A to Z Challenge: L – Leviathan

Greetings, mortals! I felt like fishing today, so here I am, with my rod and bait trying to lure in some nice fish. Have you ever tried fishing, and have you ever caught more than you can reel? This story will tell you why that’s a bad idea. Listen well…

The sea was nice and calm.

It was the perfect weather to fish, and as the captain of the largest fishing barge in town, I knew there were a lot of profits to be made today. Having fished in these waters for almost a decade, I knew them like the back of my hand. However, I had never seen the island I was seeing before me.

Normally, I would have been hesitant to approach it, but I could spot fish movements around the island and the men were keen. We sailed towards the island and prepared to cast our nets. Within minutes of casting we got a tug. As we began pulling, we realised it was a big haul. As my men strained their muscles, I felt the barge sway. My sea bones began quaking. Something felt off about the situation. I ordered my men to let go off the net. Although shocked, my men followed my orders.

As we began retreating from the island, we saw it rise a few more meters above sea level. I gulped as realisation dawned upon me. That was no island, and what we were trying to catch were not fish. In all our naivety we were trying to catch ourselves a leviathan limb. Our tugging had roused it from its slumber. I hate to think what would have happened if we had stayed till it had fully awoken.

I never saw it after that day and I am glad I did not…

Well, that captain sure got lucky. And what do you know, so did I. Found myself a nice sea catch. I’m not sharing this with you, mortals. So, until next time…