(no subject)
Aug. 14th, 2006 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bringmethatnpcUnrescued, the hat floats out to sea.
Sometime the following day, it bumps against the side of a small slovenly fishing vessel.
One of the fishers spots it, and hauls it aboard at the end of a line. He grins delightedly at his shipmate -- Isn't it a fine hat? -- claps the hat onto his sunburned head, and gives a mock salute. Look at me, I'm the captain!
The other fellow laughs, and holds out his hand. Let me try it, eh? My turn. He puts on the hat and poses, puffing out his chest (bare under an ill-fitting leather vest) and preening.
The first makes the appropriate admiring noises, and then holds out his hand. All right, give it back now. The second demurs, wanting to wear the hat a few minutes longer, and disputes his shipmate's claim to ownership of it. A brief argument ensues, and is abruptly cut off by the unearthly creaking groan that rises from the water below them.
Silence, and a ripple of water that isn't from the tide.
The argument resumes, with a frantic edge, as each man tries to push the ill-omened hat back to the other. I don't want it! You take it! -- You take it, it's yours, you're the one brought it on board! --
There isn't even time to scream when the little boat is dragged under in one hideously strong pull.
Sometime the following day, it bumps against the side of a small slovenly fishing vessel.
One of the fishers spots it, and hauls it aboard at the end of a line. He grins delightedly at his shipmate -- Isn't it a fine hat? -- claps the hat onto his sunburned head, and gives a mock salute. Look at me, I'm the captain!
The other fellow laughs, and holds out his hand. Let me try it, eh? My turn. He puts on the hat and poses, puffing out his chest (bare under an ill-fitting leather vest) and preening.
The first makes the appropriate admiring noises, and then holds out his hand. All right, give it back now. The second demurs, wanting to wear the hat a few minutes longer, and disputes his shipmate's claim to ownership of it. A brief argument ensues, and is abruptly cut off by the unearthly creaking groan that rises from the water below them.
Silence, and a ripple of water that isn't from the tide.
The argument resumes, with a frantic edge, as each man tries to push the ill-omened hat back to the other. I don't want it! You take it! -- You take it, it's yours, you're the one brought it on board! --
There isn't even time to scream when the little boat is dragged under in one hideously strong pull.
