The Sea Demon

The Sea Demon

The brine-soaked breeze caressed Raghav’s face, and he paused a moment, allowing his eyes to linger on the turquoise sea, its surface gleaming like a polished gem in the scorching afternoon sunlight. The tension roiling his belly eased a little, and he resumed his brisk pace, making his way toward the shore where a large crowd had already congregated.

Most of them were middle-aged men and women in tattered clothes, their faces deeply lined with creases. Some of them directed their warm gazes towards him, beaming smiles lighting up their faces. A portly, balding man dressed in a threadbare sarong and a faded t-shirt waved at him, his fleshy lips parting in a smile to reveal a mouthful of tobacco-blackened teeth.

Raghav returned the gesture, the muscles in his face relaxing into a grin of his own. Pak Saiful, the village chief, seemed to be in a good mood, so he had probably nothing to worry about. But in that case, why had Saiful texted him an hour ago, informing him about the urgent village council and requesting his presence? Raghav’s brow twitched, and his belly clenched again.

He’d rolled into this tiny fishing village in Sulawesi a week ago, offering Saiful and the other elders a simple deal. His bosses at Golden Pearl Mining wanted to start harvesting the vast copper reserves deep inside the seabed. In exchange, the company would give out generous dividends to the locals. Pak Saiful and the rest of the village council accepted at once. So why summon him to this sudden meeting? Clearly, someone didn’t like their arrangement.

Walking up to Saiful, Raghav reached out to grab the village chief’s hand, pumping it in a hearty shake.

‘‘Everything okay, Pak?’’ he asked, his eyes scanning Saiful’s face. ‘‘We’re still good to go, right?’’

Saiful stared at his feet, allowing the silence to stretch on for an awkward moment before he answered. ‘‘We’ve got a problem. This activist showed up at my house this morning, saying one of the locals told him about your plan to start mining here and made it clear he won’t be leaving until he’s had a chat with you.’’

Raghav’s mouth twitched. All he needed right now was some self-righteous do-gooder to screw this up. His men were eager to start today. Now this activist moron wanted to throw a wrench into everything.

He drew a deep breath, and his pulse slowed. ‘‘Fine. I’ll talk to him. Maybe I can change his mind.’’

Saiful’s chest heaved, an exasperated sigh escaping from him. ‘‘Good luck with that. I’ve been trying to tell him this is good news for people here, but the stubborn fool won’t listen.’’ He raked a hand through his thick, greying curls. ‘‘Give me a moment. I’ll fetch him.’’

Raghav began shuffling his feet, the soles of his shoes scuffing against coarse grains of sand. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples. What would it take to get this guy off his back?

‘‘Raghav, I’m back.’’ Saiful trotted toward him, accompanied by a younger man Raghav didn’t recognize. The stranger looked to be in his early twenties, his brown eyes radiating a searing glare. His mouth twisted into a scowl. ‘‘Mr Raghav Subra, I assume. I am Augustin Lee. We need to talk about your plan to start mining the seabed.’’

‘‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee.’’ Forcing his mouth into a brittle smile, Raghav extended his hand out. ‘‘I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.’’

The stony expression on Lee’s face didn’t waver, and he ignored Raghav’s attempt at a handshake. ‘‘Maybe you aren’t aware, but this sea is home to marine animals you can’t find anywhere else. You start mining here, and you’ll kill an entire ecosystem.’’

Withdrawing his rejected hand, Raghav shoved it into the pocket of his jeans. His cheeks grew hot, but he strove to keep his voice calm. ‘‘I understand how you feel, but you’re not looking at the bigger picture, Mr. Lee.’’

‘‘Really? And what bigger picture am I missing here, Mr. Subra?’’ Lee’s tone dripped with acidic scorn, his eyes hardening into flintlike shards. ‘‘What could be bigger than saving the sea and everything that lives there?’’

