Fangtooth (13 page)

Chapter 27

Jen’s bottom lip trembled and she
shivered. “Where’ve they gone?” she whispered.

She was trying hard not to cry, but Jack
could see that she was on the verge of breaking down. A monster had chased her,
and she had discovered that her grandmother was a nutcase, so was it any
wonder?

Jack noticed Lillian had scuttled away
when his dad turned up. He wondered where she had gone; wondered where the
monster had gone too. He hadn’t seen it since it scurried into the rocks after
his dad. He hoped his old man was all right.

He sat at the edge of the recess. Open
to the elements, it was cold and sea spray kept soaking them whenever a wave
rolled in, but it was a difficult climb, which kept the creature out.

Jen slouched in the rear of the recess,
and Jack shuffled back and snuggled up next to her, trying to keep each other
warm. The moon was bright enough to enable him to see down to the water, and he
kept his eyes alert for any sign of the creature.

“They’re going to leave us here, aren’t
they,” Jen said.

Jack turned and shook his head. “Of
course they’re not. But you saw that thing, they had to get away.”

Jen sniffled and wiped her eyes with the
back of her hands. “We’re going to die, and it’s all my gran’s fault. What was
she thinking? I know she’s a little batty at times, but this…”

Jack squeezed Jen’s shoulder. “It’s
going to be okay, trust me.”

Jen looked at him with big, moist eyes,
and without even thinking what he was doing, Jack kissed her quickly on the
lips. A jumble of thoughts ran through his head as he turned away, and he could
feel his cheeks burning. What a dumb ass stupid thing to do. Why did he have to
go and do that?

He felt Jen’s hand touch his cheek, and
he flinched, thought perhaps she was going to slap him or swear or something,
so he wasn’t prepared when she turned his head towards hers and kissed him
back. The kiss didn’t last long, but it was long enough to send a delicious
shiver down his spine.

When their lips parted, there was an
embarrassing silence, then Jack took Jen’s hand in his and squeezed.

“I’m sure someone will come for us
soon,” he said.

Jen nodded and pursed her lips. “They’d
better. I don’t think my hair can take much more of this.” She ran her hand
through her sodden locks and smiled.

Jack grinned back.

Then he settled against the wall with his
arm around her shoulder, offering the comfort of his embrace.

After a moment, a noise caught his
attention, and he turned and stared across the expanse of water to see a boat
approaching, its bow slicing through the waves like a cleaver leaving a foaming
trail in its wake. Bright lights played across the surface of the water.

“Jen, look,” he said, “someone’s come to
rescue us.”

Jen sat up and a look of hope spread
across her face. She smiled at Jack. “You were right.”

“I always am.”

She punched his arm playfully.

The boat drew closer, and Jack could see
someone standing on deck. It took him a moment to realise that it was Rocky–and
that the figure at the wheel was Zander.

“Oh shit,” he said.

Jen frowned. “What is it?”

“Zander and Rocky.”

“I don’t care who it is as long as
they’re here to rescue us.”

Jack wasn’t so sure that that was what
they were here for. He had a sinking feeling, as though his heart had taken an
express elevator down to his stomach.

He heard Zander ease back on the
throttle, and the boat came to a virtual standstill about fifty feet away.

Rocky cupped his hands around his mouth.
“Well isn’t this romantic,” he shouted, rocking precariously as the boat
pitched in the waves.

Even from a distance, Jack could see the
sickly look on Rocky’s face.

“Is he being sarcastic?” Jen said.

“I doubt he has
enough brain cells to know what being sarcastic is.”

“That asshole.”

“I knew there was something going on
between you,” Rocky shouted. “Well, you’re welcome to each other.”

Zander stormed out of the wheelhouse and
yanked Rocky out of the way to shut him up. “So where are my drugs?” he
shouted.

“Jesus,” Jack said to Jen. “Is he mad?”

“I did warn you.”

“Look,” Jack shouted back. “I took less
than an eighth. It was no big deal. Now just fuckin’ help get us out of here.”

Zander shook his head. “It wasn’t in
your house, me and dickhead here looked.”

Jack noticed Rocky grimace, and he felt
a slight sense of glee at Rocky’s discomfort. “I’m sorry. What else can I say?”

