
In a shimmering reef where coral stalks stand like ancient pillars, a tight‑knit community of sea‑polyp families goes about its quiet, tide‑driven life. Pater and Mater, a seasoned pair of rooted creatures, are suddenly thrown into panic when their youngest, Junior, disappears into the dimming water, only to resurface clutching a smooth stone that none of the colony recognizes. Their frantic calls echo through the kelp‑filled dusk, and the whole settlement watches the drama unfold with a mix of curiosity and dread.
Junior’s carefree attitude—playing “hide‑and‑go‑sink” with squids and flaunting the mysterious rock—sparks a clash of generations. While his parents cling to old‑world discipline and the belief that obedience is the only path to survival, the youngster’s stubbornness hints at a yearning for something beyond the coral walls. As the tide rolls in, listeners are invited to explore a world where even the simplest act of rebellion can ripple through an entire underwater society.
Language
en
Duration
~15 minutes (14K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Adam Buchbinder, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2015-08-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1924–1990
A Golden Age science-fiction writer best remembered for lively short stories in the pulp magazines of the 1940s and 1950s, he also built a long academic career outside fiction. His work turns up in classic anthologies, giving later readers a window into mid-century magazine SF.
View all books
by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy

by Robert Abernathy