by Michael Bray
The water bit into Zimmer as he struggled to regain his senses. He drew breath as he saw the full size of the creature as it passed. It was beyond comprehension. His head broke the surface and he let out a gasping cough as his lungs took in much needed air. Haim had also surfaced, and was in the process of pulling himself back into his boat.
Zimmer thought Haim had the look of a man who had peeked into hell and was trying to come to terms with what he saw, and he supposed, as he kicked towards his own boat, he probably looked pretty much the same. He pulled himself out of the water and glanced over to Haim.
“Jonas,” he said breathlessly as he looked across the water to his rival, “did you see it?”
Haim nodded and even from ten feet away, Zimmer could see that his rival was in shock.
He was about to speak again, when they both heard the splintering crack from behind them. They looked just in time to see the marbled, arched back of the creature duck beneath the waves, taking one of the following boats with it.
“We have to get out of here,” Zimmer said.
Haim didn’t respond, he simply sat and watched the creature as it systematically destroyed the other boats that were now crashing into each other and changing course wildly, as they tried to avoid the beast. The air was filled with the sounds of screaming and splintering wood & fibreglass as the creature continued to rampage.
“Come on, this is our chance to get out away,” Zimmer pleaded. Haim was unmoving. All he could do was sit in his boat shivering and staring at the carnage.
“I’m going,” he said with finality. Haim didn’t respond, and left with no choice, Zimmer set sail alone, aiming at a diagonal for the coast. He lowered his head, and found a current of air that drove him forwards, his speed quickly building as he raced towards the beach.
It had attacked the pod of creatures that had invaded its territory, and now it detected only one. Even though it was fleeing, the enraged creature spun around to pursue it, pushing through the splintery and bloody debris of the sailboats that it had destroyed.
Jonas Haim watched as the immense wake surged past his boat, pushing it a further fifty feet out to sea as it chased Zimmer. He looked on open mouthed and shivering, and was still unable to comprehend what had happened.
Ahead, Zimmer had noticed it too, glancing over his shoulder as the great wave of water closed the distance to him. Despite the fear, he smiled, because the adrenaline junkie in him found a sick excitement in the situation. The race he had been competing to win was now meaningless. This race was for his life. The wind was strong behind him, and the boat was flawless in its precision as it cut across the ocean, the ride smooth and as close to perfect as Zimmer could have ever hoped.
Don’t look back, don’t look back, don’t look back.
He repeated it in his head, but couldn’t help a quick glance over his shoulder. The wake had halved the distance to him, and he thought it would be a pretty close call as to whether he would be able to get to the beach before the creature got to him.
Forget it, focus on the beach, and focus on maintaining the speed. Get to the finish.
The voice in his head was right, and he did as it instructed, making minute adjustments to the angle of his sail, and ignoring the burning in his back and shoulders from his efforts. He knew he was approaching the shallows, and with it, as the water became less stable, he knew the breaking waves would slow his progress. He didn’t look, and didn’t have to. He could sense the creature behind him, and knew time was up. Unsure if it was by instinct or awareness, he veered the boat sharply to the right, almost coming to a stop as he changed course. A split second later, the giant exploded out of the water, its jaws slamming on the space that he had occupied seconds earlier. He laughed, or maybe it was a scream. He couldn’t tell the difference anymore. He spun the sailboat back towards the beach, which was tantalisingly close. He could see people watching, pointing, and taking photographs. He aimed towards them, wondering when the water would be too shallow for the creature to follow.
The creature turned its massive body around and closed within striking distance. Infuriated by missing its first attack, its confusion lasted only seconds, as it instantly relocated its target. With a flick of its tail, the creature was upon the boat, attacking side on and launching out of the ocean in an explosion of spray, crushing the fibreglass hull like kindling. It thrashed its head from side to side as it swallowed its catch before circling away from the shallows and back to deeper waters.
On the beach, Michael Zimmer fell to his knees, exhausted, as a crowd of onlookers surrounded him. He had pushed beyond what he deemed to be his limits, and by steering the boat away from the beach, and then jumping out to swim to safety, he had bought himself enough time to ensure his survival. Now he was safe, the weight of what had happened crashed down upon him, and he began to shake. He heard distant voices from those around him calling for help, some comparing video footage. None of that mattered to Zimmer. All that mattered was the feel of the sun on his back and the sand under his knees. Everything else seemed incidental.
“We need to call the police,” he gasped between ragged breaths.
“It’s done, dude, police are on their way. I think we’re gonna need the damn army for this though.”
Zimmer squinted to the bronzed man standing in front of him. “You saw it?”
“Damn straight we did. We all did. What the hell was that, man?”
Zimmer shook his head, and got gingerly to his feet. “I don’t know, but someone needs to close the beaches.”
CHAPTER 20
“What is it exactly that you want from me?” Rainwater asked Andrews as he looked at him across the table.