“I don’t know how you found it all the way
out there at sea, but where’ve you put it? And don’t fuck me around, because
I’m not in the mood.”

“What’s he on about?” Jen asked. “I
thought you only took a bit.”

“I did. He’s lost it.” He turned back to
Zander. “Look, I don’t know what you’re on about, and I don’t know how you
found us, but can’t you see we’re stuck out here.”

“Luckily for me, I was outside the bar
when your old man was telling Graham where you were. Now tell me where my stuff
is, otherwise I’m going to make you wish you’d never been born.”

Jack shrugged.

“Goddamn it, where are my drugs?” Zander
roared.

The sound sent a shiver down Jack’s
spine, and he was glad there was fifty feet of water between them. The man was
crazy.

“Rocky,” Jen called, “you’ve got to help
us. There’s something … something in the water.”

Rocky scowled. “Don’t you remember, we
broke up. Or rather, you broke up with me. And now you want my help. Well you
can go to hell, you bitch.”

“Rocky, for God’s sake, can’t you see
we’re in trouble?

“Ask me if I care. I’m sure old Jacky
boy there will help rescue you. Oh, I forgot, he’s stuck too.” Rocky laughed,
then turned and lurched to the side of the boat where he was violently sick.

Zander turned towards Rocky and scowled.
He said something that made Rocky shake his head in reply.

“Now, enough of the
teenage tantrums and love sick kid bullshit,” Zander roared. “Where the fuck
are my drugs?”

Jack shook his head. “Fuck your fuckin’
drugs. You’ve got to listen to me, there’s something in the water, some sort of
creature, a monster, I don’t know.” Jack knew he was rambling, but he didn’t
know what else to do. They couldn’t stay where they were much longer. The
creature would be back soon, he was sure of it.

Zander ran both hands through his short
brown hair, his lips pursed. “Listen kid, give me back my stuff and I’ll say no
more about it.”

“I’ve told you, I don’t have anything.”

Zander looked furious. Even from a
distance, Jack could see the tendons in his neck protruding like thick cables,
his ruddy cheeks aflame.

“Okay, I’ll tell you where they are when
you rescue us,” Jack shouted.

Jen glared at him. “I thought you said
you didn’t take them.”

“I didn’t,” Jack whispered, “but if the
only chance of our being rescued was to say that I robbed Fort Knox, I’d fess
up to that, too.”

Zander nodded his head. “I’m glad to see
you’ve seen sense. I’ll bring the boat as close as I can, but then you’re going
to have to swim.”

“
Swim
!” Jen shrieked. “No way.
There’s no way I’m going in that water.”

“I know how you feel,” Jack replied. He
turned back to the boat and shouted, “Isn’t there another way, you know,
without going in the water?”

“Not without running aground. Now I’m
going to bring the boat as close as I can.” He turned and started back towards
the wheelhouse.

“
We can’t go in the water
,” Jen
squealed.

Zander stopped and turned back. “Look,
either you get in the goddamn water, or I come over there and drag you across.”

“There’s something in the water,” Jen
shouted.

“And there’ll be something else in there
in a minute, you pair. Now get a move on.”

“Can’t you throw us a line?” Jack
hollered.

Zander rolled his massive shoulders and
turned to Rocky, who was still leaning over the side of the boat. He said
something, then grabbed Rocky by the scruff of his neck and hauled him to his
feet. Then he pointed at something on the boat and said something else that
Jack couldn’t hear. Rocky shook his head, and Zander clipped him around the
ear, which forced Rocky into action.

Rocky staggered across the deck, his
face turning green. Every time the boat moved, he almost fell to his knees.
Zander made his way back to the wheelhouse, moving as though man and boat were
one.

Towards the front of the boat, Rocky
bent down. When he stood up, he had a lifebuoy attached to a rope in his hand.

The sound of the engines grew louder as
Zander brought the boat closer to shore. A moment later, his voice boomed out
of a speaker.

“The lad here will throw you the
lifebuoy,” he roared above the noise of the engines, waves and wind. “You’ll
have to jump in the water, then we’ll pull you aboard.”

Jack felt Jen shivering at his side. “I
know it’s scary, but they’ll be able to pull us aboard pretty fast.”

Jen cupped her face in her hands. “I
don’t know whether I can do it.”

