Ampullae of Lorenzini
By Zac Dunn
Art by Joe Vaux
Published Issue 143, November 2025
“Hammertime” by Joe Vaux inspired Zac Dunn to write Ampullae of Lorenzini.
The fins twitch and wish to swim quickly over reefs and tiny fish not large enough to quell the hunger that pushes them invariably forward. Electric currents, so subtle to mutter the most profane, splash out on the surface of the breaking waves, washing bits that might proceed to give them a succulent feed.
The many rocks and urchins never hesitate to mention the secrets of the harbor that labor and toil boil in tall steel pots on the shore. Wise to move in haste away from the greed of fishermen who seek a fin. Only then to cast them off to drown over beds of oysters and scallops tucked in so cozy.
Trollers with long lines and indifference moan from far off like a chainsaw splitting metal and molten bolts. The instinct to sink below and go slow is a droll shanty of the many hammerheads that fancy another stoke rather than a deck that seeks to gut them quick. An echo of the cursed orca is the only tone that breaks with more urgency to hurry off and avoid the pod that is clever and cunning.
BUT …
The pod is all too swift and plots without hesitation upon the most marbled of hammerheads that will keep all fed. Marked and given fair warning, the king tide of the morning sweeps the pod upon them faster than mollusks gasping for fresh nourishment wince.
Sharks gather to flood the floor of the bay with too many fins for the mighty orca to sort which to strike first upon. The electric pulse causes the fins to convulse in harmony, discordant to the orcas that seek to pounce so quickly and leave the sea’s killing floor.
They all dance over majestic kelp beds that graze the surface, leading the way so clearly to deeper waters and the threat of the long lines and nets. The largest female orca slips below and takes hold of the biggest hammerhead she can make out in the flurry. Her cull is well-chosen as the squires of the pod help to land another robust kill that moves quickly, but is obviously too old and sickly to outswim their charge. Each target they take is shared as the group moves so rapidly to avoid the long lines and nets groaning ever closer.
The reef keeps its spines stout as the nets crash and scrape over ancient divots where eels and seahorses cower.
Zac Dunn is a psycho-social mechanic, father, musician and dreamer. Check out his music and follow him on X | Instagram | Tumblr.
Joe Vaux is a Culver City- based animator and artist who works as a storyboard artist and animation. See more of his work: Website | Instagram | Bluesky
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