Codley and the Sea Cave Adventure (2 page)

The shadow moved toward them, coming closer and closer! They could see the outline of a huge fish with fins like a shark. A terrifyingly long, tapered snout was covered in sharp, pointy spikes.

Pokie began to puff himself up.

"H-he’s coming closer, Codley!"

The gigantic fish inched closer. He stopped and stared at Codley and Pokie with black, beady eyes. Finally, he said:

“Howdy Dudes!”

Codley’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“I’ve never seen you dudes here before,” the big fish said.

“My name is Marvon.”

Codley stretched out a tentacle to shake Marvon’s flipper.

"I'm Codley, and this is my friend, Pokie.”

“Excuse me, Marvon,” Codley said. “But…I’ve never met a friendly shark before.”

Marvon laughed. "I’m not a shark! I am a sawfish."

“Do you live in this cave?" Pokie asked.

"No, but my hangout is just around the corner and I love coming here."

Slowly, Pokie unpuffed himself.

"There is only one problem with this cave," Marvon continued. "I’m really into surfing and every surfer hates a current in the wrong place. The problem with this cave is that sometimes a really strong current comes through and --"

Before Marvon could finish what he was saying, a rushing current tore through the cave. Marvon’s warning had come too late and, with nothing to grab onto, Codley and Pokie were swept away!

The current stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Codley shook out his tentacles and looked around. He could see Marvon in the distance.

But Pokie had disappeared!

"Pokie!" Codley yelled.

"I'm afraid he's been swept in... there,” Marvon said, pointing with a flipper.

Codley saw a deep, dark hole in the wall of the cave.

"I wouldn’t go in there if I were you, dude!" Marvon warned.

Codley felt his tentacles go cold. Then he thought about Pokie. Pokie was the truest friend anyone could wish for! And friends had to help each other!

"I have to go in," Codley said. "I have to find Pokie!"

"Good luck then, dude! I will wait for you here," said Marvon.

Codley swam into the hole.

It was pitch black all around him.

He couldn’t even tell in which direction he was swimming.

“Pokie! Where are you?" he called.

Codley shivered as something slimy brushed against him, but he shook out his tentacles and swam on. His heart raced with terror.

Suddenly he heard the squeaky little voice he loved:

"C-codley! Wh-where are you, Codley?"

“POKIE!”

Codley swam faster, shouting his friend’s name.

“Pokie?” he said, as he bumped into something soft.

“Codley!” said the little voice.

It
was
Pokie!

Codley wrapped Pokie safely in one tentacle and towed him to safety. He swam through the darkness as fast as he could.

At last, a glint of light appeared ahead and the friends swam into the open cave.

Marvon was still waiting for them.

“Hey dudes, you made it!” Marvon clapped his fins together.

"Y-you saved me, Codley!” squeaked Pokie.