Once a God drowned here

Part 3

As we could smell the direct ocean water, we had reached the harbour. If there are any fishmen around, it would be at the harbour but we have no luck. Some ships are swaying by the ocean's waves. It sticks. Not just the normal smell of harbours but an all consuming stench of fish. I step to the harbours edge. Looking down I look directly into the oceans waters clashing at the docks. Fishmen live in the oceans. If they are any fishmen around, they will come from the ocean. For a second I lose my focus for a second. I live through a small daydream. I see the fishmen we are searching, climbing out of the ocean to choke on the direct air. Alongside the fishmen other sea dwellers also beach on the land. A great white whale jumping out of the ocean only to land right inside the town where it spews out another fish wearing a crown made from bones. The threat of thoughts find an end and my consciousness is restored. A pair of eyes look back at me. To large eyes stare up from beneath the waters surface. I take a better look and rub my eyes so I would not mistake the reality with my daydream. As I open my eyes again the other pair of eyes is gone. It must have been a pipe dream. Anyway, where do we find ourselves some fishmen? I would not like to return without at least on evidence that our deployment is not totally useless. Just as I thought about the fishmen showing themselves a wet figure climbs out of the water to the stone ground of the harbour. A humanoid figure covered in fishy scales and webbed fingers. Ladies and Gentleman, we found us a fishman. The creature stumbles, still wet from driving in the ocean it drips onto the stone. Looking from left to right it takes notice of us and starts its way towards us.

"Stop right there!" I order the fishman. Stupid of me to assume that it could understand human language. Me and the men take aim at it to give meaning to our threat. He shows no sign of slowing down. Because he is classified as a monster and set out to be killed I just open up the fire. The fishman stumbles and falls as we put several bullet holes inside him. Over a dozen barrel spatted lead into its body. The first fish has been an easy kill. But if there is one fish around a lot more are likely to hide not that far away. Three men approach the downed monster to check on its status. Just to make sure that it is dead. The rest of us scatter to form a circle to cover every angle from where more fishmen could attack. In a hurry I look around both shoulders to look for the next fish to reveal itself. I look onto the horizon to notice any suspicious movement above and beneath the water surface. A hand takes hold of the ledge. The next fish is ready to ascend. But it is not alone. Another hand grabs right next to it. And another one! Even more hands grab on the ledge. A whole army of fishmen rise from the ocean and swarm into the city. Even though we fire upon them we are not in the slidest fast enough to take them out before new fish take the dead places. The swarm of fishmen is not the monotone group of grey fish on legs but a colourful and diverse bunch of creatures. Sure some look like you would imagine a fish with the body of a human but the most of the fishmen got aspects and element of other ocean animals. Some got tails, long or short teeth. Some carry weapons such as rusty metal bars or even tools. In their movement and positioning an undebatable sense of coordination. Here and there, between the smaller fishmen walk greater individuals. The largest fish on the harbour right now is a whale. Almost as large as a building the giant slowly walks into the town away from us. Also above the heads of the oceanians towers a barracuda head. It sticks on a wide muscular body. As it makes its path through the other fishman it pushes away his smaller companions. The big barracuda-man continues walking towards me despite being hit by my bullets. His large webbed hands slam the rifle out of my hands. Next he lifts me up by the neck and carries me across the dock. I draw my knife and start stabbing at him but this would just infuriate him further. He folds his hand right around the blade of my knife, twisting it out and punches into my stomach. Numbed by the sudden impact I can pose no further resistance. I get carried further away while the other soldiers stand their ground. As we reach the next public well I am held over it to be dropped. Luckily a well can not be that deep. But still I fall deeper and deeper. Only after a good moment I hit into the water beneath. Unfortunately the water is not as deep as I hoped. I hit the floor without being slowed down that much. In pain I get up and my head breaks through the water surface. I fell at least twenty-six feet. The light entering through the well only a slight shimmer way up. I stand waist-high in dirty water. This down here is longer an ordinary well. The fountain of water has turned into an underground river running far beyond my limit of vision. I have lost my rifle and my knife up on the pier. Again I am separated from my fellow men for them to fight for themselves. Holding a torch in my left and the sabre in my right hand I descend down the river.