A cheap folding table surrounded by metal chairs filled the middle of the room with a tray of assorted pastries in the center. A couch that looked like it was more duct tape than couch, sat in the far corner. On top of a banged up end table sat a small TV with some local news broadcast splayed across the screen.
“Here,” the clerk said and handed Tyde a Styrofoam cup of coffee. The black liquid sloshed in stark contrast against the white, synthetic material. It looked wonderful.
“Thanks…uh…um,” Tyde hesitated and suddenly felt like an ugly American for not having asked the clerk his name.
“Eddie,” the clerk grinned. “And don’t stress it man. Most tourists don’t even make eye contact when they check in.”
“Is this about the foot?” Tyde asked, pointing towards the television.
“Nothing else for them to talk about,” Eddie shrugged. “Sometimes people get hurt or die swimming around the wrecks and shit that’s in the water. It’s a shame, supposed to be a kid this time.”
“So you think it was just an accident?” Tyde asked.
“What else would it be?” Eddie studied the reporter standing on a nearby beach.
“I dunno,” Tyde lied. “Like maybe the Lusca or something like that?”
“The Lusca?” Eddie snorted. “Man, that’s just some old wives’ tale about a giant octopus.”
“So you don’t believe in it?” Tyde drained the coffee from his cup and went to refill his cup. He needed to remember to bring some back for Wendy.
“Believe?” Eddie asked. “I mean, I guess a giant octopus could exist somewhere, but not around here, not like the old stories say it does. It just wouldn’t be able to stay hidden for that long.”
“What about in Dean’s Blue Hole?” Tyde pressed. “Something could hide there, right?”
“Nope,” Eddie answered. “There’s no oxygen in the water once you go down deep. Nothing lives down there, except for bacteria and shit like that.”
“You seem to know a lot about diving,” Tyde said. “We were hoping to dive at Dean’s, but I guess that’s not going to happen since there was an accident and people are freaked out about the Lusca.”
“My brother takes me diving there sometimes,” Eddie said. “He runs a dive company with his friend. Best one on the island, if you ask me.”
“Think you’d be able to get him to take us?” Tyde asked. “I mean, as long as he’s not worried about the Lusca or anything.”
“Worried?” Eddie repeated. “Jefferson is always worried about something, but more than being neurotic, he’s a business man. So long as your money is green I’m sure he’ll take you diving.”
“Call him, please,” Tyde grinned. He could still save this day. Wendy would love diving at Dean’s.
Eddie grabbed a cell phone from his pocket and dialed. He had a hushed argument and threw a few numbers back and forth. Finally, he nodded and grinned. “Jefferson says he’ll be here in two hours. It’s going to cost one hundred…each.”
Tyde looked up from where he was busy filling a second cup of coffee and grabbing a few pastries for Wendy. “One hundred, each?”
“Sorry, man,” Eddie shrugged. “Shit is kinda hairy with what’s going on. I argued him down to one hundred, but I don’t think he’d do it for less. I can call him back and tell him he’s a greedy bastard and cancel.”
“No! Don’t! It’s okay, I can pay it,” Tyde said quickly. He stopped in the doorway. “Thanks Eddie, I think you may have just saved my marriage.”
-21-
“Who was that?” Milo demanded. He could tell from the look on Jefferson’s face that it involved money. His friend had always been level headed, if not a little paranoid, but when money entered the equation, he lost all common sense.
“It was my brother,” Jefferson said. “Just Eddie.”
“What’d he want?” Milo asked.
“What’s with the twenty questions?” Jefferson asked. “Just because your brother is a cop doesn’t mean that you’re a detective. Chill out.”
“Fine,” Milo snapped. “Then answer my question and I’ll chill out.”
“Eddie said there’s two tourists looking for a tour of the island,” Jefferson lied. “I figured I’d take them around and make a few bucks since someone won’t let us book any dives.”
“No one is going in the water until we figure out what the hell is going on,” Milo said. “We’re not taking any more risks. It’s not worth the money.”
“Is that Stan talking or Milo?” Jefferson teased.
“Shut up.” Milo turned back to the workbench in front of him and continued tinkering with the faulty air gauge on his air tanks. “For once, I happen to agree with Stan. I don’t think anyone should be going out diving.”
“Yeah, but he closed down every damn dive company on the island,” Jefferson said. “Even if there is something out there, I don’t see the point in shutting down every damn company.”
“It’s for everyone’s good,” Milo said. “I don’t like losing money either, but if the Lusca is lurking out there, staying out of the water is the best bet.”
“Staying out of the water?” Jefferson scoffed. “We live on a damn island, Milo. How the hell are we supposed to stay out of the water? It probably isn’t even the Lusca.”
“I guess you have a point,” Milo admitted, “but there’s no reason go out there looking for it. Lusca or not, there’s something out there and you know it. Just because some dumbass tourists waved a few dollars at you doesn’t change that. You were just as scared as I was when we were out there, so don’t even try to play big man now.”
“Fine,” Jefferson said. “Yes, you’re right. There is something out there and it does scare the shit out of me, but I’m not about to take a few tourists out there looking for it. I’m going to take the jeep and give them a tour to make a few dollars while we wait for this shit storm to blow over.”
