TALES OF THE SEA

The Boy and the Blind Crabs

He could only focus on that tiny, minuscule, practically nonexistent crab. His parents had been talking since the plane landed on the island about the need, almost obligation, to visit the tourist centers, especially Jameos del Agua. Apparently, they had both traveled to Lanzarote many years ago, when they were dating, or something like that, he vaguely remembered, and that visit had left a big impression on them. They had spent months, ever since they knew their destination for the holidays, telling him how beautiful that place was. And he listened to them with the perspective of a nine-year-old. Everything his parents said seemed fine, correct, a little boring, definitely something for adults.

In any case, he had reached the very door of Jameos del Agua convinced that the visit was going to impress him greatly, and he would be able to tell all his friends about it when he got home. He imagined describing a pirate cave and a deep, terrifying lake… Everyone imagines what they want, and for him, a cave… was a cave. However, he could never have imagined the emotion he felt as he entered that magical place. It wasn’t the music, it wasn’t the light, it wasn’t the atmosphere, or maybe it was, a little of all that and something more. What impressed him the most was catching sight of a kind of celestial map at the bottom of that small lake, tiny little stars shining brightly. “What is that, Dad? What’s that shining at the bottom like it’s stuck to the rocks?” “Ah,” his father replied with the confidence that came from knowledge and years (because let’s admit it, adults always speak with apparent certainty, and children always believe them because they’re adults).

The story of the poor little crabs

«They are the little blind crabs of Jameos del Agua, dear.» Crabs… was that really a crab? And blind… why blind? What had happened to them? And why were they so tiny? He couldn’t think of anything else. While his parents happily visited the Auditorium and reminisced about all the corners of the place etched in their memory, he went straight to the guide and asked about those curious crabs.

«Ah, the blind little crabs,» the man said, knowing his trade and the curiosity that the little creature always sparked in children. «It’s a Jameito, that’s what I call them, although their scientific name is Munidopsis polymorpha. They are a species of decapod crustacean; a crab endemic to the island that only inhabits certain jameos, like these,» he continued. «They have been endangered for a long time and are considered one of the symbols of the island.»

The boy wasn’t surprised at all. In fact, he thought there should not only be a huge iron crab at the entrance of the place. The crabs, like the demons of Timanfaya, should be spread out all over the island.

«For these little animals, so special and unique, contact with metals is very dangerous, which is why it has been prohibited for years to throw coins into the water to make wishes, as it was causing their death,» he explained.

«How silly!» he thought, why throw coins at such beautiful and strange animals.

«Some even claim to have bathed here and dived among them,» the guide continued.

That made the boy envious. The possibility of getting close to those tiny and surely ancient creatures seemed like the greatest adventure in the world to him. The best memory anyone could take from Lanzarote.

The guide left with the group, and he stayed there, sitting, more crouched than anything, secretly dipping his hand into the water so no one could discover his daring act. «I wish I could take a Jameito with me,» he thought, knowing that it was impossible and harmful to the little crab.

«What are you doing there? Let’s go,» his parents called out to him. He ran after them. «Mom, when I grow up, I’m going to be a biologist, a researcher to discover new and strange species,» he declared. She smiled and kept walking. The boy looked back one last time, promising himself that, one day, many years later, when he was as «old» as his parents, he would bring his children there and show them that incredible treasure he had discovered.