Arkold is part of an escort on seaskippers, as the Prince-Captain Rashad is taken by Mariners to the underwater city of Marinopolis, to discuss some trade. Arkold goes exploring, and observes how the Mariners use the art of "grafting" to make various living "mechanisms" out of aquatic life forms. Arkold is not pleased by these revelations, but manages not to lose his lunch over it.