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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dr Simon" data-source="post: 5516660" data-attributes="member: 21938">Inside the clam shell is a tunnel. The walls are carved from coral and sometimes show mother-of-pearl, the floor is rough but with slick patches of sea water and weed. There is an almost imperceptible downward slope and a rightward turn as the tunnel spirals deeper and deeper, down into the depths of the vast nautilus shell. Finally, you step out of another clam shell that opens to admit you into a huge chamber, filled with wierd sights.The inner curve of the shell arches high above. Half of this chamber opens onto dark sea, the other half (where you are) is solid ground. Lying along the shore that is thus formed are nine sperm whales, like a mass beaching. These whales, however, do not look healthy. Their flesh is covered in rotting sores, their eyes roll in their heads and a cloying blue-black smoke issue from their blow-holes. They are tied to the shore by a series of massive chains.A steady column if water rains down from a hole above, into a pool in the middle of the shore. Several pale crabs, their shells also trailing wisps of the blue-black smoke, carry fish from this pool and place it in the waiting mouths of the whales.The whales and the crabs take no notice of the new arrivals. The blue-black smoke fills the room like the fug of a smoky bar.</blockquote>