“I want to know what you saw. Any detail, however small could greatly help us.”
“I doubt anything I could tell you will be anything you don’t know already.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Until you tell me, we won’t know.”
“Is that why you brought me in here on my own?”
“It is,” Andrews said with a slight flicker of a smile. “Your friend seems quite aggressive.”
Rainwater didn’t answer, so Andrews went on.
“You know none of them believe you, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, I’m not stupid. I just think it might be better that way. If they knew, they wouldn’t have come.”
“And yet, here we are, both willing to risk everything to find this magnificent creature.”
“Have you seen it?” Rainwater asked.
“Not in the flesh as such, but on video, yes.”
“I thought as much.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because, if you had you wouldn’t be doing this.”
“I’ve been searching for this creature for years. Long before you managed to get in its way. Anyway, what about you? Why are you risking your life again to look for it?”
“I have my reasons.”
“I would like to hear them.”
“If you must know, I want to find it to prove to myself that I’m not crazy.”
“I can assure you, the creature is real. I can show you video footage of it. At least that way you can stay at home and not risk your life and that of your crew.”
“I think if you had seen this thing in the flesh, you wouldn’t be so arrogant.”
Andrews’s cheek twitched and darkness flashed in his eyes as he looked at Rainwater.
“And I think you give this creature too much credit. What happened to you wasn’t a deliberate act. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffered an unfortunate loss. Let it go. Put it down to the power of nature.”
“I figured you’d say something like that.”
“Oh, and you are now an expert on these animals?”
“No, not by any means, I have seen it and I respect what it can do. I have to go out there. I need to find it. I need to conquer it.”
“You sound afraid.”
“I am afraid.”
“Then take my advice. Let it go. Let the professionals deal with it. You don’t need to be out here.”
“Would you let it go if you were in my position?”
Andrews showed a brief glimmer of a smile and leaned back in his seat. “You don’t speak like a fisherman, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
“I have no idea what you mean.”
“I mean, with you there is intelligence and level headedness, which might be better suited in another profession.”
Rainwater straightened in his seat as he watched Andrews pace the room.
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting you could do far better than head out to sea with a less than competent crew, and pitiful equipment with which to attempt to find this creature and put more lives at risk.”
“I already told you. I’m not going to stay home and let this thing eat away at me inside.”
Andrews grinned, as he approached the table, sitting opposite Rainwater.
“No, what I’m suggesting is you join us here. Help us. We have the best equipment, the best staff. Trust me, if anyone will find this creature, it’s us. If you are really intent on locating this creature, let me help you do it.”
“At the same time, you can keep an eye on me and keep control of whatever knowledge goes in or out, right?”
“That’s a little dramatic, but in essence, yes.”
“No thanks.”
“Are you absolutely certain? I would advise you give this some serious thought, especially considering what you are up against, and what you could stand to lose. The ocean is a lonely place. Who knows what could happen out there?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Call it friendly advice. You are in over your head here. Despite what you might think of me, I like you, Mr. Rainwater. You don’t beat around the bush. I don’t want you to get mixed up in something you are certain to lose.”
“Lose? I didn’t realise we were playing a game.”
“In my experience everything in life is a game.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Why?” Andrews said, leaning on the table and staring at Rainwater. “For some family honour code or bragging rights to let those close to you know you weren’t hallucinating? Why is it so important to you?”
“It’s simple really. I want to find it, and I want to kill it. I need to know its dead. I need to see first hand that it can never do to anyone else what it did to me.”
Andrews’s expression changed. His eyes narrowed and he flashed a wide, uncomfortable smile. Rainwater thought this was his first glimpse at the real Andrews, the one hidden behind the friendly, helpful exterior. When he spoke, his voice was low and laced with threat.
“I should warn you, any notion of harming this creature will not be tolerated. We have absolute power to do whatever is necessary to capture this creature unharmed.”
“Capture? I thought you were just trying to find it?”
Andrews grimaced. He knew he had said more than he intended to.
“I’ve heard enough. We’re leaving.” Rainwater said as he stood and strode to the door. In the next room, Mackay was sitting at a table along with Clara and Dexter.
“You need to be smart, think about your options.” Andrews said as he followed Rainwater out of the room.
“Options? If you had seen this thing up close like I have, you would know there is only one option, and that’s to kill this damn thing.”
“What’s happening?” Mackay said, standing and glaring at Andrews.
“This asshole plans to capture this thing, not kill it.”
Clara and Dexter joined Mackay and Rainwater in staring at Andrews.
“Look, we all need to calm down and take a moment to relax, it was a slip of the tongue, and that’s all.”
“Bullshit it was,” Rainwater said.
“Is this true?” Clara said, watching Andrews carefully for a reaction.
