Shakespeare on the Roof
Page 13
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Thirteen: Shark Attack
Something was definitely wrong. I was surfing, why I was surfing I had no idea but I was surfing. I was out in deep water and lying on my board when a shark surfaced next to me. It circled around and then came in for the kill, its mouth was wide open and hundreds of razor like white teeth gleamed in the afternoon sun. It came at me in a whirl of speed and blood lust but just before it tore at my body I pushed myself up on my board and punched the shark hard on the snout, the shark missed the mark and bit into empty space.
One man was lying on the floor, I had just taken him out and there were five others all circling around. I struck out and took a second man out and then I was struck from behind with what felt like a baseball bat. I went down but not before I took out my assailant with a frantic kick to the ribs. My vision was blurred and for some reason my limbs weren't doing what they were being told to do. The shark I had punched in the nose came up to me and laughed.
'You are a good man Jack Hamma,' said the Shark. 'You will fight till the end, you will never give up, you cannot be overcome.'
Someone was trying to tie my hands together, I head butted him, he went down.
'Struggle all you like, you are in my power,' said the shark.
I tried to jump up but my legs weren't working.
'I have a proposition.'
A man came at me with a hypodermic needle.
'He's a fighter,' said the shark. 'Give him another shot.'
Two men were holding me but I kept struggling.
'I am offering you a way out. I can either kill you now or let you live.'
'Not interested,' I said, at least I think I said it but my mouth wasn't working too well either.
'You tax my patience,' said the shark.
'Go to hell,' I said.
'I am offering you an amnesty, join my team, you have no love for the Australian Army, they threw you out. I am offering you a place on my team, you are a good man, it would be a waste to kill you.'
Three men were now holding me down, I managed to kick out at one of them and I pulled the other two to the ground.
'Enough!' shouted the shark and then I was back in the sea on my surf board and the shark was circling round and coming at me again. I punched it on the snout but it kept coming.