Round 3 Part 2 MultiGenreMashup - Write a short piece of 500 words maximum that consists only of dialogue. No dialogue tags please, just the direct speech. And because this is the MultiGenre Mashup SmackDown, your dialogue must qualify as historical fiction and contain a mythical creature.

"Call me Ishmael."

"What?"

"Ishmael, Captain. That's my name."

"Ah, yes, the new man. Have you ever shipped on a whaler before, lad?"

"No, Sir. But I did do some trolling in the river near my home."

"Trolling? Said you, trolling? The Peapod is not some dory, lad. The Peapod is a whaler, and we seek but one prey - Mopey Richard, the off-white whale. Find Starstruck, my first mate and tell him I said to put you to work."

******

"Captain said to put him to work, he'll be fine up there, Squeekeg, we've a calm sea."

"He did not look happy."

"Who is. We've spent months seeking this blasted creature. Captain Nabob grows a tad hinky."

"A tad! He's a flaming nut bar."

"Ahoy alow! She blows!"

"Aye, aloft! Where away?"

"Larboard quarter!"

"The kid did alright, Squeekeg."

"Alright, men, clear boats."

"Aye, Captain."

"Clear away."

"Aye, Captain."

"Lower away!"

Oh, for Neptune's sake "Aye, Captain."

"Alright, men, pull! Closer. Closer. Closer . . . Not too close. Now, lay the boat around'. Steady, lads."

"She's sounding!"

"Lay the boat off! Keep your eyes skinned, lads."

"There! A half breach."

"Give it to him, Harpooner!"

"Got her! Hang on, she's a fast fish!"

"Whoa, this is some ride. What do we do now, Squeekeg?"

"Pray."

"What if she goes down again?"

"Pray harder."

"Mr. Starstruck."

"Aye, Captain."

"Pass me one of those live irons."

"Captain? Not a good idea."

"It's him, Starstruck. It's Mopey Richard, and I'll not let him get away again."

"Captain, it's not him, it's a her - a cow."

"I know that devil when I see it, now hand me that iron and give the whale the boat."

"What's he going to do?"

"He is going to jump on the monster's back, Ishmael. Look, there he goes."

"He's swinging on the harpoon!"

"Aye, I'm betting he'd rather swing on a star."

"She's sounding! Boat off, lads. Quickly."

"Mr. Starstruck is leaving him there."

"Captain Nabob won't let go, son, we have to save ourselves."

"We'll sit here and wait, lads. Keep your eyes peeled."

"There! A full breach!"

"Wow, completely clear of the water. That's a ten."

"And the Captain's still hanging on. He's waving."

"Wave back lads, that's it. Now, stern all, nothing more to do here."

"What about the Captain, Squeekeg?"

"He will ride with his demons until he can ride no more, Ishmael. It is said if a man searches for a whale in a pond his candle will never light."

"That's so deep, Squeekeg."

"Isn't it."

"So is Starstruck Captain now?"

"Until we get back to New Bedspread."

"Then what?"

"There will be a memorial for Nabob, the crew will get another chance to sign up, and we'll be back at sea."

"To avenge the Captain."

"No way. Nabob was a crackpot."

"What then?"

"Cruises, Ishmael, cruises. It's the next big thing at sea."

"Cruises? You mean just sail around?"

"Aye, with paying customers who will eat up the tale of Mopey Richard."

443 word count