Years later, students still asked him about the incident. “Were you terrified?” one asked during a lecture. Nathaniel smiled. “Of course.” Another raised her hand. “Do you really believe the whale understood you were in danger?” Nathaniel paused before answering.
“I know it held me when the shark came close,” he said. “I know it put its body between us. And I know it released me once the danger moved away.” He looked around the room. “What you choose to call that is up to you.”