Sucked Under

by Z. Fraillon

  ‘The monster will strike when you are at your weakest,’ Mac explained. ‘It looks for kids who can’t swim well, who go out of their depth and then panic.’

  ‘Panic, yep. I’m sure I can do that,’ Jasper joked. But no-one laughed.

  ‘As soon as it focuses on you, Felix will be there to get the fire up its nostril. It won’t be prepared for two swimmers. Or for an attack. Saffy will be waiting on the shore, and I’ll be directing via earpieces from a lookout. Once the flame reaches the Glibberhowl’s inner nostril, it will stop it in its tracks. At least, that’s the theory. Saffy will have a net waiting to help you drag it back in.’

  Saffy stopped whisking the pancakes. ‘You want me to just wait on the shore with a net?’

  ‘Yeah, well, that’s important,’ Mac said. ‘We have no idea how big it will be, although Glibberhowls have been known to reach over 100 kilos. Once it’s completely out of the water, it will begin to shrivel and shrink. I’ll meet you with the sack and the truck. Of course, the tricky thing is figuring out how to get fire up its nose ... Which is why you lot will have to turn stuff from the tip into a James Bond gadget,’ Mac grinned. ‘I’m going to spend this morning surveying the area, making sure that there’s only one monster operating.’

  Jasper groaned. It was bad enough having to find a way to catch one monster. Especially when he was worried about controlling his own monster side.

  ‘Great breakfast, Saffy.’ Mac dropped his plate into the sink. ‘I will definitely be bringing you on a Hunt again.’

  ‘Don’t expect pancakes every time,’ she muttered.

  Mac grinned. ‘Check this out,’ he said, and opened the door.

  Bright light flooded in through the doorway.

  They were right on the shore of a lake.

  ‘Is that,’ Felix asked incredulously, ‘the sun?’

  Saffy jumped up from the table and ran outside. ‘Well, if we’re going to die,’ she called back, ‘it might as well be here. This is paradise.’

  Jasper stepped through the doorway and right onto the banks of the most beautiful lake he had ever seen. The water sparkled invitingly, and the sun beat down on his back. ‘Even though I know what’s in there, I still want to jump in.’

  Saffy was already dipping her toes in the water that lapped at the bank.

  ‘I can’t believe how good the sun feels!’ Felix said, ripping off his hoodie.

  ‘And no stupid snow!’ Jasper flicked off his shoes and wriggled his feet in the sand.

  Jasper gazed out over the water. There were icy peaks in the distance, but the sun was warm.

  The water looked so tempting. He just couldn’t imagine anything horrible lurking in there.

  ‘So, that’s the lake. Nice, huh? We’re not due back for a couple of days, so if we catch the Glibberhowl tonight, then you’ll have a whole day to enjoy yourselves,’ Mac said.

  Jasper smiled just thinking about it. He turned back to Mac, who was standing in the doorway to what looked like a run-down old cabin. The outside didn’t match the insides at all. Jasper had to poke his head back inside to make sure the cabin really was where they were staying.

  ‘I thought we must be in some fancy hotel or something,’ Jasper commented.

  Mac shook his head. ‘Nah, Monstrum House has people who sort out accommodation before the Hunt crew arrives. We don’t want to attract attention, and fancy places don’t let kids stay by themselves, so we do up old shacks like this one. They don’t look like much, but on the inside – pure luxury.’

  Jasper wondered if his mum ever did that in her work for Monstrum. She had a lot of explaining to do when he got home. And he’d have a lot to tell her. It was a relief to know he could tell her what he’d been doing, and that she’d believe him. He knew she would be proud that he made it to a Hunt in his first year.

  Now all he had to do was survive it.

  13

  Jasper and Felix were hunched over a mound of junk. Bits and pieces of wire and plastic stuck up all around them, along with broken toys, bottle tops and an old rubber hose.

  Jasper was still annoyed that they weren’t allowed to invent outside while taking in some sun and sand. But Mac had pointed out that a group of kids poring over rubbish didn’t exactly look normal.

  Felix slammed the manual closed. ‘Nothing,’ he huffed.

  ‘I told you,’ Jasper replied. He had already been through the Functional Fixedness Helpful Hints Handbook, looking for something that might help them make the gadget they needed. But he couldn’t see anything in there.

