Mr. Coastguard, this is what has happened to Pietro Pugliese, who is captain of the fishing boat Il Trovatore, of Monterey. Me, Joe Tonelli, I am his engineer. I know.
It is because of Mrs. Pigafetta, from Taranto. It is her fault. Also the porpoises. It is also because Pietro has been famousâ
You do not know? You have not heard how one time he is the great tenore? Yes, in Rome, Naples, Veniceâeven in La Scala in Milano. Do, re, mi, faâlike so, only with more beauty. Caruso, Gigliâthose fellows can only make a squeak alongside Pietro, I tell you.
So begins one of Reginald Bretnor's classic tales of the fantastic...