Settle an argument [spoilers]

Okay I need to know if I’m confused or genuinely remembering something. In season two they have the whale and I remember thinking when Anthony brought it up that he was referencing an old book from the 80s or something but I couldn’t recall what it was. I remember there being a whale that was hyper intelligent and represented destiny or something like that. My husband is convinced it doesn’t exist. So— am I going insane or is this real?!?