Day 1,322 of My Captivity
Contains spoilersOverview
From his tank, Marcellus registers Tova’s three-day absence after her fall, leaving the aquarium glass filthy. He reflects on his three hearts and why he avoids long swims in the shark-patrolled main tank. The memory startles him, revealing concern for Tova’s recovery and his reliance on her care.
Summary
Marcellus observes that the cleaner has not come for three days. The tank glass is smeared and cloudy, and footprints dull the floors. He judges the neglect as bad for his environment and routine.
He explains his three hearts: two for respiration and an “organ heart” powering everything else. Because that heart pauses during swimming, he avoids long swims, especially in the main tank patrolled by sharks. Crawling suits him, making confinement tolerable.
Considering the human phrase “heart skipped a beat,” Marcellus recalls the cleaner’s fall from a stool. Though he was not swimming, his organ heart stuttered, startling him. He hopes she heals—both out of concern for her and because the tank needs attention.
Who Appears
- Marcellus
Narrator; giant Pacific octopus noting Tova’s three-day absence, reflecting on his three hearts, and worrying after her fall.
- Tova Sullivan
Aquarium cleaner absent for three days after falling; subject of Marcellus’s concern and essential to his care.