Mrs. Pigafetta Swims Well — Reginald Bretnor

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 famous --

You do not know? You have not heard how one time he is the great tenore? Yes, in Rome, Naples, Venice -- even in La Scala in Milano. Do, re, mi, fa -- like so, only with more beauty. Caruso, Gigli -- those fellows can only make a squeak alongside Pietro, I tell you.

So begins one of Reginald Bretnor's classic tales of the fantastic...