Dark Waters

“I got a piece of it,” said Phil unexpectedly, and he pulled out a strip of the shed skin, passing it to Ms. Zintner. Brian hadn’t even seen him pick it up.

Coco’s mom stared from the evidence to her daughter. “Oh, my word,” she said. “This—doesn’t make any sense. Water snakes—or whatever—they don’t . . .”

“This one does,” said Coco. Both boys nodded confirmation. “But we’ve got a lot of firewood now,” Coco added. “We think—we hope—it won’t come near a fire. But it’s big—really big. We have to keep watch. And there’s a man—”

Coco told a highly edited version of their adventures. Brian could tell she was struggling between honesty and not distressing her mom.

But maybe she said too much. “There’s someone else on this island?” demanded Coco’s mom. “Well, that’s great news! He has a boat certainly. And probably a radio . . .” She was already reaching again for their silent radio.

“No, Mom,” said Coco reluctantly. “I don’t—I don’t think he’s in his right mind. He’s got an axe. He was—he said some bad things to us. I don’t think he wants to help.”

Coco’s mom frowned. “So you’re saying that there is a giant, boat-sinking snake on this island, and also a disturbed man with an axe.”

“Um, yeah,” said Coco, her voice small.

“Whew,” said her mother. “Well, the snake can’t be too dangerous if the man with the axe is still around.”

Brian and Coco exchanged glances. “I think we should still keep an eye out tonight,” said Brian firmly. “And keep the fire going.”

“I’m with you there, Brian,” said Ms. Zintner. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

At that moment, a faint rumble of thunder sounded against the far horizon, and the very light drizzle thickened. It absolutely can’t rain, Brian thought, sinking down onto a rock beside Ollie and pulling the hood of his jacket over his head. That would be the final straw. He wasn’t sure if he was more uncomfortable putting his back to the forest or to the water.

“Stay close to the fire tonight, everyone,” said Ms. Zintner. “Look out for a boat. And tomorrow—we can decide what to do.”

Ms. Zintner handed around squares of chocolate and granola bars from the emergency kit. While they were in the woods, she’d also filled a bottle of water and purified it with the iodine tablets. It was chemical-tasting but better than nothing. Between them they drained it dry, and then Ms. Zintner went down to the lake to refill it.

Brian thought he saw a strange ripple in the water. It might have been a trick of rain and faint light, but . . . “Wait!” he said. Coco’s mom was right at their edge of the ring of firelight.

She paused. “What is it, Brian?”

Brian wasn’t sure what he’d seen. And they did need more water. But he said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Coco’s mom said, “Brian, we need to hydrate.” She shined her flashlight on the water. “I don’t see anything.”

“Me either,” Brian admitted. “But . . .”

He scooped up a fist-sized rock from where he was sitting near the water and tossed it in.

Nothing.

“At least take a torch down with you,” said Coco suddenly. She got up, lit a piece of wood, and went down to the water beside her mom, holding the fire in front of her. Stillness, silence. Nothing. But Brian still had the creepy feeling of being watched, as though there were eyes under the water, just out of range of the light.

Coco’s mom bent to fill the bottle.

At that moment, Mr. Adler’s eyes shot wide, but he wasn’t looking at them. He was hallucinating again. “Twelve men survived the goblin,” he said. “But they wished they hadn’t. The island kept them. Until it didn’t.” He was silent for a few minutes, his uninjured fingers twitching. Then he cried, “He’s got an axe!” and fell silent again.

They had all turned toward Mr. Adler. Except for Phil, who, wisely, had kept his eyes on the water. “Hey!” he screamed suddenly. “Hey! Look!”

Coco spun around, still holding her torch, just in time to illuminate filmy eyes just under the water and a mouth slowly opening . . . Coco’s mom gasped and jumped back, pulling Coco with her, and the frilled, dripping head vanished almost as soon as it appeared. They scrambled over to the fire, looking shaken. The water bottle was maybe a quarter full.

It’s waiting, Brian thought. Hunting. We have to get out of here.

“Okay,” said Ms. Zintner, jaw set determinedly. She still had her arm around Coco. “No going near the lake, guys; this water has got to last. Maybe we can collect some rain in the lifeboat. Here, Phil, Brian, help me spread it out.”

They tried to arrange the deflated lifeboat so that it would capture a bit of rain. Brian was wrestling with the heavy rubber when Ollie spoke:

“Dad?” said Ollie, with a crack in her voice. Her dad had fallen silent, his eyes half-open, fixed on the lake. He turned his head and looked at her when she spoke, but his eyes hardly seemed to see her. Coco went and put both arms around Ollie. Brian went to sit on Coco’s other side, as near the two girls as he could get.