From the Depths

“You should go fishing with Dad sometime,” Brett nudged his sister, Jayna. “It’s great! You get to spend time with Dad, watch gentle waves lap at the boat, and eat delicious fish for dinner.” He grinned, knowing Jayna loved swimming and all things water-related, including fish, but only if they were cooked. Worms and other such edibles required for fishing were not even on her list.

“Another day, okay?”

“Brett isn’t just teasing.” Jayna didn’t realize Dad had been listening in on their conversation. “Mom’s taking Brett to a swim meet, and I’d enjoy having some company—want to come along?”

The sun sparkled on the water, and Jayna had to admit the weather was just right—not blistering hot but warm enough to sit still on the surface of the lake without shivering. Dad launched the dory and maneuvered to within a quarter mile of shore, in an area with massive oaks and elms lining the bank. He cast his line into a still deep pool, hooked his rod to the edge of the craft, and settled into a daydream while waiting.

Jayna stared intently into the depths, wishing she had brought something to read. At first, she thought the dark spot drifting by was the shadow of a trout, but when it began to surface, Jayna realized it was a different creature entirely. The flat gray snout, white whiskers, flat head with wide set eyes and steel and white markings looked like a cross between a shark and a prehistoric monster. Suddenly, the fish (if indeed that’s what it was) disappeared. The fishing pole jerked violently before being yanked overboard. Ripples widened as the boat bounced roughly in the water, then tipped over. Jayna struggled to find her bearings to swim to her Dad and right the craft but found her feet tangled in the fishing line. She glanced around to locate him, but he had disappeared along with the creature and the rod.