Thor

by Michael Jefferson

Brighton “Brighty” Johnson leans over the side of the trawler General Johnson, gazing at a group of bottlenose dolphins.

Levon “Lee” Johnson Lee pushes his mane of sandy hair out of his eyes, keeping one eye on his catch and the other on his son. Thirty-nine-year-old Lee cherishes his son and worries about Brighton’s learning disabilities and his naïve nature.

One of the dolphins back floats near the boat, squawking and whistling at Brighton. Giggling, Brighton mimics the noises made by the dolphin.

“You’d think they were tryin’ to communicate,” Lee says to his first mate, Exeter Spears.

Exeter rubs his jet-black beard. spitting a stream of tobacco juice overboard. “Maybe they are.”

Lee and Exeter check the cages and vats filled with sailfish, swordfish, and tuna.

Rugged looking with windblown, creased features, and a burly, booze-fed build, the forty-four-year-old first mate says, “Best catch of the year. I told you if we went out further than usual we’d catch us some big fish.”

Lee’s blue eyes sparkle at the size of their catch. “That’s why I pay you the big bucks.”

“And you were worried about Brighty. I’ve been on these waters since I was a little younger than him. I can tell your boy’s got the touch.”

Pointing past the pod of playing dolphins, Lee says, “It wasn’t just Brighty I was worried about.”

Exeter spots a large fin darting back and forth near the dolphins.

A shark rises out of the water, snapping at a flying fish.

Brighton yells, “Hey dad! You see that?”

The dolphin squawks loudly. Diving underwater, it disappears.

“What kinda fish was that?” Brighton asks.

“A hammerhead shark.”

“I seen hundreds of sharks before. Never one that looks like that,” Brighton says enthusiastically. “A hammerhead. I get it. It’s ‘cause its head looks like a hammer. Like Thor’s hammer. Hey, that’s what I’ll call it.”

“That’s fine, son. How about you start up the boat so we can get home?” Lee asks.

Lee’s boyish features become tainted with worry. “I told you I didn’t want to come out this far.”

“Easy, Lee. It’s not like he’s gonna follow us.”

Brighton starts the boat, which slowly works its way up to 11 knots. Lee looks for the shark but only sees the dolphins dancing alongside.

“Brighty, stop zig-zaggin’! You’ll hit one of those dolphins!”

“Aw, let him have his fun, Lee,” Exeter says.

“You know he is, Ex. He starts havin’ too much fun and gets careless.”

“Yeah, kinda takes after his daddy.”

Lee chuckles uneasily, watching the dolphins jump and dive through the waves.

“Whatcha gonna do with your cut, Ex?”

“Somethin’ nice for Paula. That busted up pick up of hers is held together with coat hangers and tape. I’m thinkin’ of makin’ a down payment on a real catering truck with ‘Spears’ Finger Lickin’ Kitchen’ stenciled on the side. You?”

“Classes for Brighty. There’s a school in Ethos that has classes for kids with dyslexia. Hey Brighty! Stop zig-zaggin!”

Exeter spits a stream of juice over the side. “Calm down. We’re barely movin’. There was times in the past when you pushed the General twice as fast.”

“That was ten years ago. And is that a hint I should also invest some money in replacin’ the engine?”

Exeter flashes a crinkled smile. “I’m just a hired hand. I wouldn’t dream of tellin’ you what to do.”

“You’ve always been more than that, Ex. You still considerin’ my offer?”

“I told you Lee, I’m happy the way I am. I appreciate you wantin’ to be partners, but you know me, I like trawlin’ for fish, not numbers.”

The boat turns sharply starboard, shuddering violently. Lee and Exeter are thrown sideways, slamming into the traps and cages. The General Johnson’s engine cuts out and the boat slowly drifts to a halt.

Lee and Exeter struggle to their feet. Exasperated, Lee blurts out, “Damn fool kid.”

Brighton turns the key. The engine groans but refuses to turn over.

“Be easy on him, Lee.”

Brighton continues to try and crank the engine.

“Stop! You’ll flood the engine!” Lee scolds.

“Might be a bit late for that,” Exeter mutters.

Lee hurries to the cabin. Brighton stares down dejectedly at his grimy sneakers. “Sorry, Dad. Maybe I hit one of the dolphins. I didn’t mean to. They’re my friends.”

Exeter looks over the side of the boat. “I think we hit a whale. It’s jammed up against the side of the boat. Might be wrapped around one of the screws.”

“Can we get it off?” Lee asks.

“Maybe. But she’s big. Maybe ten feet.”

Lee and Brighton head to the stern. Lee grabs several poles, handing them to Brighton and Exeter.

Exeter looks out across the water, pointing toward the dolphins. Jumping wildly and whistling, the dolphins dart off in all directions.

“Somethin’s got them spooked,” Lee notes.

Exeter points at a rippling wave. “And it’s headin’ for us.”

“It’s Thor!” Brighton says. “He followed us!”

Thor hones in on the dead whale. Slamming into it, he tears at the carcass.

The boat lurches sideways, sending the three men spinning to the deck.

Lee and Exeter regain their feet in time to see Thor slide back into the water, leaving a murky trail of blood in his wake.

“A few inches higher and he would have taken a chunk out of the boat,” Exeter says.

“He smells us,” Brighton interjects.

Lee shakes his head. “More likely it smells the two tons of fish we’re carryin’. Now’s not the time to be fanciful, Brighty.”

“I’m not. When Thor’s done with the whale he’s gonna come for us.”

“Did the dolphins tell you that or do you also speak shark?” Lee snaps.

Brighton’s head dips.

“Sorry, son. Dad’s just frustrated,” Lee says, heading back to the cabin.

