Shark & The Wolf: Predators and Prey

by Daniel D. Shields

  “You have to meet my dad. You two are going to love each other.”

  Vixen pulled Shark inside Gill’s and led him to the bar. The old dolphin approached.

  “Dad, I’d like you to meet Shark.”

  The dolphin offered his hand across the bar, and he and Shark shook hands.

  “Nice to meet you, sir,” Shark said.

  “Nice to meet you, too, Shark. My daughter has told me a lot about you. I hear you’re pretty good at pool.”

  “I’ve been known to knock the balls around a bit. But I’m sure I am no match for someone as talented as you.”

  “My playing days were a long time ago, so who knows who would win. It might be fun to knock some around a little bit later.”

  “That would be awesome,” Shark said, excited.

  Shark knew Gill was getting on in age. But in his day, he had been the best, one of the most famous pool players in the world. The walls of the bar that carried his name also carried old photos of him in his prime. There were pictures of Gill at the world billiard championships in Russia, France, Germany, and Japan. Gill’s favorite picture showed him in New York City, holding up a World Championship trophy, the Empire State Building lit up and clearly visible in the background.

  When Gill’s attention was drawn away by a customer, Vixen again grabbed Shark by the hand. She led him toward a door leading to the back deck. “Come on, you have to see the incredible view.”

  Shark noticed the water of the Gulf as it glistened with the reflection of multicolored lights attached to sailboats docked in the bay. He lifted Vixen’s hand and led her in a slow dance on the empty back deck at Gill’s, to the sound of Christmas music playing on the jukebox. A slight chill in the air caused Vixen to nuzzle her head close to Shark’s massive neck. He watched as she closed her eyes and let herself be lost in the magic of the moment.

  “Do you ever think you could live in a place like this?” she asked.

  Shark ran his fingers gently through her long black hair as they continued to dance. “If living here involves you, then the answer is definitely yes.”

  Vixen stepped back and looked directly at Shark. “Great, because a friend of mine has a house for rent about ten miles from here. I would love for you to look at it.”

  Shark had traveled the world extensively with the military, and even his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, didn’t seem to offer many connections anymore. He felt ready for a change, and if that change meant moving to paradise and being close to Vixen, he was ready for it.

  “That would be great.” He grabbed her and looked directly into her wild green eyes. “Will I be living there alone?”

  “I can’t make any promises. I really just want you to be close. We can see how things go.”

  The response seemed fair enough to Shark. He considered himself a gentleman, and if Vixen didn’t feel comfortable sharing a place, that was fine with him. It seemed as if she had cast a spell on him that he did not quite understand but at the same time did not mind. He liked how he felt around her and often found it hard not to just sit and stare at her in total amazement at her beauty.

  A loud truck horn sounded from the main road and shook Shark from his daydream. He stretched, and again took a long gaze out across the open waters of the Gulf, toward the southwest, toward Vixen. He moved inside the small hut and retrieved a knapsack he had packed the night before. He took one last look around the house, then moved outside and locked the front door. He threw the bag into the open-air jeep and took off down the road.

  Shark adjusted the radio as the jeep bounced down Highway 1. He loved music and quickly tuned into a station with a tropical beat, just the type he needed to get in a relaxed mood for the long trip ahead. He headed south past the large, colorful homes that dotted the coast. One day, he thought, I’ll trade in the hut, and Vixen and I will live in style right on the, Atlantic Ocean.

  As he approached the parking lot of Gill’s, he could tell that the place was packed. The parking lot was overflowing, forcing customers to park on the main road. His spot was always there, right in front of the bar entrance next to a large coconut palm. Gill had attached a little sign to the tree. It read: Pool Sharks Only. Since he was the only pool shark in existence, everyone knew the spot was his.

  Shark grabbed the knapsack and headed inside. He was surprised to see that the entire bar was empty, but then he heard the loud screams and laughs coming from Gill’s back deck. As he walked through the empty bar toward the back door, he looked around and again could not imagine Gill’s not being there. There were too many memories and too many good times for the place to just disappear. He would have to do what he could to save it.

