!

Whoa!

Oh, good morning, Mr. Branzino.

And also, I’m sorry.

Well, how’s Mrs. Branzino?

Hi, Luca.

Excuse me, ma’am.

Have you.

Yes.

Giuseppe, get back here!

You want to run off like your buddy Enrico?

Because I’ve got news for you.

He’s either dead, or he’s out there.

Somewhere.

Seeing the world.

But he’s probably dead.

Phew.

Okay, that’s everyone.

Monalisa, why are you smiling?

Anyone else in there?

Giuseppe.

What did we just talk about?

Oh, Giuseppe.

All right.

Let’s head out.

Hello.

Good morning.

Hi, Mrs. Aragosta.

Hey, Luca!

Good morning!

Morning!

Okay.

All clear.

Let me know if you need anything.

Anyone?

No?

Okay.

Giuseppe.

Oh.

Huh?

Land monsters!

Everybody, under the rock!

Huh?

Luca!

Lunch is ready!

Be right there!

Come on!

We gotta get back.

You’re two minutes late.

Was there a boat?

Huh?

Uh.

Did you hide?

Yes, Mom.

Because if they catch even a glimpse of you.

You think they come around to meet new friends, huh?

No.

Make small talk.

I.

I don’t.

No.

They’re here to do murders.

Uh-huh.

So, I’m just making sure you know.

Thanks, Mom.

When I was a kid, we’d go weeks without seeing a boat, and let me tell you, they did not have motors.

Just a sweaty land monster with a paddle.

Hi, Grandma.

Mwah.

Hey, Bubble.

Hi, Dad.

Luca!

Look at Pinchy-pessa.

She’s molting.

Oh, it’s magnificent.

Now, here’s a champion show crab if I ever saw one.

Oh, nice.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Don’t look her in the eye!

Sorry.

But don’t apologize.

She can sense weakness.

Oh!

Come eat, Luca.

Come on.

We better beat those Branzinos at the crab show this year.

Everyone thinks Bianca Branzino’s so great with her prize-winning crabs and amazing dolphin impression.

Please!

Anyone can do that.

Right?

I don’t know why dolphins even sound like that.

You know, why don’t they just talk?

Luca.

Huh?

What’s on your mind?

Uh.

Uh.

Well, I was just wondering.

Where do boats come from?

The land monster town.

Just above the surface.

I beat a guy at cards there once.

Mom!

What are you doing?

He’s old enough to hear about it.

You’ve been to the surface and done the change?

No!

No!

The end!

Shut it down!

I was just curious.

Yeah?

Well, the curious fish gets caught.

We do not talk, think, discuss, contemplate, or go anywhere near the surface!

Got it?

Yes, Mom.

Here.

Now let’s get back to work.

Hey.

Look me in the eye.

You know I love you, right?

I know, Mom.

We’re a little worried about him, right?

No, thanks!

I’m full.

Huh?

Hmm.

Whoa.

Hmm.

Hmm.

Boo.

Huh?

It’s fine.

I’m not human.

Oh!

Thank goodness.

Here, hold this.

Uh.

Do you live around here?

Down here?

No, no, no.

I just came for my stuff.

Ooh.

Uh, hey!

Wait, that’s mine!

Sir?

You forgot your harpoon and.

Oh, yeah.

Thanks!

What?

What are you doing?

No, no!

Ahh!

Oh, no!

Help me!

First time?

Of course it is!

I’m a good kid!

Hey, relax.

Breathe.

Whoa.

Well?

Isn’t it great?

No!

It’s bad, and I’m not supposed to be up here.

Good day.

Thank you.

Good.

Good day.

Again.

Grandma, did you really go up to the.

Okay, everyone.

This is, uh, Smuca.

Yeah.

He’s in charge now.

Got it?

Wow.

Aah!

That was hard to watch.

Here.

Come on.

Whoa.

Wait.

It feels like it’s still there.

Yeah, that’s called phantom tail.

You’ll get used to it.

Right.

Walking.

Don’t worry, you’re in luck.

I basically invented it.

To start, stack everything one on top of the other.

Like a pile of rocks.

Great!

I mean, fine, whatever.

Now, walking is just like swimming.

But without fins Or a tail.

And also, there’s no water.

Otherwise, it’s like the exact same thing.

Give it a try.

That’s not it.

Try it again.

Oh, try to lead with your head.

No, more belly.

That’s.

That’s lying on the ground.

How about this?

Just take a step without even thinking about it.

No, no, no, don’t think about it.

I don’t know how to not think about something.

Okay, okay.

Watch.

Point your feet to where you wanna go.

Okay?

And then you just catch yourself before you fall.

Yeah, that’s right.

Heh.

Good.

Good.

Yes.

Yes!

I’m.

I’m getting it!

Not bad, kid.

Alberto Scorfano.

Luca Paguro.

It’s a human thing.

I’m kind of an expert.

What does it mean?

The thing you just said?

Come on.

I’ll show you some more stuff!

Mother-of-pearl!

You live up here?

Yeah.

Me and my dad.

He’s not even here a whole lot, so I pretty much just do whatever I want.

Isn’t it dangerous?

Yeah, it’s the best!

Everything good is above the surface.

Like, what else?

Air!

Gravity!

Also known as falling!

The sky.

Clouds.

The sun.

Whoa.

Don’t look at it.

Just kidding.

Definitely look at it.

And then, there’s human stuff.

Whoa.

As you can see, I’ve been collecting for a long time, so ask me anything.

Whoa.

Yes.

That’s the Magic Singing Lady Machine.

It’s broken, unfortunately.

Whoa!

You unbroke it!

What’s that?

Oh, it’s just the greatest thing that humans ever made.

The Vespa.

Whoa.

You just sit on it, and it takes you anywhere you wanna go.

In the whole stinkin’ world!

“Vespa is freedom.

Huh?

Whoo-hoo-hoo.

Yeah!

Pretty cool, right?

Uh.

Yeah.

Huh.

Are you gonna make one?

I think you have all the parts.

I do have the parts.

I am gonna make one!

You wanna help?

Me?

Yeah!

Wait!

No, I can’t.

I gotta go home.

Right this second?

Yeah, if my parents found out I was up here.

Oof.

It would be bad.

So, thank you, but.