Chapter 36: The Maw Of The Serpent Part 1

Pentam lay on his bunk and grinned. Cal had left him with a kiss which set his whole body to tingling. His plan to capture the serpent had worked to perfection. It didn't even bother him that Cal got the honour of it being named after her. She deserved it. He'd have plenty of opportunity.
Pentam organized a couple more excursions to capture the sea serpents. They caught two over the course of the week. A small one, under eight feet in length went into one of the immense preserving jars. The larger one, over fifteen feet, was dissected, its bones and skin cleaned, dried and packed away with the first.
Dan suggested testing to find what the chemical was which made eyes burn during dissection. They discovered it was a very concentrated hydrofluoric acid.
"Perhaps it helps the serpent digest its meals. The dissection showed it doesn't use those teeth to chew."
"That would make sense." Pentam capped the sample then slid the goggles up his face. "It would be easier to wear these in a cooler climate." He used a handkerchief to wipe his face.
"We have three specimens; how many does Sir Shillingsworth want to take?"
"I think a couple more. Another small one, and he seems to think they get much bigger, he's cooking up a way to catch a big one. Our method almost didn't work on that fifteen-footer.
"What's he thinking?" Dan cleaned up the chemistry table, being careful not to splash any liquid on his skin.
"He was muttering about a harpoon gun like whalers use."
"That'd be great if we had one." Dan put the rag in the garbage and led the way out of the lab. "You go spend some time with Cal."
***
The two boats floated on the seaweed. They were confident enough in their method that Cal tagged along on the larger boat, sketchbook in hand. They'd reached the point where complete stillness was needed. Even Cal's pencil had stilled. Pentam released the bait into the net. She had a horrific vision of a monster leaping up and swallowing him. Shaking her head, she focused on the net. The flapping of the bird set her heart thumping in the same rhythm as if it were there on the net. The nearby flock circled and flew away.
"Something's wrong," Pentam called. "Be sharp. If the thing is too big, let go of the rope. I won't risk people for a specimen."
A vision of Sam vanishing into the depths invaded her mind making her fingers shake too much to draw. As Cal put the sketchbook in her satchel her fingers brushed against the knife.
"Pentam, tell people to be sure they're clear of the ropes."
She hadn't finished speaking when a huge wave heaved out of the water. Cal caught the briefest glimpse of immense teeth before net and bird vanished under the water. Pentam had turned to look at her when she spoke. The rope wrapped around his leg and pulled him over the side.
Cal screamed and dove forward over the side. Rope burned past her. Putting the knife in her teeth, she gripped the rope and pulled herself down as seaweed slashed at her face. Hand over hand she got closer to Pentam. He looked up at her with horror on his face. Cal pulled harder, faster. Pentam reached up and took the knife from her mouth and with one slash cut the rope. He clutched the knife in one hand looking around for danger, then grabbing Cal's hand, he kicked for the surface. Her body bucked with the need to breath. Cal grabbed Pentam's face and kissed him, forcing his mouth open with her tongue, then breathing into him while he breathed back. They kicked for the surface again, fighting the seaweed.
They weren't going to make it. They'd die here. Her mind calculated exactly how much time they had left. Cal looked at Pentam. She could do worse than die with him.
Then Thomas plunged down through the weeds with a rope around his waist. He gripped Pentam and Cal around the waist, then kicked the rope hard three times. They soared up through the water, past the weeds to break the surface.
Cal's gasp for air sounded more like a scream. She looked for Pentam and saw him holding the side of the boat, panting for air. The sailor hoisted Cal and tossed her into the boat before climbing in himself. Cal crawled over to Pentam and clutched at him, her hand running over him to make sure he was all there.
"Sorry, Cal." Pentam coughed and spat out water. "I dropped your knife."
"I'd rather have you than a knife." Cal put her head on his chest and closed her eyes. They were safe.
Henrichs wrapped a blanket around them before they rowed at speed back to the boat. Her father lifted her out of the boat and crushed her to him. To Cal's horror, tears ran down his face. When Pentam staggered onto the deck, Sir Shillingsworth reached out and pulled him into a hug.
"I thought I'd lost you, both of you." His voice shook. He finally let them go and dashed at the tears on his face. Sir Shillingsworth opened his mouth to say something, but turned and abruptly walked away.
"What happened to your face?" Pentam looked at her with wide eyes.
Cal rubbed her fingers across her cheek and felt a sting, she looked at her fingers, and they were red with blood.
"Purser!" Pentam shouted. "Someone get the Purser."
"It's just a scratch, Silly." Cal shook her head. The world spun and went black.
***
Pentam watched Cal slump on the deck and his heart almost stopped.
"She's still breathing." Henrichs crouched down beside him. "While the purser is caring for Cal, I want to look at that leg of yours.