They Mostly Come Out At Night (33 page)

Her eyes settled on a larger patch of water some distance behind the canoe. This dark pocket probably marked a gap in the Atoll ring, a pocket of the sea bed that had somehow fallen down or crumbled away, or maybe had not formed in the first place when the islands had been made. These gaps – caves, really - provided underwater shelter for larger animals that lurked in the Atoll waters.

Maybe movement in that chasm startled the local wildlife. It might even have been a larger animal crossing from the Outer to the Inner Sea, like an orca? That’s pretty rare, though.

Most of the time these larger animals chose to cross the Atoll by the larger trenches on the east side of the ring, where the sea god’s temple had been built. His people kept a close eye on the comings and goings of larger sea animals, and tended to have a good idea of what dangers existed in the Inner Sea. However, sometimes larger animals chose to cross the shallower waters.

Kaimana’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the hole in the floor of the Atoll ring, hoping to catch sight of something that could have cleared the sea bed so quickly.

Then the dark water moved.

Kaimana sat up straight. She had expected to see a fin, or perhaps a movement of colour in the distance that might be the tell tale sign of something large, but far away. The water moved again, and this time Kaimana was sure that the entire patch of black was moving. That dark shape was more than three times as large as the troupe’s canoe, a canoe that could be home to fifteen people at once, if required.

It could have been a shoal of fish, tightly packed together. It could have been a trick of the light, a large rock on the sea bed reflecting the sun in such a way to suggest movement. But a rising panic in Kaimana’s stomach told her that it was something else.

The dark mass moved towards the boat, and the bile in Kaimana’s stomach rose along with it. The shape was massive, much larger than any normal sea-faring animal. Kaimana knew it was the taniwha before it opened its green glowing eyes and peered up at her from the shallow waters.

“It’s here!” she shouted. “The taniwha’s followed us!”

Ahu swore profusely, and grabbed a worn old spear he had stowed away for fishing purposes. Kiki and Tavake screamed, while Eloni and Lose ran to the back of the boat with Kaimana to see the monster themselves. Everybody else, Aka included, stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide with fear.

When Eloni and Lose reached her, Kaimana took a deep breath and turned back to the taniwha underneath them.

“There’s nothing here,” Eloni said, her voice laced with wicked satisfaction.

Kaimana thrust her head over the edge of the canoe and searched frantically. Eloni was correct; the water was empty, with shoals of fish beginning to return.

Eloni turned to address the canoe. “Calm down, nothing to see here. Kaimana just decided she hadn’t got enough attention recently.”

Kaimana’s eyes locked with Aka, and his look of shock had turned to disappointment and anger. She stood with her mouth open, lost for words.

It was right there. Someone has to believe me, the monster is in the water.

Everybody else returned to their tasks, their moods slightly darker.

Kaimana looked back at the calm Atoll waters.

Where is it now? And why is it following us?

Where the Waters Turn Black
releases later in 2016.
Head here to be notified as soon as it is available.

If you found me a few years ago, you would have met a slightly less grey-haired writer who believed he could do this writing thing all by himself, with as little input from anyone else as possible.

Yes, I was that stupid.

My ongoing, immeasurable thanks to:

All of my early readers, for invaluable feedback. To Edingell, for being there from the beginning. To Craig and Graham, for your speed and honesty. To Mark, for getting there eventually! And finally to Kat, for making me laugh and cry more than I thought I ever would when reading my own book.

Laura and Jenny for their professional polish, for helping to make this story into something I am proud to publish.

The Writers of All The Things, for being my constant companions on this journey (and long may we continue!).

Also to The Plotting Telltalers for being writing buddies, to the handful of people on Kboards who helped throughout the process (and to everyone else on there for all the valuable info you give to everyone, everyday), and to Bryan Cohen and his Facebook group for their help with the book description.

And finally, to Adele. Thank you because I promised I would, and thank you because you make all of this worthwhile.