“Alright,” Milo said. He was done trying to talk sense into his friend. Jefferson had made up his mind and hopefully was not stupid enough to do anything that would put people in danger. Besides, if he had the jeep and not the boat, that would limit the amount of stupidity he could unleash.
“You want to come?” Jefferson asked. “I’ll split the money with you.” The last thing he wanted was for Milo to accompany him, but not asking would look suspicious.
“Nah,” Milo waved without looking up from his work. “I’ll hang here and get this gauge fixed. Eventually, we’ll be allowed to dive again and I want my gear in working order.”
“Suit yourself,” Jefferson said as he walked out the door and onto the dock. He peered through the dingy windows to check that Milo was still working. Content that Milo was not going to check on him, Jefferson snuck around the side of the building. A small shed with a lock jutted out from the left side. Jefferson carefully inserted the key, popped the lock and grabbed a diving rig. Eddie told him the tourists had brought their own, so this was all he was going to need.
Off the docks, Jefferson placed his air tanks into the back of the jeep. He shot a glance towards their ramshackle building. It was little more than a clapboard shack. Surely, Milo would understand the desire to make a few more dollars. Two hundred was not going to change the direction of their lives, but it would put a little more gas in the boat. And besides, what harm could come from diving at Dean’s? Whatever monster or fish or whatever ate those college boys and that kid was out in the deep water. Nothing lived in blue holes. Everything would be fine.
“Nothing can survive in blue holes,” Jefferson told himself.
Had he known how right he was, he never would have started the jeep.
-22-
The soldiers eyed Lenny with suspicion after he showed such a strong reaction to the report of the foot. He had been so cold, so professional, that a sudden bout of queasiness over nothing more than a foot seemed out of character and concerning.
“Just the after effects of the liquid oxygen,” Lenny snapped and pushed the so
ldier’s extended hand away.
“Of course, sir,” the soldier nodded and stepped back.
The memory of the previous night’s exchange played through Lenny’s head. He would need to be more careful. The soldiers already suspected something was off and surely had reported in to the military brass. The last thing Lenny needed was a late night visit from a few Blackhawk helicopters. Sure, these guys were US Government and sure, the project’s funding came from tax dollars, but Lenny entertained no misconceptions about who these people were.
If they began to even suspect that Lenny was going to screw them over, he would vanish in the middle of the night and that would be the end of it. The only sign left of him, his crew or his research would be footprints in the sand, quickly lost to the coming tide and soon forgotten.
But why then had the report of the child’s foot washing up on shore hit me so hard? Lenny wondered. He certainly was not the emotional type and had very little interest in children. They were just unfinished adults, waiting to mature and find new and impressive heights of stupidity while further depleting the Earth of resources. Lenny’s scientific mind knew that at one point he too must have been a child, but he struggled to view himself as anything other than what he was. But why then would this report have such an effect on him?
“Excitement,” Lenny answered his own rhetorical question.
It had nothing to do with the loss of this child or the grief of his mother. No, people died every minute of every day. There was nothing any more impressive or important of the loss of this child. What truly mattered, what made Lenny’s head swim with excitement, was what this death proved.
There was something here. Some long forgotten creature must inhabit these waters and for whatever reason has awoken. It was somewhere nearby, just waiting for Lenny to discover it. And not only that, it had eaten human flesh. This was an apex predator, something well above humans on the food chain. Something that refused to bow to man’s supposed conquering of the natural world. This was something wonderful.
“Hey Doc, you decent?” It was Cal. Lenny wanted to slap him for making such a crude joke at his expense, but there was more important work to accomplish today.
“Yes, yes. What is it, Cal?” Lenny snapped. “Have you forgotten how to tie your shoes again and require assistance? Remember what I taught you last time, the rabbit runs around the tree and down the hole. I would think even a man of your limited capacity could retain that bit of information.”
“Well, you’re just a fuckin’ beam of sunshine this morning,” Cal smirked as he slipped between the flaps of Lenny’s tent and into the interior.
“I’m assuming you came here for some purpose beyond basking in the glow of my sparkling personality.” Lenny made a few tight circles in the air with his hand, urging Cal to get on with the actual purpose of his visit and interruption of Lenny’s private thoughts.
“A few of them soldier boys are hassling a jeep that just pulled up to the beach,” Cal reported. “It doesn’t look good if they’re shaking down the regulars. It’ll get people talking. But Lord knows those guys aren’t going to listen to me. All the same, I figured you would want to know.”
“Yes, thank you, Cal,” Lenny rose from the chair in front of desk. “Let’s go welcome our visitors.”
“Welcome them?” Cal questioned. Lenny was many things, but welcoming was sure as hell not one of them. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright, Doc? You were under for a long time last night and the liquid oxygen takes a toll.”
“I’m fine,” Lenny said as he pushed past Cal and strode towards the narrow road that edged along the beach.
One of the soldiers stood in the road with his thick arms crossed over his expansive chest. His head shook slowly from one side to the other, continually denying whatever request the man in the jeep had.
