Stripes by Brian Gatto

Author:Brian Gatto [Gatto, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Dawn broke over the glassy surface.

Boats, nestled in their slicks, creaked as they teetered side to side. Water gently lapsed against the hulls creating a deep, hollow sound. They were old souls trapped in fiberglass and wood vessels. Sailors and fishermen felt a connection to these haunting creations that were of scientific engineering.

They remained where they were by ropes tied to cleats. The docks were home to an assortment of life. Some portions were slightly rotted due to sea termites chewing plank by plank. Their progression was somewhat hampered by pesticides which were routinely sprayed.

Crustaceans crawled up the pilings and would pick at the tiny insects. A nuisance for humans, a feast for them. The water was still. The crabs could cling to the docks for hours and not be disturbed by splashes that would knock them off.

Life was treated by a ranking order. They were both infesting the docks but for different reasons. One wanted to devour manmade creations while, the other, wanted a natural food source.

One crab made its way onto the dock itself. It immediately became disorientated. Lost in a foreign area. Soon, it began to scurry across. It was not too dissimilar to a fly pressed against a window. Both yearned for an attractive lure of sorts.

In the crab’s case it was some scraps that were left behind. The crustacean was quick to snatch the aluminum foil-covered food and began to pick at it with its free claw.

Woosh.

To the creature, it felt like it had been hit by a figurative train. Wind blew past its shell as it was flown away. There was no sense of loss or regret. Survival instincts set in, and it managed to free one appendage.

It pinched the seagull on the snout which, in turn, caused the bird to screech and release it. It landed hard on the deck of a boat. The seagull was quick to correct its course and swoop down again.

The crab rose on its hind legs as the seagull landed. Both were locked in a game of speed and wits. The bird lunged forward with frightening force. In doing so, its beak was snagged. The crab had pinched it shut.

“There’s something you don’t see every day,” Patrick chuckled.

Ginny looked up from his chest. She then followed his gaze and saw the scene unfolding before them. The crab had the seagull’s beak in a vice-like grip and was shaking its head back and forth.

She giggled.

“She rises.” Patrick looked down at her.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to.”

“Was I that good?”

She smiled and placed her head back down on his chest, nestling against it.

“I take that as a yes.”

She moaned in agreement.

A sudden urge came over Patrick and he brushed a hair off to the side of her face. He could not believe how beautiful she was. Her gorgeous golden locks shined as the morning sun began to seep in through the cabin window. He lifted his head forward slightly and kissed the top of hers.

Smiling, she rubbed a hand on his chest.

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