Adventures of Crusty Book Three
The Adventures of CRUSTY
The loveable CRAB
OUT OF THE
FRYING PAN
BOOK THREE
by
TERRY BALDWIN
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Crusty, the lovable green-brown crab, took off in the same direction taken by Delta. I wonder what Twinkle was, he thought as he walked along the seabed. I’ve heard tales of fish carrying their own light but that is the first time I’ve ever seen one. And I still have no idea what it was. I should have asked. He shook his head in wonder.
With little of interest to be seen Crusty began to make a game out of his search for a new home. He tried hopping. But he couldn’t keep it up for long before falling onto the seabed. He tried skipping with a piece of seaweed. But that wasn’t much better either; his legs often became twisted together. He tried leaping. This he could do. His strong and powerful legs took him great distances. In between leaps he sang or whistled as he walked.
The rocky outcrop had been left far behind and Crusty thought no more of his earlier narrow escape. In the distance he saw the foothills of a mountain rising out of the seabed. “Looks like a good place to rest. My legs are tired and this old shell is feeling heavy,” he said, forgetting he was all alone. The thought of a rest put new life into his legs. In no time he had found a suitable spot at the base of a large boulder. He slipped the shell off his back and stretched his tired legs before curling up and falling asleep.
When Crusty woke up he felt ready for anything. He gave each of his legs a good stretch before picking up his shell suitcase. He strapped it on his back and strode away. He was still hopeful of finding a new home… Maybe today… Maybe tomorrow… He really didn’t care any more. He wanted to see as much of his world as he could. His head turned every which way, his eyes darted first one way and then the other. He no longer wanted to miss a single thing.
He was so excited by the beauty of the corals and seaweeds he forgot the golden rule. Always keep one eye looking for predators, those who would consider you a tasty meal or snack. He only slowly became aware of the dark shadow that had come into view.
A RACE AGAINST ODDS
Crusty stared at the dark shadow. He stopped in mid-stride, motionless, one leg lifted in the act of stepping forward. He gave a shudder. “Suffering Catfish. A shark,” he whispered. With eyes turning in all directions he looked for a place to hide. To his left a tumble of rocks lay on the seabed. If I can reach them I have a chance, he thought. He set off as quickly as his legs would carry him.
The shark changed direction. It gave a lazy flick of its tail and sped towards him. Crusty groaned. He had been seen. The shark opened its huge jaws showing row upon row of white, razor-sharp teeth.
It was a race.
Both made for the same pile of rocks.
“Galloping Guppies. I don’t think I am going to make it,” Crusty cried. He called upon the strength he had left and dived into the shelter of the nearest rock.
He was only just in time.
The lower jaw of the shark caught the rock a glancing blow. The rock shook and rolled away. Crusty had to run from boulder to boulder. Each time he had to flee as the shark pushed it away with his nose. He made a last rush towards a more solid looking piece of rock. Without looking round he ran as fast as he could across an open stretch of sand, his legs working like pistons. Halfway across he saw the shark swimming towards him. “Boasting Sea Bass. I’ve had it this time,” he gasped.
Crusty knew he wasn’t going to make it.
With a defiant look in his eyes he stopped. He raised his claws into the fighting position. “Okay you Oversized Sardine,” he shouted. “You won’t have it all your own way.”
A SURPRISE ALLY
Crusty had given up hope. He had nowhere to hide. Although he would fight to the end the shark was much too big for him to have any chance. Suddenly a flash of grey rammed into the side of the deadly shark knocking it sideways. Again and again the grey flash thudded into the big fish driving it further and further away from the small crab.
Crusty could only stare. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
The grey flash followed the shark as it swam off. When there was no further danger it swam up to the little crab. “I thought you could do with some help,” the grey flash said. “I almost left it too late.”
“I would call it good timing,” replied Crusty with a wide grin on his face. “But thank you, thank you very much indeed. I thought… No. Knew I wasn’t going to make it and then… Whoosh… There you were.”
The grey flash nodded. “Happy to have been of help. I’m Littleben. I am a dolphin,” he said waving a flipper.
Having never met a dolphin Crusty was curious. “How do you do,” he said. “My name is Crusty. I am looking for a new home.” The words gushed out in his relief at his narrow escape. He was soon telling Littleben his story.
“Well,” said Littleben. “I believe I know just the kind of place you are looking for. Jump on my back and I will take you there. And don’t forget to hold on tightly,” he added with a grin.
More of Crusty’s adventures can be found in Book Four.