Screw this obnoxious dude. Raghav slid his gaze over Lee, taking in the expensive-looking, stylish gold wristwatch dangling off the younger man’s wrist. His jaw clenched. He recognized Lee’s type. Some rich college kid whose wealthy parents paid all his bills and bought him nice stuff. Most of these yuppie activist types didn’t know how hard life was for regular people.

He, on the other hand, had been born into a struggling working-class family back in Temsek and would have likely ended up mopping toilets for a living if he hadn’t enlisted with the army. In return for the ten backbreaking years of his life he’d given the armed forces, they’d funded his engineering degree. For people like him, nothing good ever came easy. Raghav raised his head and met Lee’s baleful stare.

‘‘What could be bigger than some fish, you ask? Well, how about helping the people who live here, Mr. Lee?’’ The muscles in Raghav’s shoulders bunched into tight coils. ‘‘We’re not like the other mining companies that kick locals off their land without giving them a dime. I’ve made it clear to Pak Saiful and other village leaders that they’ll get a big chunk of the profits from this mine. That’s money they’ll use to send their kids to school. Money they can use to build a clinic for sick villagers.”

Snorting, Raghav folded his arms across his chest. ‘‘Go back to your university, kid. Let your college professors know that nature is worthless if it can’t give people a better life.’’

Lee’s eyes glittered with fury, his cheeks turning crimson. ‘‘I see there’s no talking to you. Fine. I’ll go to court and get an injunction to stop you from blasting the hell out of the sea.’’

The rigid stiffness drained Raghav’s muscles, and he smirked. ‘‘Yeah, good luck with that. We’ve got great lawyers. But do what you want.’’

Stretching his arms out, Raghav looked on while Lee stormed off and then turned to face Saiful, shaking his head. These rich kids. They think they know everything, don’t they?’’

Saiful tugged at a stray curl draped over his ear. ‘‘I hope we don’t see him again.’’

‘‘Oh, he’ll be back. Count on it. But there’s nothing he can do.’’

A hoarse cry split the air, and Raghav spun around in the direction of the sound. His eyes alighted on an elderly woman in a ragged kebaya hobbling toward Saiful and him. ‘‘Now what?’’

The old woman skidded to a stop, and her gnarled fingers reached out to grab Raghav’s wrist, her long fingernails sinking into his flesh. Her desiccated lips moved, and a string of mumbled words spilled out of her mouth.

Raghav squinted at her and rubbed the side of his head. Hantu. That had been the only thing out of her he’d been able to catch. It was the catchall Bahasa term for anything supernatural. He glanced at Saiful. ‘‘Pak, do you know what she’s saying?’’

‘‘Some silly legend about a monster in the sea. Don’t mind her.’’ The village chief rolled his eyes. ‘‘Some of our old people are very superstitious and speak nonsense.’’ Turning away from Raghav, he snapped his fingers at a mortified-looking woman who’d peeled herself away from the rest of the crowd. ‘‘Siti, please take your mother home. She’s bothering our guest.’’

Dipping her head in an apology, Siti dragged her mother away despite the old woman’s croaking protests.

As they walked away and vanished into the distance, Saiful clapped Raghav on the shoulder. ‘‘Just do your job, and we’ll handle the rest.’’

Giving him a grateful nod, Raghav left, making his way to the clearing in the middle of the village, and waved to the two men in stained overalls who were seated on plastic foldable stools. ‘‘Alif and Mustafa, we’re good to go.’’

Fingering his ponytail, Alif flashed a bright grin at Raghav. ‘‘Good to hear that, boss.’’ He jabbed a finger toward the beach. ‘‘What was all that about anyway?’’

Raghav made a dismissive wave with his hand. ‘‘Nothing to worry about. Come on, let’s move.’’Accompanied by the two mining technicians, he made his way to the beach again, striding toward the rickety wooden pier projecting out into the sea. Directing his gaze to the boat bobbing in the shallows, he raised his hand and signaled to the wiry sailor on the deck.

Lounging in the space between the rusting cube of the cabin and the shiny chrome-plated submersible, the sailor leapt into action and darted into the cabin. Amidst the discordant screech of straining gears, the gangplank landed on the pier with an enormous thump that rattled the wooden planks under Raghav’s feet.

