literature

Intimidation, Pt. 6 of 9.

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         The shoreline consisted of nothing more than a band of compact silt shaded by large drooping fern fronds, including those the ri dropped onto previously, and the graceful aneurophyton tree branches.  Slimy bryophytes and algae, along with short slippery psilotum reeds flanking the land-water interface and margins, hindered their progress, and light-brown over-sized spotted bugs with big dark compound eyes swiftly retreated from the frantic intrusion.  A slimy green tadpole over six inches long even surprised Russel with a flurry of floppy defensive action; it disappeared into the aquatic flora after he slapped the water and voiced a long line of expletive language loudly.

         Jack pointed at a few small trilobites scurrying out of his way from the reeds and said, "Look there!  It's a little good to know that some other things can be scared in this crazy place besides us anyway."

         "Yeah, but only the small shit.  Let's get out of the water before they get others to return the favor.  I just hope we can get Kathy back from that ri thing and out of that sac in time too."

         "If she's still alive."

         Elaine was rapidly studying the group with concern, glancing from person to person.  "Where's Robert?  Didn't he make it?"

         "Not here," Bonnie said and coughed.  "He's . . . out there."

         "Oh, heavens, and I -- .  Oh, there."

         The retired professor was sitting on the deck of the boat and leaning against the chairs still resting when Elaine turned fast and saw him.  He was surveying the immediate surroundings and assessing the damage.  She waved at him, and he did the same, ready to give them a general report.  Something else intrigued him though, and he said, "Did you feel the water carefully when you swam over there?"

         "Yeah.  It was wet.  So, what?"  Russel replied.  

         "The current is coming out of the two smaller channels and running into the larger one on the surface.  That's what.  We couldn't have noticed it from our position and circumstances before, but I thought you all would have felt it help in your efforts to that shore."

         "What's it mean then?"

         "I saw something similar to this at the Cosmos in the Black Hills of South Dakota over ten years ago.  I think there is either a geomagnetic phenomenon occurring, or the water is being used by whatever causes that light you saw -- some kind of generator perhaps."

         "I can see you coming a little closer to us slowly, Robert.  Is there anything resembling a rope that you can throw over here?"  Elaine said.

         "No.  Almost everything was dumped off when that creature attacked.  The paddles remained fastened anyway.  So, it seems we'll have a raft from now on instead of a motor boat."

         "We ate good before then, and a little more extra work alone shouldn't kill us."

         "Extra work is what a few of us are going to have to do," Walter said and stepped closer.  "There's spear-guns, nylon line, scientific equipment, and other important stuff we may likely use in those cases that went down, including more fresh water.  I figure they're underwater a bit behind him now."  

         "How deep is the water out there?"

         "Hard to tell, Elaine.  Ten, maybe twelve feet.  The bottom's dim, but I can see two of the three chests.  They seem to have plants or crinoids around them, and one looks partially open.  Probably tipped on it's side too."

         "You see that monster lurking anywhere below?"

         "No.  There's nothing that big down there anymore."

         "Sure there isn't," Doreen mumbled beside Maxine.  "Like what's a . . . a cri-noid?  A three-headed shark with six horns here?"

         As Robert examined the water on each side of the stripped boat without stooping forward, Russel turned around and sneered, "They're harmless sea lilies, knucklehead.  Nothing that will bother when you go down with your sly butt-buddy to get a line on the stuff."  

         Doreen's eyes widened, and she stormed toward him in protest with Maxine following.  The young African-American woman put her hands to her hips and adamantly said, "No way!  You're not getting ME back in there, pig.  What if that . . . tentacle thing comes back again?"  

         "It's gone off somewhere else.  Now, I think it's about time you two bitches do something to prove your worth besides acting like a couple of gutless wimps."

         Her fingers clenched into fists, and she shook her head and screamed, "You're not our papa.  So, get off our case, man.  Je-SUS Christ!"

         "Not this time," he said and turned to the others, donning a smile at them.  "It's obvious both of you swim like mermaids, have good sets of lungs, and a natural camouflage to boot.  Nobody's disagreeing with that.  See?  So, you're perfect for doing another kind of deep short dive."  

         Doreen could stand his arrogance no more and made an attempt to take his weapon -- unsuccessfully.  He detected her movement with peripheral vision and abruptly halted it with a strong backhanded blow to the face.  She was surprised, and its impact made a loud smack sound and snapped her head to the side.  Maxine put her hands over the lower half of her cheeks and watched agog as she fell backward, with the aid of the slippery soft ground, and uttered an exaggerated grunt in pain.  She dabbed a little blood from the right side of her mouth and spit before swiftly returning to her feet, strutting away, and saying nothing more.  

         Russel sternly ordered her to stop as soon as she reached the scaly tree trunk and hanging fronds, and Maxine put her arms out and crouched low in submission.  Doreen whipped around there with teary eyes and strongly delivered a rebellious obscene gesture at him before disappearing from sight.  He heard her movement a little longer and said, "That does it!  No more 'mister nice guy.'  When I get my hands on that stubborn feline, I'm going to teach her a lesson she'll never forget."  

         He started moving after her, but Maxine promptly jumped in front of him and said, "Don't hurt her anymore, man!  Jus' chill out.  She'll come back."

         "Pretty stupid and dangerous move she made if you ask me.  You know what happened the last time we got separated?  So, if she isn't back before long, that's IT.  Her dumb boneheaded mistake and not my problem."  

         "You didn't have to hit her."

         "Oh, really?  That stupid vixen shouldn't have went for my gun either.  Bad move!  Now, shut your trap and get in the water before I give you the same treatment somewhere else."  

         The onerous heat and the evincingly enhanced effects of fear and frustration had taken their toll again, and Elaine came up to them and said, "Stop it at once, both of you!  We are all being intimidated enough here.  I don't want another minute of this senseless bickering.  Think of our situation now."  

         "I know what it is, four-eyes, and I'm doing some serious motivating to try and get some help to get us out of this hell hole alive," he said.  "I'm not being as bad or boneheaded as I could either."  

         "Well, good, but we'll never make it by only your strict rules, apathetic aptitudes, or quitting.  That . . . that ri is more disciplined here than any of us.  Let's not be all incompatible."

         Elaine's face moved from him, to Maxine, and to Iris and the others while she spoke.  Then, Jack shrugged his shoulders and said, "My clothes are still pretty wet.  So, I'll be the nice guy and go first if it'll make things better."  

         "No, Jack!  Don't!"  Nadine objected fast.

         "It's alright.  He's got the gun to keep order and repel any potential critter trouble.  Lord knows, it will be a lot more quiet under the water than right here."  

         "Don't worry, freckles.  It's not far," Russel said, and then turned to Maxine again, "and not deep too.  You of all of us here are dressed in the best material for the occasion."


Continued to Pt. 7.            
Cooperation and dissent amongst the ranks. 
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