“Dad, how long was I in the egg?”
“You were there for two months.”
“Then what were you doing until I hatched?”
“I was holding the egg on top of my feet to keep it warm.”
“For two months without rest? Eating nothing?”
“Sure. Unless I incubate the egg even for a while, it will freeze soon in the piercing cold. Sometimes it becomes the food of skuas that keep their eyes on eggs or other penguins may come and snatch it.”
“Wow! That’s awesome. Dad, when I grow big like you, I’ll protect you!”
“Haha, yeah! Sounds wonderful!”
The father emperor penguin, who smiled with satisfaction, said to himself,
‘By that time, however, you will be busy keeping your egg.’