The Last Minute

Chapter 6

The Pond seemed colder without the company of my brother. Who even knows where he went? He may have gone back home, or maybe he lost his way. Either way, this pond wasn't endless. We would reunite.

My mental GPS told me to go straight. My gut said turn east a little.

I went east.

I swam for two hours before the pond finally dispensed food.

Right. So, basically, the pond gives us fish food once a day; in the morning at exactly 7:48. So wierd. Why not wait the extra twelve minutes and make it 8 on the dot?

Anyway, I ate as much as I could before a school of pirhanas came and ate the rest. I barely made it out of that situation without being eaten. I'd end up back at the middle. I'd have to swim another two days.

At around nine I decided that I wanted to rest again. I swam to the bottom (which was not far since the pond was 14 inches deep) and slowed my pace.

"Hey! Watch where you rest. This is my territory!" said a plecostemus I accidentally laid on.

"Sorry! You were in the sand. I couldn't see you," I said.

"This is my turf so that I can bury myself. It's the only place in Proud Pond that I can. I have three square feet to bury myself in," he said.

"Oh. Well, sorry. I didn't know. I should get going-"

"Why are you out here anyway?" he asked.

"Well, I'm on my way to the Oracle to see a friend of mine," I told him.

He laughed at me. "Who told you to see an oracle?"

"M-my brother," I said.

"That oracle left twenty years ago! She's now on the land," he said.

I died inside. Again. I wouldn't get to see Jemmy. Boy did I miss her.

"Well, could you tell me where she is?" I asked.

"Sure. Go west for about a mile, then south for eight yards. You'll start to notice it get shallow. Go in the direction of the shallowness. That will get you to the Oracle," he said.

"Thanks," I said.

As I turned to leave, he said, "Tell her Dorral sent you."

I noted that and swam west, back the way I came.