Lines

Undertow

"How much did you get for them?"

"Enough to retire."

"That's incredible! You know how many people have been looking for them?"

"Impossible to know of 'em and not their reputation."

"Yeah but you've done what at least five hundred other divers failed to do."

"Mm. Suppose so."

His eyes took on a boyish curiosity. His shoulders tilted, his hands clasped, his very hair appeared to point itself toward the graying party beside him.

"So, what was it like down there?"

The diver's eyes shifted beneath their gaze. The hue they held appeared to dim before the fire in front of the two cast a sheen over them.

"Lot of sand. Lot of dust. Bones. About what you'd expect o' the bottom."

"Sure, sure, but what about the pit? The bottom cavern that you went into? Why did it take until now to find them? I mean, so many people can't all be blind or you can't be that lucky."

"A diver trusts his instincts. Without them, you end up in territory that'll kill you quicker 'n you can think of a deep breath."

"Wh-" his voice trailed off as he saw the man's presence was no longer in the room.

"I always trusted them. I always followed them. They had me dodge a barracuda once, but I always made it out alright. Few scars 're nothin' compared to a coffin your woman can't open.

"I always knew when to call it quits. I wouldn't push myself beyond ol' gut's reliable warning.

"But I dunno, I saw the glint from meters out. I knew they was waiting for me. They was rottin' there. They called out to me and I need only answer."

"Mike-"

"My blood, my bones, my mind, they all screamed out to turn back. I grabbed the lip of the ridge and thrust myself in anyway. I weren't myself 'ny more.

"I saw them 'fore I saw the eyes."

"Eyes?"

"I grabbed the two trinkets and started to kick my way back. Just by happenstance my position had me look up. Made me realize somethin' was lookin' down.

"Hundreds of eyes. All pearlescent and gem'd. Shined mo' brightly than any gold. Yet all the world's gold 'll never be enough to get me down there again.

"I don't suppose I'll see them again. I don't suppose a soul will be in that forgotten grotto of a dead man's hollow. But even the water from the sink's tainted. Even the rain might risk them eyes. Starin'. Demandin'. I don't know what for, I just know they'd get it if I stayed."