  The back deck of Gill’s was the scene of a major celebration. It felt like the Fourth of July. The bar patrons had the party in full swing and were loading one another up with rounds of drinks. Shark knew they were all there to see him and Dog Z Boy off on their trip.

  Shark had always loved the deck, ever since the first time he and Vixen shared a slow dance on it. The deck had one of the most beautiful views in the Florida Keys. Directly to the north were some of the many mangrove-covered islets that called the Keys home, and to the southwest, he could see the tip of the island of Key West, the southernmost point in the United States. Due west provided the best view, the one that kept the tourists and regulars alike coming back night after night—the open expanse of the Gulf of Mexico, whose glistening waves and unobstructed horizon provided the canvas for the magical, multicolored sunsets over water that the Keys were famous for. It was like watching paradise dance a slow tango with a hot Spanish temptress, Shark remembered a guest at Gill’s once saying.

  He watched the large seaplane circle in the distance. As it landed in the middle of the lagoon, he listened to the crowd cheer and watched as they raised their drinks and toasted. An old friend of Gill’s was a famous musician who had made a lot of money creating and playing island music for tourists in the lower Florida Keys. He owned a seaplane he called Paradise Prancer, and once he learned that Vixen needed help, he had generously offered Gill the use of it.

  As Shark made his way from the inside bar to the deck, he stopped to take in the scene. All the regulars from Gill’s were there to see him and Dog Z Boy off. The crowd was an assortment of colorful characters, each with a tall tale and story to tell all of their own.

  There was Parrott, a true beach bum and barfly who had an annoying trait of repeating back to you everything you said.

  There was Trixy, a waitress who had worked for Gill for years. She was a beautiful Florida jaguar who could have been, so some said, a fashion model in her day. There were rumors that she had declined the opportunity of the bright lights and life of glamour to stay close to Gill. It was no secret that the two had been an item for years.

  Juan was an iguana with a penchant for good tequila. The problem was that after two shots, he would tire and sleep most of the day with his head down on the bar.

  Clyde was a big old draft horse who had spent a lifetime pulling carriages for a beer company. An image of him was in a promotional sign that hung above the jukebox at Gill’s.

  Each had a reason why they had chosen to call the Florida Keys home, and each had another reason why they should leave. It was a sense of adventure that had brought them all to this remote section of coral in southern Florida, and the same sense of adventure that from time to time gave them island fever and the need to explore. But no matter where their travels took them, they would always return to call the Keys home.

  Shark understood that Vixen suffered from this same restlessness. On the one hand, she loved her friends, loved hanging out at Gill’s, and loved the island lifestyle of the Keys, but at the same time, she told him, she sometimes felt trapped and felt the need to travel to the farthest reaches of the globe. She said it was a deep-down, innate instinct that propelled her to explore.

  Shark made his way down the ramp and onto the deck. The patrons greeted him, making him feel like a celebri
ty.

  “There he is. The pool shark has arrived!” yelled Juan the iguana, who was in a half-drunken stupor.

  “There he is. The pool shark has arrived,” repeated the parrot.

  “Let’s hear it for our buddies, Shark and Dog Z Boy!” yelled Clyde the horse, as he lifted a large mug of beer in the air and pounded it down in one long sip.

  The crowd went crazy as Shark made his way toward the seaplane. He would love to stay and join the party, but Vixen was waiting, and she took precedence over everything else.

  Dog Z Boy finished loading the last of the gear and waved to the crowd as he climbed into the rear of the plane.

  As Shark climbed through the open fuselage door, Gill took him by the arm. “I’m not concerned about the bar or any treasure, Shark. All I want you to do is to bring my baby back home, safely.”

  Shark gave Gill a look of determined confidence. “Don’t worry, friend. I’ll find her, and if that treasure she’s looking for actually exists, I’ll bring them both back to you.”