Scrambling onto the vessel, Raghav and the two technicians made their way into the tiny cabin that reeked of stale sweat and engine oil. Catching the eye of the sailor who’d positioned himself behind the wheel, Raghav nodded at the man. ‘‘Bring us to the site, Salleh. We’re going to start mining.’

The gangplank retracted back into the boat with a shuddering lurch, and the boat sped off into the sea, belching diesel fumes that stung Raghav’s eyes and made his nose throb. A warm glow settled in the pit of his stomach.

Most people found the acrid odor intolerable, but he’d long since gotten used to it. In a way, it was a tangible reminder of the progress he’d helped to bring about. Thanks to people like him, factories in the region had regular access to the metal ores needed to keep churning out the cars, computers, and smartphones indispensable to modern society.

He peeked out of the porthole, watching the bright radiance of the day slowly recede away, replaced by the gentle purple hue of twilight. When the boat reached a stop, Raghav got up and sauntered out of the cabin, his heartbeat revving up. This was part of the job he loved best.

Tilting his head up, Raghav drank in the sight of the submersible parked on the deck, its sides gleaming in the harsh fluorescent light of the ship’s lamps. The tempo of his heartbeat quickened, excitement surging through him. Glancing back over his shoulder, Raghav whistled at Alif and Mustafa. ‘‘Ready to take this baby out for a spin? Latest model from Phoenix Corp. Double the depth of the older versions with twice the speed.’’

Alif winked at him. ‘‘Let’s roll.’’ Even Mustafa’s usually inscrutable face tugged into the ghost of a smile.

Lining up behind Raghav, the two technicians followed him into the cramped, narrow confines of the submersible and plonked themselves in the plastic seats positioned on either side of the pilot’s station.

Leaning over the glowing interface panel, Raghav tapped the comms button. When it responded with a greenish glow, he barked into the receiver. ‘‘Salleh, lower us now.’’

The deep rumble of the boat’s winch reverberated through the submersible. The fading rays of sunlight streaming through the canopy were swiftly replaced by the azure, crystalline blue of the ocean when they were lowered into the gentle surf.

Raghav flicked a prominent red dial that occupied the center of the panel, and the submersible’s engines came to life with a soft purr, launching the craft toward the seabed.

As the submersible continued with its slow downward spiral, the bright tones of the sea faded, swallowed by the encroaching gloom of the depths. The seabed rose below them. Towering rock formations soared like spires to fill Raghav’s vision, their vents belching black smoke. Vast shoals of glowing fish and squid swam amidst these formations, oblivious to the arrival of the intruders.

Bingo. Raghav’s pulse stirred. Just like the seismic surveys had indicated. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Mustapha crouched over a glowing monitor, the technician’s brow narrowed in concentration. Shifting around, Raghav called out to him. ‘‘This is it?’’

Yep.’’ Mustafa nodded. ‘‘This is it. Ready to start blasting, boss?’’

‘‘You bet.’’ Turning to the left, Raghav cocked his head at Alif. ‘‘Fire away. I know this is the part you love best.’’

‘‘Damn right I do.’’ Alif’s face lifted in a broad grin, and he thumped away at an enormous red button.

Raghav’s seat shook, a tremor rattling his bones. Gripping the arms of his seat, he turned his attention back to the porthole, his gaze following the trajectory of the silver torpedo as it slashed through the gloom of the ocean in a blazing arc of light and plowed into the closest rock spire.

It exploded in a shower of flying scree, some of the rocky debris bouncing off the canopy. Raghav’s stomach fluttered, but he took a deep breath, and his heartbeat slowed back into a regular rhythm. Thank goodness for the reinforced fiberglass. The sleek forms of fish and squid hurtled past the canopy, fleeing from the crater where the rock formation had once stood.

Raghav bit his lip, his belly tightening. It was a shame the mining would destroy these creatures along with their home, but it’d be worth the price once Saiful and his fellow villagers got their first payout. People before fish, as he’d said to the obnoxious activist.

