turbulent water

The water was turbulent around the body, the remains of the whale were torn, ragged, showing white blubber and specs of red meat. Most of the Sharks were circulating at a safe distance , wary of being too close to the easy meal as the large tiger shark tore large chucks of foul rotting flesh, gulping them aggressively, it could sense the boats and human crews approaching , but didn’t react or change its behavior. The placid meal it didn’t recognize as a prophecy or gift, it just tore of pieces and swallowed them whole as fast it could, not paying any attention to its cousins or the foreign hunters as they prepared.

Boats,circling the sharks as the sharks circled the whale’s remains, dropped baited lines into the turbulent, cold blue water. It didn’t take long for the excited sharks to bite at the bait, hauling them in quick. The first one to slice a fin yelled ‘’ it is mine , it is done the tree will give.’’ Experienced slashers sliced of the fins , then tossed the still living creatures in the cold, blue water, adding to the turbulence with thin oily blood, spreading , creating a circle of excitement, causing the sharks to become aggressive and less cautious about how close they were to the whale carcass and two giant sharks feeding on the decaying behemoth.

More sharks were pulled into the boats, mutilated, then unceremoniously dumped back in to the living sea.

A small, careless shark, came too close to the feeding giant feasting on the whales tail, in a moment to quick to realize, it found its self trapped in the larger jaws of a frenzied feeder who bite through the small fish splitting it into 3 dead amputations, swallowing the center one, then it returned to the floating buffet of rotting whale with out hesitation.

The water was tossing as if it was a boiling pot atop a stove. Blood swam in all directions, seeping away as the life it came from sank and drowned in silent pain and fear. All creatures feel and experience fear, they can’t express it as the fisher men who slashed them, with out concern or conscience it’s just there. The death water swirled with mirth, bleeding out life, while giving out vantage.

The largest shark was beginning to feel its self full, it began swimming around the dead meal, reluctant to leave this delicious effortless meal. It soon noticed the sinking forms, shed blood fleeing the sides, arousing instincts that had just been satisfied. The primitive mind of the brute, had a knowing about the forms, sensing danger for it’s self, the flee response caused it to search frantically around , seeking escape.

Seeing the fishing lines sinking, around it, then watching one of its cousins going up to the surface , out of it’s world, then dropping back, apparent to be helpless, sinking to the dark depths below, the giant animal, felt an emotion, it’s mind was in turmoil, as if the turbulent water was inside of the beast. A rage was over taking it, it turned on it side and looked up at the forms the lines were coming from, not knowing its own movements it surged toward the form at full limit, its snout rammed the form, it rocked and moved away from it, the fish turned again and charged.

 The fisher men were in a wild frenzy, the fish were everywhere, the boats were filling up. Plain poor men, dressed for the hot sun, with wide brimmed hats, were sitting on planks, with fins around their feet, didn’t realize the first two bumps, but the third, caused them to stop and look at each other. They was a questioning look on their faces, then then the boat raised out, spilling them in the turbulent water. The men in the other two boats looked on , confused as to what had just happen. Suddenly, another one them raised out of the water and poured the men in to cold turbulent water. The last of men began to understand that the sea was taking back its bounty, and taking a sacrifice. They began to row away as the bow of the boat was struck, tilting it to the left, the man in front panicked and tried to get to the stern of the boat . this motion caused it to flip tumbling the four men into the bleeding cold turbulent water.

During the over turning of the boats and blood water drifting the blood away, more sharks were attracted to the anxious activity.

 The men in the water began to try to pull themselves on to the upturned boats, they kept sliding back in to the water, the blood having made the the only salvation they had, unattainable, gazing fearfully at approaching hunters stalking their fresh prey.

‘’ Old mother, you should not be doing that, let me’’, the young child anxiously spoke, looking down at the form, wrapped in rags. She was digging at he earth, at the base of the tree, whose limbs were attached ribbons of many color, fluttering in the breeze.

‘’ No, child, it’s all right, l have done this many years, it is my birth right .I want to , it reminds of when l was child, about your age, flowing the traditions of our home , keeping our past here.’’ she sat back on her feet, her knees bent together, as her dull orange cotton dress wrapped around her legs.

‘’ We need to keep our history alive. Remember who we were and be proud of the heritage we own. Soon they will be back and we can have a feast. The giving sea, keeping us alive and blessed, this tree, planted when time had no beginning, when the sea and sky were one, bounded in black breath. Giving no light or air, then our sacred mother gave birth to this tree and life began, our people come along, grew, learned how grow life, sail the sea to take, changed the earth to make our life better.’

She raised her hand to allow the child to help her stand. “ l will do my part, but my knees protest.” she laughed softly at her repeated joke, then saw the concern in the child's eyes as stood up finally.

‘’ Don’t worry child, this is part of growing to heaven, reaching for life. Planting the first gotten, will let the tree give.’’

 The old mother looked at the hole she had dug long as her hand to her elbow, wider than two hands narrowing to the tree.

 She took in the actions around her. pots had placed over fires, women and children were gather wood around the pots, one old woman, a close to her in age, was starting a fire below one of the pots.

The hills around the village were bare of trees, the soil had turned yellow, over use had drained all the life giving from it. She recalled how little distance they to travel for wood , now the men were gone for days, cutting down trees that were far away, and were of low quality, they didn’t have the heat of the trees of her youth. The winters were hard on her, there was never enough heat, not enough of anything any more, but she still kept up the traditions, reinforcing her rule always. She new they had failed the power, it was looking down, it was not smiling for her, the days were dark, the air had a sicking taste to it. They had lost their way, but with the harvest of the sea, the planting, they would please the power and life would be good again.

Her Grey frizzled hair was damp and matted her head. Her clothes were tattered, filthy, worn, better for rags than clothing a queen.

She knew they would regain their life, the wealth of success, was waiting to hold them aloft, the sea had always given when needed, and now was a needy time.

Two of women who held influence, rushed towards her

‘Old Mother, the men have not come back, there will not be time.’’the younger one said with anxiety in her voice.

‘’ Look Mother’’ said the other one.’’ the shadows are long from the tree, they almost touch the nest’’ she pointed to dark form on the sloping behind her, it was almost to a rock circle piled to resemble a birds nest,

The Old Mother looked to were the rock pile was and saw how far the day had come, it was nearly sunset, the days life will be gone soon, she looked out to the sea.

 The large shark was swimming away fro the whale carcass, the water, vibrated from the trashing and yells of the terrified. Small sharks were tearing bits of the decomposing whale, while the large shark were tasting the meat of the ones who made their make, sink in agony.

Old Mother looked to to the sea , she imagined there was a red impurity  bleeding through the turbulent water.