Leviathan

Majestic seabirds wheeled and weaved their way across the fiery heaven of early morning. Envious human eyes tracked their flight, yet following this celestial display proved particularly challenging for Lueni’s hampered vision. A throbbing head added to the fisherman’s woes, potent reminders of last night’s rapturous drinking. Yet there was much to celebrate; his daughter's splendorous marriage to the son of a wealthy landowner. The bride and groom’s joyous faces were forever etched upon his heart.

“Oh, why did I agree to this?” The familiar, dour voice belonged to Lueni’s long-time partner Mires. The man massaged his temples, attempting to ease his suffering.

“You were eager last night, old friend. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, this was your idea in the first place.” Lueni smiled to himself at their drunken agreement.

“Greed and wine make notorious bedfellows yet always lead to poor decisions.” Mires shook his head as he gazed across the gentle, azure waves. “I’m getting too old for this.”

“Just make sure you’re ready with that winch when they rise from the deep. Another good catch will mean more spending money in Miletta’s waterfront.”

“I agree with you on that, old friend.” Mires grinned as he turned away and began scanning the waves. Lueni followed suite.

Another hour or so, Lueni thought, and we’ll be back home. The surrounding seas in the bay were eerily quiet over the past few days, yet this troubled him little. The ways and wonders of the natural world constantly ebbed and flowed. Lueni’s people believed the goddess Denara controlled the seas, coasts, and everything in them. The march of time had gradually eroded his faith until little remained. Such a fickle deity delighted in causing chaos as much as joy to human lives. Lueni chuckled at his casual blasphemy. If Denara was so offended by the views of a hungover fisherman, then she could take his life here and now.

The sudden cries of of newly arrived seabirds above caught Lueni’s attention. Swooping across the hazy sky before diverting to make great circles nearby. One suddenly dived into the ocean and appeared a short while later with a struggling, blue fish in its beak. Its companions did likewise.

“They’re here,” said Mires, his throbbing head seemingly forgotten.

“You should have more faith, friend,” replied Lueni.

Lueni and Mires eyed each other instantly with glee and sprung into action turning the wooden winches attached to the huge net trailing their boat. After many minutes of rhythmic labour and grunts of effort later, a great glistening, bulging net broke the frothing waves, was pulled out of the gentle waves and lowered dripping salt water onto the deck. Lueni then swiftly unloosed the net the writhing mass of fish spilled onto the deck of the boat. Then, a much larger blue green serpentine shape emerged from the detritus of flopping, dying fish. The dragonfish was nearly two metres long; wild, predatory eyes darted around new, alien surroundings with something akin to panic.

“Denara has blessed us indeed,” uttered Lueni with delight.

Grinning maniacally, Mires turned away into the nearby cabin. He soon returned brandishing a spike tipped, wooden club. The dragonfish, its strength draining away, attempted to escape. Renewed vigour and focus coursed through Mires as he trapped his quarry into a corner of the boat. Hovering above its target, the wooden club arced downwards with ruthless efficiency. A sickening crunch reverberated around the boat as iron spike punctured skin, muscle, and bone. The huge fish’s blue and green mottled body thrashed around the deck before lying motionless. As Lueni wrenched the club free, blood oozed instantly from the creature’s wound, its serrated maw and eyes.

“Great strike!” Surprise tinged Lueni’s words.

“I’ve still got it in me despite my aching joints!”

“That will fetch a nice price from the high born merchants in Miletta.”

“It sure will.”

As the last of the fish expired, Lueni added, “Let’s pack these away before the birds begin stealing them.” Mires nodded and opened a nearby wooden storage box.

Suddenly, a flash of movement caught his eye amongst the undulating white topped waves close by. Another dragonfish, at least three metres long, breached amongst the remaining fish, one already in its mouth. The predator disappeared rapidly back into the depths, its first victim trailing blood clamped between serrated jaws.

Lueni knew the great fish would likely return. Another opportunity had presented itself for extra profit in Miletta’s bustling markets. Retreating into the tiny cabin, he retrieved a long pole ending in a sickle shaped hook alongside a huge net tied to the end of a lengthy handle. Passing the net to Mires, the fishermen waited patiently waited for the great fish to reappear.

The remaining sardines, believing they were safe, gathered around the fishing boat once more. Sure enough, the sinuous predator attacked again, and the fisherman was ready for it. Lunging over the side of the boat, Lueni deftly hooked the sinuous fish’s neck, whilst Mires confidently scooped the rest of it’s sinuous body into his net.

Shoulders, back, and arm muscles strained as the two fishermen wrestled with their quarry, yet both bore a determined assurance for victory. Strenuously guiding the thrashing fish towards their boat, the arrival of another, far greater presence went unnoticed from the depths below.

Lueni’s net and its captured prize were suddenly dragged forwards with such speed and ferocity that the fisherman was dragged overboard and swallowed by the frolicking waves. All that remained of him and the dragonfish was a blossoming red smear staining the surface of the water.

Mires, with shaking limbs and hammering heart, ambled to the edge of the handrail and peered out. He anxiously scanned around, seeking any sign of his childhood friend. There was nothing apart from the green tinged blue depths. Even the sardines were gone. The seabirds kept their distance and circled further away, clearly alarmed.

“Lueni! Lueni! Goddess, give me a sign!”

Several aching seconds passed by as Mires desperately scanned the undulating waters around him. The fish around the boat disappeared. The seabirds shrieked and wheeled away. An inexplicable, eerie silence descended. Desperation turned to despair as salt tinged tears streaked down his cheeks.

Then, suddenly, Lueni’s head and arm broke the surface, gasping for breath. Blood spread around him. Hope inflamed Mires once more.

“By the goddess, I thought you were gone!” Mires’ heart lifted with relief. Lueni, coughing and spluttering and unable to speak, drifted towards him. Mires outstretched his arm. “Take my hand.” With what seemed like the greatest of effort, Lueni tentatively extended his. Fingertips almost caressed each other.

Then, everything changed again. Mires locked eyes with his friend and saw the sheer, heart-rending terror within them. For the briefest of moments, he sensed a vast, malign shadow appear below them. Lueni emitted a strangled squeal before disappearing beneath the waves for a second and final time.

“NO, NO, NO!” Shock and anger spewed forth from Mires as he screamed at water and sky and beat the side of the boat until his fists were swollen and bruised. Soon after, Mires slumped to his knees in defeat.

So consumed with grief and rage, Mires barely noticed the sudden impact that jolted throughout the entire boat. Moments later, the second was so powerful that it capsized the small vessel.

Mires was violently flung backwards into the water, alongside every other object on board. With limbs locked in panic and salt water entering his lungs, something hard struck his head, sending him spiralling further into the depths. Slowly losing consciousness, Mires’ final image was of an immense snake like head emerging from the emerald murk, its huge mouth slightly parted and heading straight towards him.