 Why was Gertrude continuously screaming?
The Blue Behemoth By LEIGH BRACKETT Shannon's Imperial Circus was a jinxed space-carny leased for a mysterious tour of the inner worlds. I've wet-nursed Shannon's Imperial Circus around the Triangle for eleven years, and I know. It has always been my desire to lighten the burden of life for those less fortunate...." He said, "Boss, Gertrude's actin' up again." "Gertrude be blowed," growled Bucky. "I'm tellin' you, Boss, Gertrude ain't happy. Beamish cleared his throat and said, rather stiffly, "Gertrude?" The only other one on the Triangle belongs to Savitt Brothers, and she's much smaller than Gertrude." Gertrude may be a little creaky, but she's still pretty impressive.
 She was desperate for a mate
 She was cramped in a much too small space.  She missed her family.  She was near starving.  She was desperate for a mate