  Gill closed the door and gave a friendly tap on the window as the plane began to taxi away from the dock.

  As Shark watched from the window, the crowd cheered and toasted as the seaplane’s pontoons lifted out of the water. He thought about the great view they would have of the outline of the plane as it cut a picture-perfect silhouette in the clear blue sky.

  CHAPTER 3

  Mama’s Fangs

  Shark watched the terrain from the passenger’s seat as the seaplane headed due west into the setting sun. Because of the extra-large fuel tanks, the pilot stopped only twice to refuel, once in San Diego and once in Hawaii before making the last leg of the trek to Fiji.

  The seaplane provided a great view of the Fijian Island of Viti Levu. Shark looked down upon lush tropical foliage that spread from pristine beaches to the rims of volcanic mountains. Somewhere down there in that dense jungle paradise, he thought, Vixen is in the midst of one of her adventures and needs my help. He felt determined to find her.

  Shark found it hard to believe that it had been a month already since she left. He remembered that it had been a quiet night at Gill’s; Vixen spent many a lazy night at the old tavern helping her dad. She waited tables when the staff was overwhelmed and picked songs for the jukebox whenever the music stopped. She spent a lot of time learning how to play pool, then, as her talents increased, she learned the fine art of the hustle. Vixen had just finished playing two tourists in eight-ball when she walked up and announced that she was leaving. Without saying another word, she picked up her cue, packed it in her leather case, and headed for the door.

  Shark remembered how he thought it was odd, when she stopped at the front door, turned, and looked back at him. He felt as if she was going to invite him to come along. He might have joined her, he thought. But in another instant, she was gone.

  Shark didn’t feel worried at first. Vixen had taken off a few times in the past. She had an untamed desire to seek adventure. But this time, as the days, then weeks passed with no word, both he and Gill grew concerned.

  Shark knew Gill had faith in him and looked upon him as a son. They had talked many times about Shark’s relationship with Vixen and the possibility of it going a step further. Although it was something that he and Gill both considered, it was not a subject Vixen held high on her conversation list. Her wild spirit held her off from the idea of actually settling down. Shark felt determined not only to find Vixen but to finally win her heart for good.

  The seaplane banked left, then straightened out. The captain removed his headset and yelled back, “We’re coming in on approach! Everyone get their belts on!”

  Dog Z Boy was listening to music. He removed the earpiece and tightened the seatbelt around his waist. Shark sensed that he was looking at him; he knew his best friend could always tell when he felt a little nervous.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find her,” Dog Z Boy said as he put his fist up for Shark to hit.

  Shark looked at him, raised his fist, and tapped his knuckles against Dog Z Boy’s. “Yes, we’ll find her.” Shark dug his fingers into the armrest. “But right now, I’m more worried about all this water we’re about to land on.” Sweat started to form on his brow.

  Shark turned his head in time to watch the windows of the plane fill with turquoise blue water. The plane skimmed across the lagoon, and the large propellers began to slow. The plane taxied toward a dock that was on the east side of the lagoon. Shark was still gripping the armrest as the propellers came to a stop.

  As he exited the plane and stepped onto the dock, he noticed a big sign that read: Welcome To Fiji . . . Paradise Of The Pacific. Up ahead, he spotted two custom-built choppers. No matter where they traveled, two things were certain: the main transportation would have two wheels, and the main entertainment would be playing pool.

  A curious-looking fellow waved at Shark and Dog Z Boy from the end of the dock. He was dressed in island shorts and a colorful shirt, and he looked like a cross between a dog and kangaroo. Shark knew that combination created some funny-looking creatures but that it was not that uncommon in these parts due to the island’s fairly close proximity to Australia.

  “Mr. Shark! Mr. Boy!” the strange creature kept yelling and waving as they approached. “I’m Roozu, your personal guide on the Island. I can help you find anything you need.”

  Shark looked him over. He was skin and bones and obviously not much of a threat. “All right, grab these bags, and get them on the bikes. We need to get moving. We’re looking for a place called Tiki Wiki Billiards.”