‘‘Boss?’’ Mustapha’s tense voice broke the silence. ‘‘Something’s shown up on the radar. Something bigger than our boat. And it’s headed right at us.’’

‘‘What is it?’’ Raghav met the puzzled gaze of his subordinate. His temples throbbed. ‘‘No way they’d have let us start mining if there were whales here.’’

The submersible careened to the side in a sudden lurch, flinging Raghav out of his seat. Mustafa landed on him, and a bruising agony washed through his ribs. Cursing, Raghav shoved his subordinate aside and staggered to his feet, a ragged gasp bursting out of his wheezing lungs. What the hell just happened?

Moaning, he hauled himself up and staggered toward the canopy. Raghav’s gaze rocketed toward the massive red orb that glared at him from behind the canopy, and his heart froze. The realization struck him like a sledgehammer, and his legs wobbled under him. He was looking at the eye of some immense beast. A memory from childhood flashed through his head, the monstrous image of a kraken attacking a ship from an illustrated book of Greek myths he’d found at a library. Raghav’s body trembled, his throat constricting and pressing down on his windpipe. He had to be hallucinating. Maybe he’d hit his head hard.

Another tremendous shudder ripped through the submersible, followed by the screech of metal being ripped apart. Icy black water rushed inside and enveloped Raghav, ripping him away from the wreckage of the doomed craft. The thundering of his pulse in his eardrums faded, replaced by silence. Raghav sank toward the seabed. Suffocating darkness clouded his vision, dragging him into oblivion as his muscles became limp. At least he’d die fast.

The flesh on his back burned, jolting him back into consciousness. Raghav’s mouth snapped open in a silent scream, his eyes darting toward the massive tentacle wrapped around him. How was he still alive!

Raghav’s heart thumped against his chest, the blood in his veins transforming into ice. The monster’s visage eclipsed his vision, its eyes glowing with a blazing malevolence as they latched onto his own. Its massive beak hinged open, and a yawning dark chasm descended on Raghav. A slender tentacle slithered out of the beast’s maw, its tip ending in a vicious-looking barb glistening a venomous green. It hurtled toward Raghav, striking him in the face.

Fire rocketed through his head, scorching his neurons. Raghav’s spine snapped back against the powerful appendage coiled around him. Let me die!

No.

The deep sonorous voice boomed through Raghav’s skull, echoing deep inside his eardrums.

Raghav’s head stopped quaking, a chill numbness seeping into it and snuffing out the flames cooking his brain.

I am the guardian of the depths. You wanted to kill the sea. Now you will help me protect it.

Raghav’s belly clenched, gooseflesh erupting across his limbs. The frigid tingling expanded across his body, permeating every nerve. A wet slush rasped inside his temples, the sound of his guts melting and rearranging themselves. His body shivered, the bones holding him together seeming to retract into his flesh, a throbbing sensation racing through his legs. What’s happening to me! Raising his arm, he scanned it, and his heart jolted into his mouth. Where there had previously been human skin, he now beheld the rubbery grey flesh of a squid or octopus. And his fingers had been replaced by a tentacle ringed with suckers.

His head rang again with the monster’s unspoken words, its presence rumbling deep within his core.

In serving me, you will find a joy that eluded you previously. As a human, you were driven by restless, destructive urges. But now I will use your energy and willpower to protect the sea and the beings that live in it. You will be the guardian of my domain and safeguard it from the humans who seek to ravage it.

Raghav’s body quivered, every nerve in him pulsating, awash with the awareness of the vibrant myriad lifeforms that teemed in the water surrounding him. From the tiniest shrimp to the largest shark, the vibrations left behind by these creatures as they swam rippled through his tentacles.

Serenity blossomed inside Raghav, a radiant lightness billowing into him and dispelling every lingering trace of fear. Yes, he would do his part to serve the master of the depths and, in doing so, would merge into this great, immense matrix of life that sustained the sea, finding his rightful place in it. As you wish, master.