Exeter follows, and the two men take turns alternately turning the ignition key and cursing their luck.

“I’m thinkin’ that whale not only hit the screws, it tore them off,” Exeter says.

Lee considers the possibility. He turns to look at his son, who is standing near the side of the boat, whistling and squeaking like a dolphin.

“He’s at it again. Brighty! Don’t stand too close to the side!”

“I’m tryin’ to call the dolphins. I’m tryin’ to get them to help us.”

“We’ll take care of that, Brighty. You just step back, okay?”

Lee reaches for the mic next to the radio. “Mayday... mayday…mayday. This is the General Johnson. Dot, can you hear us?”

A syrupy voice drawls back, “No need to shout, hon. I read you loud and clear. You two blow another piston?”

“Worse, Dot. We hit a whale about fifteen miles north of Anna Island. It’s snagged against the side of the boat, and we’ve got a hungry hammerhead tryin’ to get at it.”

Dot’s smooth voice is reassuring. “No worries, hon. We’ll have a cutter out to tow ya’ll in within half an hour.”

“I owe you dinner, Dotty.”

“And I aim to collect, hon.”

Relieved, Lee exhales.

Exeter attacks his chaw of tobacco. Leaning out of the cabin, he spits out a stream of tobacco juice.

“Might be easier fightin’ off Thor than Dot, Lee. She knows you’re a widower.”

Smirking, Lee turns, looking aft. Brighton is bent over so close to the water that he’s practically overboard.

“Brighty! Pull your head in!”

Panicking, Lee rushes to his son’s side.

Grabbing Brighton by the shoulders, Lee pulls him upward. “What’s the matter with you?”

Lee’s shriek draws Exeter’s attention away from the radio.

Screaming in agony, Lee holds up Brighton’s headless body.

“Christ! Let him go, Lee!” Exeter yells. “Let him go!”

His eyes wide with shock, Lee releases Brighton’s body. It tumbles overboard.

Thor rises from the water. Grabbing Brighton’s headless corpse, Thor drags it underwater.

Exeter quickly moves to Lee’s side, keeping him from collapsing.

“Come away, Lee.”

“…My boy…”

“I’m sorry, Lee, but now’s not the time to grieve. I want Paula to have her truck and Dot’s got plans for you.”

Exeter searches for the poles, handing one to Lee.

“We’ve gotta push that blubber off the side of the boat, and we’ve gotta do it quick.”

Lee looks out at the open sea. Thor zig zags toward the General Johnson.

Jamming the poles between the whale and the boat, the two men free a large chunk of the carcass. It floats away from the boat toward the charging shark.

“That should keep him satisfied for a while,” Exeter says.

Lee looks at their massive catch. “We may need to bide more time.”

“Uh-uh.” Exeter replies. “I’ll go hand to fin with that monster before I disappoint Paula.”

“All right, only as a last resort, “Lee says. “I’m gonna check below.”

Lee opens the hatch, heading below deck. Exeter nearly swallows his tobacco juice as he watches Thor ravage the carcass.

Lee comes quickly returns. “The engine ripped from its moorings and we’re takin’ on water.”

“We’re sinkin’?”

“Yep.”

“Dot won’t let us down.” Exeter replies.

The General Johnson shudders, lurching sideways as Thor slams against the side of the boat. The lifeboat spins free crashing next to the boat.

Thor turns the lifeboat into splinters.

“Brighty was right. Thor wants us.”

The two men look at the vats and cages of fish.

“Let’s feed him the cheap stuff first, okay?” Exeter pleads.

They drag another vat to the side of the boat, pushing it overboard. Thor attacks it, turning the water around them turning bright red.

Lee and Exeter push more vats overboard.

“Must be part pig. The small stuff’s not enough,” Exeter notes.

“Then it’s time for the main course.”

The two men throw one of the cages overboard, pushing it away from the boat with the poles.

Thor bangs against it.

“He opened it up like it was pickin’ a lock,” Exeter says.

They push another cage overboard. They watch it slowly sink, unmolested.

“Maybe he’s finally full.”

Thor unleashes a brutal strike against the boat’s hull, sending the two men reeling.

The vessel’s stern dips as water washes across the deck.

Thor looms out of the water. His razor-sharp teeth turns the side of the boat into kindling as he strikes at it.

Lee and Exeter scramble across the slippery deck. Lee climbs the mast. He spots a Coast Guard cutter in the distance.

“C’mon, Ex! The calvary’s here!”

Thor tears apart the side of the boat. Planks and shoot from its mouth as he lurches across the deck, moving toward Exeter.

Exeter spits a stream of tobacco juice at Thor, hitting one of his eyes. Temporary blinded, Thor thrashes about the deck, snapping his massive jaws in anger.

The sound of a helicopter fluttering overhead disrupts the unnerving noise of Thor’s tail destroying the boat.

A rope is lowered to Lee, who desperately grabs at it and is pulled to safety.

“C’mon Ex!” Lee exalts as Exeter runs toward the mast.

The General Johnson continues to sink stern first. The bow rises out of the water and Exeter is thrown backward, sliding toward Thor’s open jaws.

The rope dangles from the helicopter. “Grab the rope, Ex!”

The General Johnson is nearly vertical and begins to slip under the waves.

Thor closes in on Exeter.

Exeter hears the high-pitched squeal of a dolphin. He turns to see six dolphins throwing themselves against Thor.

Thor makes one last attempt to get at Exeter, snapping its jaws at him before the attacking dolphins drive him underwater.

Exeter grabs for the rope and is pulled up into the helicopter as the General Johnson sinks.

Seated next to one another in the helicopter watching the dolphins batter Thor, Lee says, “Thanks, Brighton.”