“Well, I know you can.” He smiled to
offer encouragement. “If you go first, I’ll keep an eye out, and if I see
anything, well, you know, I’ll …”

“What?”

Jack swallowed. “I’ll jump in the water
and distract it if I have to.”

“Don’t be stupid. I can’t ask you to do
that.”

“You didn’t ask. I’m volunteering.”

Jen kissed him on the cheek.

Concerned that Rocky might have seen,
Jack glanced across at the boat as it drew nearer to the rocks, but Rocky was
leaning over the bow, shaking his head.

“Okay, that’s as close as I dare come,”
Zander said through the speaker. “Kid, throw them that lifebuoy, and be quick
about it.”

The boat’s engines revved as Zander
fought to hold his position, and Rocky stood up and threw the lifebuoy as far
as he could. The red and white striped float hit the water about fifteen feet
from Jack and Jen’s location.

“It’s too far away,” Jen said.

“It won’t be that far when you’re in the
water. Come on, I’ll help you down.” Jack lowered himself from the ledge to the
rocks below. A nervous tremor ran through him, but he tried to put on a brave
face and despite his fear, he helped Jen down. The waves rolled across the
rocks at his feet.

“I don’t know whether I can do this,”
Jen said.

Jack put his hands on her shoulders.
“Yes, you can. Rocky will pull you aboard before you know it.” He looked across
at the boat, which seemed to lurch closer towards the rocks with each fresh
swell. “I’ll keep an eye out, now go.”

He ushered her towards the water, and
despite her obvious fear, Jen complied. She waded out, and after only a couple
of steps, the water was up to her neck. “Now swim for the lifebuoy,” Jack said.
“You can do it.”

Jen started to swim and Jack kept his
eyes peeled on the sea for any sign of the creature. When Jen reached the
lifebuoy, she grabbed hold of it. “Okay, pull,” she screamed.

Rocky didn’t respond, and Jack could see
he was leaning over the side of the boat again, fighting not to be sick.

“Rocky, goddamn it, pull Jen aboard,”
Jack shouted. He sensed Jen’s fear as she bobbed in the water like the bait on
the end of a line, and wished he could comfort her.

“Pull her in,” Zander boomed through the
speakers, “or God help me, I’ll toss you overboard.”

Spurred into action by Zander’s voice,
Rocky lurched to his feet and grabbed hold of the rope. He looked on the verge
of being sick again as he started to pull, and Jack hoped he could hold it
together long enough to haul Jen aboard.

The engines revved as Zander fought to
hold position. Jack bit his lip and scanned the water. He glanced back towards
Jen, saw something, and narrowed his eyes to see through the swells. There was
something in the water twenty or so feet away from Jen. Jack tried to swallow,
but his mouth was dry. The short hairs on the nape of his neck tingled.

“Pull,” he shouted, but Rocky seemed to
lack the strength to heave. Jen kicked with her legs to assist, but she wasn’t
moving very fast.

He hoped the shape in the water was just
a piece of seaweed or driftwood, but when it moved counter to the waves, it
dashed his hopes.

The creature was back.

In the beam of the boat’s searchlight,
the creature’s head looked like a shiny black carapace and its two beady eyes
glinted. It rose and fell in the waves, its attention fixed on Jen as she
struggled to swim towards the boat.

Jack felt a pang of fear, but he had
made Jen a promise, and he wasn’t about to break it. “
Over here, you son of
a bitch
,” he screamed, waving his arms.

Whether it hadn’t heard or wasn’t
interested, the creature continued towards Jen. She turned at the sound of
Jack’s voice, and her eyes grew wide as she saw the creature gliding towards
her.

She screamed.

“Pull faster,” Jack shouted, but Rocky
was either oblivious or was feeling too sick to respond.

Seeing no other option, Jack plunged
into the water. Despite being cold and wet already, the sea was freezing. He
started to swim, fighting the overwhelming lethargy that invaded his body. The
incessant waves rolled over him, submerging his head and he came up each time
gasping for breath. White froth floated around him like the rabid salivations
of the beast he was trying to attract.

What the hell was he doing out here,
offering himself up as live bait? If the creature attacked, he knew he stood
little to no chance of fighting it off. But he couldn’t let Jen die. He had
felt a connection between them, and that was enough. Besides, he couldn’t stand
by and let someone die while doing nothing to help.