  Saffy stomped through the door, carrying three giant milkshakes, her hunt belt clipped loosely around her waist.

  ‘Good one, although it took you long enough.’ Felix grabbed his shake and slurped appreciatively.

  Saffy had been gone for almost an hour, and Jasper suspected she may have sneaked off to soak up some sun.

  ‘Yeah, she was trying to impress the other kids by walking around with her hunt belt on,’ Jasper teased. Mac had told them to wear their belts all the time, just in case, but they did look kind of stupid. ‘And why have you got your hoodie on? And a scarf? Have you forgotten how hot it is out there? We’re not at Monstrum House, you know,’ Jasper added as he grabbed his milkshake.

  ‘Say hello to Houdini,’ Saffy smirked, glancing around the cabin before unwinding her scarf.

  ‘Houdini? Yeah, right. What about the tag?’

  Jasper replied. ‘You know, the one injected into your neck? You escape and I’ll kiss your feet.’ Jasper shook his head.

  Felix was chortling into his milkshake. ‘Nah, Saffy’s too clever,’ Felix joked, ‘She’s worked out a way of removing her head.’

  Jasper and Felix laughed. Saffy didn’t.

  ‘Laugh if you will, but while you’ve been reading that, I’ve been reading this.’

  She produced a book from her bag, Tracking Techniques and Technology. ‘Our tags have got some chip in them that transmits a signal via satellite to a GPS receiver. I’ll bet that’s the computer in Stenka’s office. So all we have to do is block the signal, and they can’t track us.’

  ‘Good plan. But how can we block something that’s inside our necks?’ asked Felix.

  ‘With this.’ Saffy took her scarf off completely.

  Jasper burst out laughing, snorting milkshake out his nose. Saffy had tinfoil wrapped tightly around her neck.

  She flipped down her hood, ignoring Jasper’s snorts. ‘If a GPS device is covered in metal, a satellite can’t read its signal. Foil should do the trick,’ she explained.

  Jasper wiped the milkshake from his nose and shook his head at Saffy. She couldn’t be serious. But Jasper had never seen Saffy look so pleased with herself.

  She’s serious all right, Jasper thought. She’s also nuts. Jasper didn’t even want to think about what Stenka might do to Saffy if – no, when – she was caught.

  ‘And I have more foil for you guys.’ She pointed at her backpack. ‘All we do is wrap you up, and we are home free.’ Saffy chuckled like some sort of evil genius.

  ‘There’s no way it’ll work,’ said Jasper.

  Saffy shrugged.‘Suit yourself.’

  ‘Couldn’t you have put your brain to something useful?’ Jasper asked. ‘Like helping us find a way to shoot fire up a monster’s nose while it’s under water?’ He pointed to the junk surrounding them.

  ‘You mean you still haven’t figured anything out?’ said Saffy.

  Felix looked annoyed. ‘At least we’ve been trying,’ he muttered.

  Saffy shook her head and sighed. ‘Do I have to do everything myself? Try this.’ She leant over and grabbed a rubber hose. ‘Add this,’ she sifted through the rubbish until she found an old jack-in-the-box. She pulled the head off the bouncing clown and handed Jasper the spring. ‘Now, use this bit of rope as a fuse, then a firelighter as ammunition. Seal it so it’s watertight, then stick it up the monster’s nose and kapow.’

  Jasper just stared. Why didn’t we think of that?<
br />
  ‘I’m out of here,’ Saffy said, heading towards the door.

  ‘What about the Hunt?’ Felix asked.

  Jasper looked at Saffy. ‘Yeah, he’s right. What about catching the Glibberhowl? Protecting everyone from the monster? What about … us?’

  Saffy stopped and glared at them. ‘You two are fine. You heard Stenka, what use am I if I can’t even swim? And all Mac thinks I’m good at is holding a net and making pancakes! It’s fine for you two. Jasper, your mum was a student, so they’ll keep you. Felix, you’re a Brown Brother, so you’re set. But I’m the one who has to prove myself. You heard what Stenka said. I might not be able to come back. I can’t swim. And there’s no way I’m going back to being shunted around by my parents like a piece of luggage. I’ve gotta do my own thing. This is my chance.’

  ‘Holding a net is important,’ Felix said. ‘I’d happily hold a net.’

