The opening scene is of rare violence.
Certainly short.
Not even two pages for an event of a few minutes.
However, it was necessary to put into words the contrast between the brutality of the sailors and the tranquility of the colony of great auks who came peacefully to nest on the island of Eldey off the coast of Finland.
With stones, they were decimated one by one.
Even those who protected their eggs, even the eggs.
No mood on the part of the hunters.
Because these animals from Newfoundland are expensive.
Feathers, beak, legs, claws etc.
They are sold in pieces to serve as fetishes.
Their gigantic remains prized by science.
However, getting back into their boat with their loot that day, the men do not suspect that their murderous trip is the last.
After their passage, the species disappeared.
To be honest, not completely.
Miraculously, a penguin remained alive.
Wounded, bruised, "
floating like an old mop
" in the icy waters...
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