A Rational Response to Fish Tales

Much ink has been spilled on the subject of Perronelle le Noir’s arch-nemesis, ‘Gladys,’ a mythic creature of monstrous stature. It teleports from sea to pond to tea cup. It is borne forward by the monomaniacal purpose of terrorizing Perronelle. For the record, there is no one on this island I respect more than Perronelle. She has elevated the plebian’s craft of fishing to a true art form. The way she tracks tides, selects bait, expertly casts her line, is nothing less than masterful. However, I am steadfastly a man of science. No one has witnessed 'Gladys' save Perronelle. No creature, Lost, Corrupted, Angry, or otherwise, fits her fanciful descriptions. While I admire my captain, I put no more faith in her nautical ramblings than the fishwives’ tales back in Heian-kyō. We should strive to leave such superstitions in the old world, where they belong.