“You know as well as I do that our objective is to find and observe this wonderful creature.”
“You’re lying, pal.” Mackay said, taking a step towards Andrews. “I can smell it on you. You fuckin’ government pricks are always hiding behind bullshit excuses.”
“Look, let’s all calm down, okay?” Dexter said, trying to diffuse the tension. “Maybe we should all just take a breath and relax.”
“I don’t need to relax,” Rainwater said. “I need to go find this thing.”
“Then what?” Clara said, watching him just as intensely as she looked at Andrews.
“I’m going to kill it.”
“That’s barbaric,” she shot back. “This is a unique species which needs to be studied. I was assured that was the reason for my being here.”
“And it is. Mr Rainwater here is mistaken.” Andrews said, his smile faltering.
“If you believe that, you’ll believe anything. Come on, Mackay, let’s get the hell out of here.”
Mackay opened the door leading to the deck.
“Remember what I said. Don’t get in my way.” Andrews said as he followed them.
“You do what you have to do, and I’ll do the same.” Rainwater said over his shoulder as he headed down the loading ramp.
“What makes you think you can compete with us out there?”
Rainwater stopped and turned towards Andrews.
“Because you might have the technology, and the brilliant scientists, we have one thing you don’t.”
“Oh, and what might that be?”
“We know the water. We know what it will throw at us.”
“Water doesn’t scare me.”
“I know,” Rainwater replied, “which is why we have an advantage.”
CHAPTER 21
Venice Beach
California
Milton Cooper had worked for TSBS for seven years, and this was by far the most ridiculous story he had ever been asked to cover. He was looking to secure the anchor job, something where he would work from the studio and become a familiar face in people’s lives at six o clock every weekday. For now though, he was stuck with the always on the move roaming reporter role. He was the one who was forced to cover what the company referred to as ‘human interest’ stories, which more often than not were the stories that nobody really took too seriously. He picked up the handheld mirror and squinted at his reflection where he crouched in the back of the news van. Milton was tall and gangly, and despite being the wrong side of thirty-five, he still held up pretty well. He had sandy hair that was still full and free from grey, and smooth skin, which was – as yet- line and worry free. He adjusted his tie, put on his game face and clambered out of the van.
Melina, his camera operator was waiting outside. She was in full business mode now, but the dark haired, English born, twenty three year old Asian, had a softer side, which most of her colleagues rarely saw. She grinned as he approached, and he felt his chest quiver a little.
“This is bullshit,” he said, giving an exasperated shrug.
“It’s work,” Melina replied.
“We shouldn’t be out here doing shit like this, Melina, we’ve paid our dues. We should be working out of the studio.”
“Hey, at least this way we get to travel. I know you, Milton. Within six months, you’d be sick of the sight of the studio and be clamouring to get out to jobs like this.” She touched his arm gently as she said it, and he had to fight off a flurry of those pesky emotions that he felt towards her. He blinked and looked at his expertly shined shoes.
“Sorry… it’s just… I get frustrated that’s all. I would make a great anchor for the six o clock news. The execs have been dangling the carrot at me for years now, and yet, here I am, about to report on a god-damn sea monster sighting.”
He shook his head as he looked at the expanse of sand in front of him, which was jammed with people, police, and rival TV crews.
“Well,” She said, following his gaze, “it looks like we aren’t the only ones with a crew out here. I saw a CNN t
ruck parked up the beach.”
Milton grunted, only half listening. He was more concerned with the damage the sand would do to his shoes, and wished he had brought his pumps.
“Hey, I’m talking to you,” she said softly, clicking her fingers in front of his eyes. He looked at her and as always, those old feelings tried to rekindle until he quashed them and broke eye contact.
“Sorry,” he said, forcing a smile of his own, “I guess I’m being a moody asshole today, that’s all.”
“Milton, I get it, I really do. Like it or not, this is the job we have been asked to do, and we have to do it.”
“I know, but I wish someone in the office would take notice. I work hard, I’m a model employee.”
“If you really want something in this world, you don’t wait for someone to give it to you.” She held his gaze, her dark eyes mesmerizing to him. “You have to go out there and take it.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, wondering if she was referring to the job, or how he had dealt with their brief fling.
“I mean you need to get out of your comfort zone. Think outside the box. Force them to acknowledge your talents.”
“How do I do that?”
She shrugged “Who the hell knows. You have to do something. Give it some thought, okay?”
He nodded, and turned his attention to the beach.
“Okay, let’s get this piece recorded and get the hell out of here. It’s too damn hot.”
Melina grabbed her camera. “Let’s do it.” She said, and followed as Milton walked onto the beach.
They set up with the crowd of onlookers behind Milton, who made a few minor adjustments to his tie, and then looked into the camera.
“Okay, we’re rolling, start whenever you’re ready.”
He took a deep breath, broadened his grin, and began.
