P28

	"Land animals should live and die on the land when their day comes," Senior said in a grave yet feeble voice.   "Then you are going to die on land, too?"   "No, we whales don't come out of the water and die on the land!" "But wait a second. Some whales were washed ashore and died there. A legend says that when a whale died on land -- that was at a time when the humans did not yet possess supernatural powers -- humans held a festive ceremony. They were thankful and prayed to the God of the sea, to the God of the human beings, and to the God of the Whales. The meat of the dead whale was dedicated to the deities, and then the pieces of the meat were given to the people of the village. Nothing else was wasted including the blubber, fins, and bones. All were useful to the villagers."   Senior fell into a deep silence.   Junior anxiously waited. A long time passed and no words were heard from the whale. He wondered whether Senior had passed on. He opened his mouth out of concern.   "Senior ..."