Page 57 of Jameson

Marc looked at me. “See what I have to put up with.” He raised his voice. “Don’t let me get eaten, sparrow.”

“We’ll see.” There was a pause from the cockpit. “Be careful.”

With a wave, Marc leaped out the open side door of the quadcopter.

I gasped. He had no fear.

Jameson stood at the edge of the door, gripping the doorframe. I moved up beside him, resting the crossbow on the seat nearby.

I looked out the door.

The dark-blue water looked like glass below. Marc dangled several meters below us and several meters above the water.

“Come on, Nessie,” Marc yelled, loud enough that we could just hear him. “This harness chafes.”

I shook my head. His carefree attitude helped calm my nerves. But mostly, it was Jameson’s steady presence beside me.

“We have contact.”

I jolted at Sasha’s steady voice in my ear.

Everybody turned serious. I felt like electricity skated through the cabin of the Talon.

“Ten o’clock,” Colbie called back.

Jameson swiveled and I followed his gaze.

I saw it. The churning ripple in the water, heading our way. My mouth went dry.

“Marc, here it comes,” Jameson said.

“I see her.”

“It might be male,” Colbie said.

“Nah, it’s definitely a she,” Marc said.

I was vaguely aware of Kai, Zeke, and North on the other side of the Talon, their carbines at the ready. I grabbed the crossbow and checked the electro weapon. It was ready. I lay on the floor of the Talon, my head and shoulders poking out of the open door. Jameson crouched beside me, looking ready to grab me if needed.

Below, the monster lunged out of the water, tentacles waving. I gasped, my heart lodging in my throat. Marc swung on his line and fired down at it. The monster screeched. Its mouth was just visible above the surface.

“I need it out of the water more,” I said, aiming the crossbow.

“Take him lower,” Jameson ordered.

Marc’s line lengthened. A tentacle swung at him, and he spun away, dodging it. Then, the creature breached the surface, reaching for our bait, its mouth open wide.

I took aim, breathed steadily.

I fired.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jameson

Iwatched the electro device shoot through the air…

Straight into the monster’s gaping mouth.

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