Satanic Verses

It seems that there was this marine biologist at the University or New

Brunswick who was working on a system that would allow humans to talk to
fish, and fish to talk with humans. One day, after many years of working in
the lab, the system is ready for field testing!

So the scientist takes his gear down to a local salmon stream and sets it
up. Lo and behold, the system worked! Our hero began talking with the salmon
in the stream and the salmon began talking with the scientist. The scientist
noticed one particular salmon that looked a little different from the rest.
This salmon was a deeper reddish brown than the others, so he nick-named him
Rusty. The scientist then struck up quite a friendship with Rusty. Rusty
told the scientist what it was like to be a fish, and the scientist told
Rusty what it was like to be a human being.

One day, after two seasons by the stream, Rusty said "It's time for me to go
down to the ocean to spawn."

The marine biologist responded "NO Rusty! You can't! Do you know how
dangerous the trip will be? Do you know that the return rate for your
species is about 2%? Do you know that there are many dangers you will have
to face on the journey -- Fishermen, sharks, and all kinds of other
dangers!!"

"Look" said Rusty, "A salmons' gotta do what a salmons' gotta do." So off he
went.

Two years later, the scientist is still working by the same stream, when he
hears a familiar voice from the past. Rusty had returned!

So the two of them rapidly got re-aquainted. "You know, you were right about
all the dangers" said Rusty. "I lost track of the number of times that I was
almost caught in some fishermans net. I lost track of the number of times

that I was almost eaten by sharks. But let me tell you," Rusty continued,
"about the amazing sights I witnessed."

"Tell me what you saw!" said the scientist excitedly.

"The ship wrecks were incredible!" The scientist explained to Rusty about
the large number of ships that were sunk in the North Atlantic.

"Well one ship I saw, the Titanic, was really fantastic! It was sitting on
the bottom, all by itself, it was just gorgeous! We swam all through it, up
the grand staircases, down into the dining salons! It was, it was... it was
so moving that I decided to write some poetry about it." "It must be really
beautiful stuff" said the scientist.

"I know it is. Maybe you could help me get it published" said Rusty. "Sure"
said the scientist, "do you have a title for your poems?"

"Yes -- Salmon Rusty's Titanic Verses!"