The Cricketary Tales of Jeffrey Jawser
Home | Table of Contents | Translator with Jeffrey | PROLOGUE | The Locusts on Migration | Migration: Page Two | Migration: Page Three | Migration: Page Four | The Poet's Introduction | Intro: Page Two | Intro: Page Three | Intro: Page Four | Intro: Page Five | Intro: Page Six | Intro: Page Seven | Intro: Page Eight | Intro: Page Nine | Intro: Page Ten | Intro: Page Eleven | Intro: Page Twelve | Intro: Page Thirteen | The Bison's Tale | Bison: Page Two | Bison: Page Three | Bison: Page Four | The Serpent's Tale | Serpent: Page Two | Serpent: Page Three | Serpent: Page Four | Serpent: Page Five | The Salmon's Tale | Salmon: Page Two | Salmon: Page Three | A Whale of a Tale | Whale: Page Two | Whale: Page Three | Whale: Page Four | Whale: Page Five | Whale: Page Six | Whale: Page Seven | Whale: Page Eight | Whale: Page Nine | The Hummingbird's Tale | Hummingbird: Page Two | Hummingbird: Page Three | Hummingbird: Page Four | Hummingbird: Page Five | Hummingbird: Page Six | The Tern's Tale | Tern: Page Two | Tern: Page Three | Tern: Page Four | Contact the Author








The Salmon's Tale

Wow! Yes, some were willing on the spot to declare the snake the winner. Why bother to hear the rest of the tales? Who could possibly tell one better? But then the schooled salmon spoke out.

Drawing by Robin Ade

Not so hasty, my friends! Yes, I admit the snake declaimed well. Yet I submit to this plodding assemblage of scholars a point to seriously consider. He did omit from his chronicle an event of such significance that its exclusion mars his tale entire. The serpent slighted salmon in his tale! He mentioned us once and only in passing. In his vivid account (and oh how vulgar!) of Thor's great feed at which he dispatched a whole ox at a sitting, the serpent mentioned us in an addendum, or a tailpiece, you might say. Thor, he told us, gulped down eight salmon.

First of all, we salmon call this god not Thor but Shor. Secondly, it is no fun to be eaten. (And yet, we do take some pleasure in hearing creatures say that salmon is food fit for the gods.) But to the serpent's NEGLECT, the great gap in his tale: he glossed over the fact that Shor was responsible for giving salmon their peculiar shape.

Why does the salmon's body narrow so abruptly at the back end? Ah, my scholars, therein hangs a tale. Well I know this tale for it intimately touches my tail. All salmon parents teach this tale to their young.

Drawing by Robin Ade

Alongside God Shor, we feature the god Loki, but we salmon call him Lucky. I shall narrate it, and though I prefer academic discourse, I shall do it in the asinine style of the snake.


You may have been wondering, dear readers, why I don't mention Pagoda. But now do you see? These fabulous stories, these tales one right behind the other - just too priceless to lose! I must record these precious yarns. For lovers of literature! For Pagoda! Yes, I'll get them all on paper and save them for Pagoda. We'll read them when we reunite. She can't be dead! How she will love this animal epic, this migratory romance. I'll amass them all for Pagoda. And so I carefully entered in my album all the salmon said.

Drawing by Guy Colwell