Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Royal Society Part 3

"The astonishing thing was the discovery of giant crabs whose legs spread over six feet across."

"Nonsense," Dr. Gostan's voice yelled from the crowd. "No crab can grow that big."

The curtain moved to reveal an immense crab mounted on a rough hatchway, threatening the crowd with its pincers. On the other side a preserving jar held another even larger specimen. The crew had brought them back along with the rudder from the derelict ship. Pentam had given them bonuses and thanked them profusely.

The gasps and muttering from the audience overwhelmed Dr. Gostan's objections.

"That isn't, however, the most astonishing find from our expedition." Lahdin waved Pentam up to the podium again. "I'll call on Pentam Booksdale to present this part of the evening."

"Fraud!" Dr. Gostan yelled. "He barely has an undergraduate degree."

"Sit down, you old coot. I want to hear this." Another voice boomed through the room and the audience muttered in support.