Terry Moore
A dark cloud hung over the moon, but they could still see the outline of the shore. Brian stopped short and put his hand up to his lips to quiet their arrival. Yet it wasn’t entirely silent. Timi noticed a clicking sound that echoed in her ears. They spotted a number of dark shapes moving in the water.
Just then the cloud moved on and a shaft of light broke loose and flooded the bay. Timi gasped as she saw hundreds of them moving in towards the land. It was like a flotilla of boats landing on the beach.
Timi looked at Sataki, whose eyes were almost as wide open as her mouth. Brian just stood, silently watching. The amazed group of explorers remained that way for a long time.
Timi was, of course, the first to break the silence.
“This really is a special place,” she whispered,
“What are they?”
“Horseshoe crabs are wonderful creatures. They are ancient, valuable and often misunderstood, sometimes with tragic consequences. Terry Moore’s moving, timely story shows us the plight of the horseshoe crab, and their importance to the health of the planet, through the eyes of children. This book can effectively bring the issues of pollution, ecology, and working together for change into classrooms and homes not only in New Jersey, but anywhere. Kudos to Mr. Moore for his fine effort.”
Judie Weinstein
New Jersey Academy for Aquatic Sciences
Terry Moore has been a third grade teacher in Tenafly, NJ for 21 years and lives in Verona, N.J.
He has written for Rethinking Schools Magazine, taught writing process at Columbia University in New York City and created an Environmental Webquest(http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~tmoore ) for elementary school children.
He has a wife, Kim, and a daughter, Kate, who refuses to eat any type of crab.
Mr. Moore believes that environmentalism begins with each individual but must extend to other forces responsible for the environment, like corporations, fisherman, breederies scientists and the media.
Prologue
It wasn’t the first time that they were attacked, these strange creatures of the cove. Yet this small one was separated from the others, and wasn’t aware of the danger. Heading toward the shore it ate some clams from the ocean floor, and slowly swam to the sand. It was searching for the others. It didn’t notice the humans waiting for its arrival. It crawled up onto the beach and along the edge of the water, the tiny rippling waves barely touching its legs.
Suddenly a foot lashed out at it, kicked it and watched it whirl into the air. Stunned, the creature tried to retreat toward the safety of the water, only to be grabbed by its tail and dragged backwards. The attacker screamed in pain and the creature almost made it back to the shelter of the surf.
A sharp stick stopped it, pushed it backwards and away from the protection of its watery home. And then its shelter, its shell, was turned upside down. On its back, legs waved, and spider-like pinchers clicked in defense. Yet it was helpless, unable to flip over and escape.
The shadow of the human crept over the creature and kicked it once more, spinning it around. The sharp stick was lifted high in the air and shoved downward.
A dark cloud drifted across the moon, not a sound came from the bay.