  Roozu dropped the bags in the storage bins on the bikes. “Ah yes, Tiki Wiki Billiards. It’s on the far side of the island. It’s a very pretty place. The only problem is that the main road is out due to a lava flow. You can either take a boat or hike over the mountain.”

  Shark was quick to respond. “No boats. Dry land works for me. We hike.”

  Roozu gave the two travelers a nod of understanding. “I can guide you to the trail.”

  “That’s cool.” Shark gave Roozu another once over. “Let’s roll, time is a-wasting.”

  Dog Z Boy stowed the final backpack on his bike. Shark and Dog Z Boy started the ignition, revved the engines, and sped off down the dusty road through town. Shark looked in his rearview mirror and could see Roozu following on an old scooter.

  As they left the crowded streets of the small beach town, the seaplane’s propellers created a cool breeze as they roared above them. Shark looked up and watched as the plane banked back into the clear azure sky.

  Shark led the group up a twisting dirt road into the mountains. Along the way, they passed cattle ranches and sugar-cane fields. Every so often, as they moved slowly through rural, island villages, groups of small children chased them and asked for treats.

  As he rode, Shark started to experience an uneasy feeling that he could not explain. He didn’t know if it was justified or if his Army Ranger training was just kicking in. He remembered the words of advice from one of his commanders: “If you’re on a mission and don’t feel constantly like the world is about to open up and crash in on you, then don’t bother writing home to mama, ’cause you’re already dead.” He decided to chalk the feeling up as something positive and put the worry about it aside for the moment.

  As they proceeded into the heart of the island, Shark could see the peak of Tomanivi, which was the island’s tallest mountain. He also noticed the growing denseness of the jungle foliage. In some parts, it seemed impenetrable.

  Shark looked left and noticed Dog Z Boy riding right beside. Dog Z Boy glanced down at Shark’s backpack where the handle of a huge machete stuck out. A look of relief crossed his face.

  Shark smiled. He always came prepared.

  As he turned a corner, Shark heard Roozu yelling, “Stop.” Up ahead, a large clearing gave way to a dense wall of jungle. “There it is, right between the two large palms. It’s the trail that will take you over the mountain to the other side of the island.”
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br />   Shark stopped, jumped off the bike and retrieved his binoculars. He looked across the open field and spotted the opening in the jungle, just where Roozu said it was. “Okay, let’s get the packs and head out.”

  Roozu did not move and appeared very nervous.

  Shark looked over at him. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Shark, but I can’t go over the mountain. These mountains are very dangerous. They are home to the world’s largest insect, the Giant Fijian Long-Horned Beetle. You and Dog Z Boy might not have to worry, but the beetle would look at me as an afternoon snack.”

  Shark looked at Dog Z Boy, who raised his shoulders as if to say he had no idea what to do about Roozu. Without paying any more attention to Roozu, Shark grabbed his pack and headed toward the jungle. “Let’s go, Dog Z Boy. It looks like it’s me and you.”

  Old Jack watched from the cliffs above the jungle clearing as Shark and Dog Z Boy left his man Roozu behind and disappeared into the jungle. He smiled as he thought about his plan being put into action. With the background information he had collected on Shark, he knew the world’s only great white shark would come to the rescue of his darling, Vixen. And little would Shark know about the hell he was walking into.

  Old Jack heard a rustling in the bushes on the side of the cliff. He looked down and spotted the head of a small wild boar. He felt a twinge of hunger in his stomach. His hyena instincts kicked in and in an instant he pounced on the unsuspecting animal. He listened to its screams of horror as he dug his claws and ripped a hole in the soft flesh of its underbelly. His powerful jaws and sharp fangs then dealt a quick death blow to the squealing animal’s neck.

  He sat back, blood staining the fur on his elongated snout. “So easy, so easy to kill, and to eat,” he whispered to himself. “But it wasn’t always that way, now was it, Old Jack?” He closed his eyes as a memory from his childhood filled his mind.