The sea is a fertile place for scientific innovation. Something about that vast, endless expanse of blue serves to untether the mind from its terrestrial encumbrances.

For instance, it's just occurred to Guillermo that phlogiston theory is unable to fully account for the fact that certain materials gain mass when they release heat. In his opinion a chemical reaction involving a combination with air better explains the observations.

He can't test his hypothesis, though. The last time he brought chemistry equipment on board the Captain got angry with him. Guillermo was surprised it was a problem, since he saw that the big cat kept several odd devices in his cabin that had nothing to do with seafaring. Nonetheless the Captain just snarled at him to keep his mouth shut and get back to his duties.

He had an odd sense of humor, that feline. Guillermo always kept his mouth shut.

I suppose the moral of the story is: a bad boss can suck all of the oxygen out of the room.

Artwork by BearlyFeline.