Into the Dark, part 18 (after battle)
He got bit, trying to save Pip. The Whale bit him when he tried to save Pip, he...
Shit, why'd that oil barrel have to fall on our oarsman...?
None of it made sense from the start, making that kid row as a replacement...!
Captain, please tell Pip. Is Stubb going to die?
…….
What did I say?
As long as you are my crew! None of you! Shall die without my explicit permission.
And I don't remember giving any of you permission to die just yet.
B-but... I... What will happen to...
The Pequod is on the brink of reaching the Pallid Whale of hatred! All we need is a good compass that'll lead us to it.
This Mermaid before us will serve that role better than anything.
B-but, Captain, I... am not... a Mermaid...
…!
Whatever that Whale devoured will eventually turn into a Pallid Mermaid. You must know that.
Incarcerate this Mermaid in the large cistern down by the holds. Its instinct will drive it toward the Whale of hatred.
…….
Captain... Captain... Please, no...!
Starbuck, send down a skiff.
... What? Now?
... Aye.
A few moments later, I heard a splash of water. All hands of the ship emerged from their stations and gathered around Ahab.
And Ahab... thundered.
Ooh! I hear him! Listen well, for it is Stubb who speaks! Heed his voice!
…?
What the hell is she...
All of you! Listen well! The voice of the great sailor Stubb echoes from across that Lake! The great sailor Stubb who so willingly threw his life in danger for the hunt of the Whale!
... I... the great...
In our urgency, we had no time to bring him back aboard!
Yet he lives! He did not die! Though he is overboard, floating on the Lake after this fateful battle, he will soon find safety aboard the skiff I have lowered for him!
He shouts! Oh yes, he bellows for our victory! And he bellows that we must go on, sail forth to victory!
What kind of insanity is...
... We. Sail forth.
... Queequeg?
This voyage will soon meet its victorious end. Then I shall sail to the nearest port!
And there he shall await us, the great Stubb! With a profound smile he shall greet us.
He will be rightly rewarded. And of course, we will all share tales of this long voyage over many sleepless nights!
With... a profound... smile... I...
And there you shall all be as well! We will buy rounds upon rounds of drinks for everyone in the tavern in Stubb's name!
Once! This voyage is over! EVERYTHING! WILL! COME TO BE!
... Once this voyage is over.
Once this voyage... Over.
Once... this voyage... is over...
The Whale of Hatred... is finally... in our sights...
You'll kill it, right...? Captain...
Let us answer his calling! We will kill the Whale of Hatred... WE WILL KILL THE PALLID WHALE!
All aboard, men! All aboard for the hunt for the evil...!
All aboard on this voyage to hunt the fount of all evils of the world, of the City, the hateful evil that pushes you all to the brink of death!
All of your struggles, all of your injustices, all of your pains and losses... that very evil sprang forth from that very Whale...
So we'll kill it! We'll kill it and watch as the new dawn breaks upon a world that has been mended!
... Aye!
SHOUT! BELLOW!
Aye, Captain...!
Ehehehe, goodbye! Stubb!! Let's meet again! Again, and again!
... Aye!!!
Yeah. It'll all be over when we kill the Pallid Whale.
When we kill the Whale of all evils...
<So all along, we've not only...>
<... been trapped inside the Whale, but also in her palms, all along...>