Erin told me about Horseshoe Crab blood which is blue! It is harvested for it’s bacteria detecting abilities.
“Harvesting horseshoe crab blood involves collecting and bleeding the animals, and then releasing them back into the sea. Most of the animals survive the process; mortality is correlated with both the amount of blood extracted from an individual animal, and the stress experienced during handling and transportation. Estimates of mortality rates following blood harvesting vary from 3-15%to 10-30%”
Blue blood. A man says it’s royal but we are lined up like cattle, being bled for all we’re worth. Drip drip drip. I wonder why they needed it so much. I’d never seen my blood before. No idea it was valuable.
When they unlock us and take us back to sea I feel lucky. I can go home and take care of my sick little crab once more.
Every night I dream of those white coats and the drip of my own blood. Most other crabs try to block it out but I can’t.
I start doing my own tests. Bleed once more. Blue ink on the sand. Most crabs call me crazy but I keep doing it. One day I discover it. We have medicine in our blood.
My little crab is well again now, and I’m feeling lucky once more but I never forget that drip drip drip.
freyawrightbrough 