“That’s enough, thank you,” Lenny said and placed a hand on the soldier’s shoulder.
“Sir?” the soldier asked, unsure of why Lenny was dismissing him. “We have clear protocol on outsiders.”
Lenny eyed the soldier for a moment. It was the same one from the previous night’s exchange.
“You are developing the seriously bothersome habit of questioning me,” Lenny growled. “Something that I’m sure your superiors wouldn’t find too endearing either.” He eyed the mountain of a man and watched him wilt under his gaze with a deep sense of self-satisfaction.
“My apologies, sir.” The soldier turned on his heel and walked back towards the camp.
“You’ll have to excuse my security,” Lenny smiled. “They have been a bit on edge since last night. There was that terrible story about some poor child being eaten by a creature, surely a shark, but still just awful.” Lenny struggled to muster as much concern as he could.
“There’s nothing like that around here, is there?” the woman in the back of the jeep asked. A man Lenny took to be her husband sat beside her.
“No, no,” Lenny lied, “of course not. Nothing that size would have any business in a blue hole. There simply isn’t enough oxygen or food to sustain it.”
“See honey,” the man added. “Jefferson was right. Everything will be just fine.” The local man in the driver’s seat nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely,” Lenny nodded. “Oh my, where are my manners? I am Doctor Leonard Borges, but please call me Lenny.” He wanted, no needed, these people to stay around.
“It’s great to meet you, Lenny,” the man smiled. “I’m Tyde, this is my wife, Wendy, and our guide, Jefferson.”
“Are you sure we won’t be in the way of whatever it is that you’re doing here?” Wendy asked. “I mean you have security. Clearly you don’t want to be bothered.”
“No bother at all,” Lenny said. “I’m afraid the security is simply a demand from my employers. They are quite careful with their money and want to be sure it is being invested in the right research. In all truth, they are probably here to watch me more than anyone else.” Lenny let out a forced chuckle. It sounded strange and he immediately regretted it.
“What are you studying here?” Jefferson asked. “I don’t remember hearing about any sort of major research going on.”
“We tend not to advertise,” Lenny answered. “But there’s nothing dangerous or secret going on here. We’re actually researching new diving equipment that allows the human body to comfortably go to depths previously unheard of.”
“Really?” Tyde asked, his eyes wide and glittering with excitement.
“I’m not much for gambling,” Lenny said, “but I’d bet my paycheck that you’re an avid diver yourself. We can always recognize our own kind.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Wendy added. “But we don’t want to get in the way.”
“Please don’t give it a second thought,” Lenny grinned. “I’d love to introduce you to my research.”
-23-
The idea of closing down tourist diving trips, even for a few days, was not well received, but once Stan dropped the plastic evidence bag containing Wally Crain’s severed foot on his captain’s desk, the argument was over. Stan detested having to resort to such dramatics. He had always acted from a place of reason and fact. Whatever was going on in the waters surrounding his island defied both of these things.
“Are you telling me you believe in the Lusca,” the captain sneered and then added, “like your brother?”
Stan felt a surge of rage rise in his gut. Was he mad because the captain was questioning him or mocking his brother? It was true that Stan and Milo had never been close, hell they barely acknowledged that were related, but that did little to undermine the natural instinct that demanded he defend his family. Stan figured family was strange in that way. They could be terrible – you could have absolutely nothing in common with them, maybe even hate them, but still feel the need to protect your family.
Stan filed this thought in the small corner or his mind where he ignored things that did not make sense or fit into his definition of the world.
/> “I didn’t say that I thought it was a giant mythical octopus,” Stan growled. “But there obviously is something out there and it’s eating people. Milo is at least right about that.”
“Fine.” The captain held his hands up. “Just get that thing off of my desk. Get it to the morgue.”
Stan looked at the toe tag dangling from the foot’s big toe. Wally’s name and address were printed on the tag, not that it was really needed – all of his information was easily found on his medical ID bracelet. An entire life reduced to nothing but a foot and paper tag. All that promise and hope gone. Now all Wally’s mother had left to bury was the memory of her son and his foot.
“Are you going to close down the diving operations?” Stan asked.
“Yes,” the captain groaned. “I’m going to get hell from the tourism division, but get that thing off my desk and I’ll do it.”
Stan picked up and plastic bag and left without further discussion. He dropped the foot off in the morgue and headed for his car. Sleep seemed like a good idea.
A few hours of fitful sleep did little to help Stan feel rested or any more prepared to deal with whatever was swimming around his island. He needed to get out on the water and try to get a better understanding of whatever he was up against.
The RBDF had boats, but Stan did not savor the idea of explaining to any of the crew members that, as much as he did not want to admit it, they may be looking for the Lusca. There was only one other boat he knew was free today.
“Milo?” Stan said when his brother answered his cell phone. “Is Jefferson using the boat today?”
“Nope,” Milo answered. “He’s got a few tourists on a jeep tour. Why?”
“I need to borrow it.” Stan paused. He did not want to admit his next thought and feared his brother’s response even more. “And I need your help. I’m going looking for whatever is out there.”
RIP Tyde Page 6