  ‘And there’s no way Stenka won’t let you come back. You’re one of the best students in our year,’ Jasper added.

  ‘Yeah right,’ said Saffy.

  ‘Come on, Saffy,’ Jasper pleaded.

  But Saffy was beyond reasoning. ‘I’ll see ya.’

  She waved, spun on her heel and left.

  14

  ‘Come on, Felix! Hurry up!’ yelled Jasper as he raced to the shore.

  Felix was dragging his feet through the sand. He wasn’t as excited as Jasper was about starting the Hunt.

  When Jasper got to the shore he tore open his backpack. ‘The FlameShooter 6000,’ he whispered. He was pretty pleased with himself.

  Well, OK, Felix had a bit to do with making it, Jasper thought. And without Saffy, we probably wouldn’t have it at all. But still, I thought of the name.

  ‘And now to see if it works,’ Jasper said out loud. ‘Felix, hurry up!’

  Felix was glancing nervously at the lake. ‘It’s late afternoon. Almost dusk,’ he said uneasily.

  ‘And?’ Jasper rolled his eyes. The sun was shining brightly and the banks were still crowded – not a thing to worry about.

  ‘But Mac said it likes attacking at dusk,’ Felix argued.

  Jasper shook his head and shoved Felix towards the lake. ‘Don’t be soft. Monsters only attack in the dark. We’re just going to test the FlameShooter 6000 in the shallows, then take it back to Mac. The poor guy needs something to cheer him up.’

  Mac had spent the last three hours storming up and down the house, using Saffy’s name in sentences which really weren’t very nice. He swore she wouldn’t actually be able to escape, no matter what her plan. But Jasper could tell he was worried. Apparently, no hunt captain in the history of Monstrum House had ever lost a crew member. Other than those who had died horrible deaths during a Hunt.

  No-one had ever escaped from a Hunt before, either. No-one had even tried to escape.

  Mac didn’t know whether to tell Stenka or not. From what Jasper could make out from Mac’s ramblings, Saffy would be safer if she never came back.

  ‘Come on,’ grinned Jasper, trying to make Felix feel better. ‘We’ll test out the FlameShooter 6000, cheer up Mac, and convince him to treat us to something special for dinner. Something to make Saffy jealous. Chances are she’ll come back starving and miserable.’

  Felix seemed slightly cheered up by this thought. But Jasper was trying not to think about the possibility that they might never see Saffy again. He was furious with her, and at the same time really worried. Keep busy, and don’t think about it, he told himself.

  Jasper opened the box and took out their invention. It was perfect. It was a sealed rubber hose with a spring inside it. Using the waterproof matches from his hunt belt, Jasper would light the fuse at one end of the hose. The fuse took exactly thirty-one seconds to reach the ammunition – a firelighter weighed down with lead to help propel it. As soon as the firelighter caught on fire, Jasper just had to shove the tube up the monster’s nose and release the spring to catapult it up the left nostril. He would have to get the timing just right. This was going to be tricky.

  At the edge of the lake, Jasper put the FlameShooter 6000 on top of the water and smiled. ‘Test one. It floats!’

  ‘No leaks,’ Felix confirmed, inspecting the seals. He looked at the water and nervously fingered his hunt belt.

  Jasper thought guiltily of his own hunt belt dumped on the floor of the cabin, but there was no way he was walking around in broad daylight with a mini toilet-plunger hanging from his waist. He just hoped Mac didn’t notice that he wasn’t wearing it.

  Jasper stepped into the lake, up to his ankles. The water was the most brilliant blue he had ever seen. Even the pebbles looked blue. He scooped some water into his hands and splashed it over his head and face.

  ‘Ahhh, that’s better,’ he sighed. He squinted into the glare from the sun, and wondered if Mac had brought any sunglasses. Jasper stood back up, feeling slightly dizzy.

  Guess I’m not used to so much sun, he thought. Almost a whole year in freezing weather was obviously having an effect on him.

  Jasper looked longingly at the water. His whole body was urging him to dive in.

  ‘Surely a quick dip would be OK?’ he muttered under his breath.

  ‘YEEESSS,’ Felix whispered behind him.

  ‘Really?’ Jasper asked Felix in surprise.

