(The brine is brine, pure and simple. I’m reminded that when Christ was wounded in the side, blood and water came out. I’ve dealt with some gut wounds and I’ve never seen water emerge from anything. Other fluids, yes, in various colours and consistencies, but not water. Until now. Brine. Was he killed by a fish? Once, as a child, I heard that there is a fish in the sea upon whose tongue alone a man might set a horse cart. The jaws of such a thing might do the trick here—but how, once the fish had had its way, would you get the pieces back? Or convince the beast to bite in straight lines? A fish god, then, exacting a bizarre price?)