Shadow Of The Abyss by Edward J. McFadden III

Author:Edward J. McFadden III [McFadden, Edward J. III]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severed Press
Published: 2019-02-17T22:00:00+00:00

20

The life vest inflated, and Splinter was thrust upward in a swirling cloud of bubbles. The water was cold and dark, and he couldn’t see beyond the surging whitewater as he was sucked toward the surface. His shoulder hit something hard, and for a moment he was held up. He wiggled and shifted his position and continued upward through the darkness.

Splinter broke the surface, gasping for air, lungs burning. Blackness covered the ocean, and debris from the Evenstar littered the surface, rolling with the waves.

Poseidon scrambled from Splinter’s grasp and perched herself on his shoulders, coughing and choking up water.

“Easy, buddy. You made it.” The cat looked like a drowned rat, but she was alive.

Splinter remembered Lenah and yelled her name, then stopped. The creature was about, so he felt it best to keep quiet. He searched the flotsam; pieces of broken fiberglass, seat cushions, papers, everything they had was either floating in the drink or on the bottom of the ocean in what was left of the Parker.

“Here! I’m here.”

Splinter’s heart ached, and relief swam through him. If she’d died on his watch that would’ve been the end for him. “You OK?”

She laughed. “All things considered.”

The larger parts of the Parker were sinking and disappearing beneath the dark waves, but Splinter grabbed a seat cushion and used it to help support his weight. His lifejacket was working, but he was at the weight limit. He gently stroked through the water, trying not to disturb the debris field.

Lenah clung to a chunk of fiberglass that had once been part of the Evenstar’s bow. Her lifejacket was punctured and lay across her chest like a deflated balloon. When Splinter reached her, she threw her arms around him and they started to sink.

“Easy, there. Here.” Splinter thrust the seat cushion in her direction and she pounced on it.

The wind out of the west picked up and wave heights increased from three to five feet and crashed over the remains of the sunken boat, driving the debris into the depths.

“Quiet,” Splinter hissed.

To his right, thirty yards off, a white caudal fin swished back and forth as the beast circled the debris field. The ocean surged when the beast swam past, but it was hard to see the creature in the darkness.

It was hours until sun-up. A big wave crested and closed out on them, pushing Splinter underwater. Poseidon squealed, and positioned herself on Splinter’s head as he tried in vain to stay above the waves.

“Here.” Lenah slid Splinter a chunk of the Parker and he placed the wet cat atop it. Poseidon did her best to stay balanced on the piece of fiberglass as it shifted in the turbulent sea, but Splinter had to help her or she would have slipped off.

The wind howled, and Splinter’s fingers and toes were getting cold. The sea was temperate, but with the wind picking up the water felt icy. Splinter and Lenah huddled together, Poseidon on her float between them.

“What now?” Lenah said. “We’re pretty far out and by morning I doubt the debris field will be easily seen.

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