  Felix looked at him suspiciously. ‘What? I didn’t say anything. But Mac said no swimming.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah,’ Jasper smiled. The water lapped temptingly at his feet. ‘But you know we really need to test the FlameShooter 6000 in the deep. I mean, if everything goes according to plan, we’ll be shooting the flame up the tube and into the monster’s nostril. That means we’ll have to pull it under the water and shoot upwards. We need to get deep enough to test it.’

  Felix was shaking his head wildly from side to side.

  But Jasper was convinced that they needed to test the FlameShooter. Otherwise the plan could go all wrong. And that wasn’t something he was keen on. Especially as Jasper was the one being used as bait.

  Felix was still shaking his head. ‘Don’t be stupid. Let’s get Mac and –’

  Jasper grabbed the FlameShooter 6000 from Felix and headed deeper into the water. ‘You worry too much,’ he grinned. ‘Everything will be fine. I’ll only go knee-deep.’

  Jasper waded further into the water and stared up at the sun. So good, he thought. He was feeling great.

  ‘Jasper!’ Felix called anxiously from the bank.

  Jasper realised that he had walked further out than he meant to. The water was already up to his chest. And it felt awesome.

  Jasper couldn’t remember the last time he’d been swimming. He lifted his feet and took a few strokes, holding tightly to the FlameShooter.

  The feeling of weightlessness was fantastic.

  Jasper dived under the water, letting his breath out slowly. It was like a whole underwater world.

  Jaa ... speer ... yessss ....

  Jasper shot towards the surface, his heart hammering.

  KOOOD … JAAAA … SPPEER, KOOOM ...

  He wished he’d had more classes with Señor Hermes. Jasper closed his eyes. He tried to see a blank piece of paper. He tried to think of the letters. He could hear his name, but he couldn’t understand the other words.

  But in the end he gave up trying to see the words, and focused instead on staying calm. He didn’t want panic. He floated on his back and tried to breathe deeply, thinking of Christmas and birthdays and anything nice.

  The whispering stopped.

  Jasper turned and waved to Felix. Felix waved back.

  Jasper treaded water, glancing at the bank. He was somehow further out than he had thought. Much further out. His toes couldn’t touch the bottom anymore.

  Felix was still waving. And suddenly, the thought of all things nice didn’t work so well for Jasper. He realised Felix wasn’t waving a friendly ‘how are you doing’ kind of wave.

  This was more of a frantic ‘get back to the shore NOW’ kind of wav
e.

  15

  Keep calm, Jasper thought. He knew he was a strong swimmer. And he wasn’t that far out. He started swimming back towards the shore.

  As he stroked through the water, Jasper couldn’t help noticing how quickly the sky had darkened. Surely he hadn’t been out here for that long? Or had he? Jasper felt as though he’d lost all track of time. He found himself squinting to make out the bank. He couldn’t see Felix anywhere. His eyes felt tired and sore.

  Jasper started swimming more frantically, trying to keep his breathing even, trying to keep his fear under control. With every stroke Jasper felt as though he was getting further and further away from the bank. He looked up. He was getting further away from the bank. His head felt fuzzy from all the swimming. He desperately tried to keep images of the Glibberhowl out of his head. But it wasn’t working.

  Jasper felt a cold prickle of fear run over his scalp. He froze, feeling something stirring in the water beneath him. And if it was the same something he thought it was, then fear was the very worst thing for Jasper to be feeling.

  The water around him swirled, sucking downwards, like he was caught in a whirlpool. Jasper felt something slimy sweep past his leg. He started swimming again as fast as he could towards the shore. He forced himself to take deep, rhythmic breaths as he pounded through the water. Just a fish, just a fish, keep calm, keep in control, Jasper said to himself.

  But Jasper knew it wasn’t a fish. It was the Glibberhowl. And he was the victim.

  Just as planned, he thought, except for the ‘no-one to help, all on my own’ bit.

  Jasper swam fiercely as the monster swept past again. He could see its dark shadow beneath him. He could see it coming towards him.

  The swirling current pulled him closer and closer to the Glibberhowl. Not if I can help it. Jasper kicked his legs harder, but he couldn’t get away. He gripped the FlameShooter tightly.

  Jasper felt something slimy wrap around his leg and pull him down. He turned to see a wall of mud rising out of the water. A small, green eye peered excitedly from the thick, brown mucousy slime, looking straight at Jasper. He could just make out two black nostrils.