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The man laughed and then continued.
“Mr. Own: do not worry! We have full confidence in this expedition. You will not be on the ground. It will simply be an ariel tour and documentation with several boat expeditions. It will span for about a week’s time. A couple trips, there and back during the day. Nothing to worry about. We have full confidence in the success of this mission.”
“Where have I heard this before–“
”Do not fret Mr. Van Owen. You were chosen specifically based on your experiences. National Geographic actually recommended you! They plan an entire issue based on this expedition filled with your pictures. You will be payed by the UN as well which is asking you to be chairman of the new Creature Safety Commission. Is that not a nice position for one of your agenda?”
There was a pause.
“A plane will be sent out and will pick you up in Bombay at this hour in a days time. You are welcome to invite another from your team if you wish, but I must go Mr. Owen. Will you be at the airport?”
Nick paused, looked around the van at the jungle around him. The tour guide still standing at the gates of the reserve shooing them away.
“Tell them there better be beer.”
Smirking, Juan walked up to the man, taking the vodka bottle from him.
"Don't you think you’re too drunk to have the boat this close,” Juan questioned the man, taking a swig of the bottle.
“Nah! The islands... far from this place. No problems.” the man replied, vodka on his breath.
“But what about last time, father? You forget how easily–“
"I remember boy! But that was different,” the man interjected, “I killed that beast that got caught in the net: hideous thing! Dropped it back in the water and let it drown...” the man trailed off, snatching the vodka bottle from Juan. He began to drink it right out of the bottle, finishing it off.
Juan looked at his father, not convinced. The islands were a dangerous and scary place even to be near sober let alone drunk especially after last time.
The ship rocked to one side as if it had crossed a wake. The father and son exchanged glances then ran to the boat deck.
The night air was cool, and thy sky moonless letting the stars shine brightly. Juan ran up and down the boat, looking off into the water.
The waves were light, barely rocking the boat anymore and an eerie hum filled the air.
The boat rocked again, and Juan spun around. He began to pnic. They were in forbidden waters and if caught, could be put in jail or fined more than their poor family could ever afford.
The fish that lived here were nearly priceless though, and would earn them a ton at market, as long as they weren’t caught too which they did not intend to be.
Juan ran to the end of the boat to push the “retract net” button on the console. He wanted to get out of there and now.
The water began to roar and thrash as the net was pulled from the depths. Juan and his father looked out into the distance. Juan walked slowly toward the boat’s railing. He looked out over the still water. The roaring grew louder and louder. That’s when he saw it: a large, looming object was heading straight for them. He began to back away from the rail in panic.
His father saw it too, rushing straight at them at great speed. He hobbled in his drunken stupor to the helm and spun the wheel hard to starboard. As the object moved at them ever faster, Juan jumped away from the side of the boat sensing the imminent impact. It sped past them, barely missing their small fishing ship.
Juan realized then that it was a cargo vessel. An unearthly shrill scream from the boat–something they had heard only once before when they got too close to the island–echoed in the crisp night air. It was an animal from the islands. It was one of the monsters like the one they had caught in their lines so many years ago.
Juan watched in awe as the boat raced by. He grabbed a large flashlight that was hanging on the railing and shone it onto the other boat. It had no name to it, no registry. That was when he saw it: a large cargo box on the deck, with big bold letters that read “BioSyn.”
