Krakens

Calvo's storm-gray eyes narrowed as he gazed out over the water. He could easily make out the Lieutenant, her dark skin distinctive against the strangely alien blue green of the lake. The cold wind blew the surface in to an uneven chop, and the guard officer trod water, some thirty metres from the scree and gravel of the shoreline. Closer to the beach, Tombstone's fishermen were throwing nets in to the water, or hauling them expertly back in. They worked swiftly and silently, their faces twisted in to worried scowls, constantly glancing toward the Lieutenant. As long as she was visable, they were safe.......

"See them Krakens is clever bastards....." said Ravok, shaking his head. "....they mostly live on fish, but they'll take anything or anyone dumb enough to be in the water as a snack. So if we wanna fish...."

Calvo nodded, keeping his face carefully neutral. "If you want to fish, you have someone expendable swimming further out. Good thinking. So what do these krakens look like anyhow? And how can anyone stay in that water more than a few minutes, it must be freezing?"

Ravok scowled, shaking his head. "Krakens are ugly bastards, all tentacles and teeth. Smart too, like I said. Fuckers will sneak up on ya...move along the seabed, all patient like, slow and easy, till they're ready to strike. As for the cold, we cover our 'bait' in gavka grease. Helps keep out the cold some. Gotta say it was a real pleasure oilin' up that uppity black bitch....."

Calvo did his best, but was sure his chuckle sounded ****. Ravok fortunately, did not have time to notice, because at that moment, a thin scream echoed in the cold air, and the Lieutenant began to swim desperately toward the shore, her thrashing stroke churning up the water. Ravok dashed toward the fishermen, arms waving, shouting at them to get themselves and their nets the fuck out of the lake.

They didn't need telling. The fishermen had been moving with the speed only fear could inspire, ever since that first scream. Calvo found himself sprinting toward the lake, pausing only to akwardly pull off his boots, and prison issue coverall. It was only when the graceful arc of his dive ended with the slap of freezing water that he asked himself what the hell he was doing.....