Page 55 of Two Favors Repaid

Emma had the ability to remember thousands of useless factoids she’d taught her students. One suddenly came to her mind now, that sharks could smell a molecule of blood from miles away.

And that monster’s not exactly miles away.

“Get away from me, Rob,” she whispered. “There’s no point in both of us dying.”

Because she was sure he wouldn’t agree, she simply swam away from him as fast as her limbs would take her. Not towards the shark, she wasn’t brave enough from that, but sideways, parallel for the land they’d been aiming for. If they split up, the shark would have to choose one of them.

It took Rob mere seconds to catch up with her. His shoulders bunched powerfully with every stroke, and his arms seemed to slice invisibly into the water. She’d forgotten how strong a swimmer he was.

“I can’t swim faster than a great white, Emma,” he said, reaching her and tugging on her uninjured arm.

“Get away from me,” she whispered. She didn’t know whether sharks could hear or not—but just in case. “You don’t need to swim faster than a shark. You just need to swim faster than me.”

It’s here.

The shark had followed them. Its movement was still lazy, like it was still trying to make up its mind about them. But it was getting closer, and Emma knew instinct would take over at some point.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said. His expression was determined. “Keep swimming to shore, Emma. I’m not going to let it hurt you. Keep swimming and don’t stop, no matter what.”

Emma swam, her earlier pains forgotten. Perhaps she’d been wrong. Perhaps the shark was just curious, and they’d have enough time—

And then the shark turned and stopped its gentle circling. Suddenly Emma could see not just the fin but also the torpedo-like bulk of the animal instead.

It picked up speed, advancing towards them, and Emma knew they wouldn’t make it.

#

Rob

Rob gripped his knife, wishing it were much larger. Their lives depended on his ability to be able to use it. The shark was almost upon them.

At least twelve feet.

Rob’s heart banged against his chest.

The animal was close enough that Rob would be able to touch it if he just stretched his arm.

Rob pushed Emma behind him, reducing the shark’s options. It was going to have to come for him. The shape was still gaining speed. The animal’s mouth remained closed.

It’s going to nose me before it bites.

Rob turned his body sideways, protecting his knife arm, just as the shark rammed into him. He was propelled through the water, his left arm hanging like a dead weight. Rob focused his energy on the arm that gripped the knife.

Taking a deep breath, Rob went underwater. He got a close-up look at the shark’s gills.

It’s untagged.

The animal opened its mouth, revealing line upon line of sharp, fin-like teeth. He saw something dark stuck between two teeth.

Rob looked beyond the mouth. In that dark, crazy moment, the large eyeball looked strangely human to him. The sight was almost hypnotic. But Rob was running out of air. He brought his knife arm forward, slashing at the eyeball. At the last instant the animal shifted its head, and Rob’s knife grazed the skin of its forehead instead.

Desperate, Rob slashed at the snout. Once. Twice. Three times. The shark reared back, swimming deeper. Away from them.

It didn’t like that.

Rob went back up for air.

“Rob!” Emma shouted.