The white arcs of its closed mouth and genitals are only the most conspicuous deviations from its charcoal color. Pale squiggles roadmap its wadded skin. These are scars—hieroglyphics that tell the violent saga of this primeval giant. Battles with other bull sperms. Skirmishes with killer whales. Clashes with human debris. Both the whale’s flukes are hatcheted, probably from propellors. For a flash, Jay sees Mitt instead. The wedge gone from Mitt’s left ear—a fishhook. The white scar across Mitt’s chin—a ship engine room fire. The top half of Mitt’s ring finger gone—bitten off by a winch. The
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