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The Story:
The sky was set aflame by a sun that was angry at the world for turning its back to it. Her oars made wild splashes as she chased after the sun, but it could not be persuaded to stay. She collapsed into her wooden boat and watched as the moon gladly accepted the sun’s lighting duties but turned the world black and blue.
She had been warned to reach her destination before nightfall, but now, she may never make it. Her fingers picked at grooves in the wood while she waited for what was coming.
When the horizon had given up the last of its glowing gradient, something thumped the bottom of her boat. There was some splashing in the water and more thumping as her boat began rocking back and forth. She laid there with her eyes closed, too terrified to look. It grew more violent until it suddenly stopped. Her boat settled back into a smooth glide, and there was silence.
Slowly, she sat up. As she rose, a bearded man sitting on the bow came into view. She scrambled to the back of her boat, gaining a total of only three or four feet between her and the man. They stared at each other for a moment. It was then that she noticed he was naked and dripping wet.
“Why are you in my waters?”
His voice was raspy and gruff. He looked and spoke like an old man, but his eyes betrayed him—eyes of a youthful predator.
“I’m only passing through.”
“No, you’re not. I don’t allow that.”
He smiled, revealing several rows of sharp teeth like a shark.
“Please, I’ve had an arduous journey. I only mean to…”
“Don’t speak to me about hardship! You can’t even fathom… You couldn’t know… Have you ever even…”
He put his head down and began to cry, and she was amazed that she found sympathy for him. She reached out to touch his shoulder, but he snapped his jaws at her, barely missing her hand as she yanked it back. He laughed.
“Nice reflexes. The women are usually slower.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Alright, here’s my deal. I’ll allow you to pick up your sword. That’s more than most get. Good luck.”
He jumped off the bow and disappeared into the black water.
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