Le voyage de Rata - The journey of Rata

11 The giant clam The journey went on smoothly until they suddenly heard Punua shouting: "There’s a whirlpool in front of us!" The sea suddenly swirled over as the ship was being sucked into the whirlpool. Punua shouted once again: "It’s a huge clam!" The whole of the crew leant overboard and saw the gaping valves about to swallow down the ship. They were the Gates of Death! So, before the stunned crew members, Punua grabbed a spear and, at the very moment the valves started to close on them, he plunged it, with a steady hand, into the giant clam’s flesh. The animal was killed on the spot and sank into the depth of the sea. It had failed to bring down the Taraipo and her crew. Gradually, the sea calmed down and allowed for the voyage to continue.