David surfaced thirty feet from the capsized hull, his only thought, to prevent the monster from escaping. Looking back, he was excited to see the Nothosaur blocking the exit of the pen, while the crane on the construction pontoon lowered the first of the remaining six lengths of fencing into place.

Beautiful.

Satisfied, he turned, swimming back toward the capsized boat, never noticing the partially submerged fishing net closing on his right. Without warning, he was swept away, loops of heavy rope ensnaring his right arm and both ankles.

"Hey! What the fah—"

An intense force, like that of a grade four rapids, dragged David under. Frantic, he twisted and kicked and fought his way back to the surface, his limbs now hopelessly entangled.

The Nessie III's hull was too slick with slime and algae to allow Brandy and Michael Newman to climb out of the water. Instead, they huddled together by the slowly sinking vessel, their breath visible above the chilly waters.

"Ha… help!"

They looked around, trying to locate the source of what sounded like a gurgling scream. Newman pointed to their left as David surfaced and was dunked again.

"Ah, gees, he's caught in the net." Brandy felt along the back pockets of her jeans for her Swiss Army knife. "Stay here!"

Kicking away from the hull, she swam out, waiting for David to circle by again.

* * *

Michael Hoagland watched the action through binoculars from the starboard deck of the Nothosaur. "Victor, how much longer?"

The sonar tech's eyes were focused on the pontoon behind them. "The last panel's being readied now."

"As soon as it's lowered, get us over to that capsized boat!"

* * *

Brandy treaded water, her heart racing as the circling net approached. Anticipating its path, she avoided it, then grabbed for David as he rushed by.

He went under again and she leaped for him, brandishing her knife. David felt the disturbance and lunged blindly for her.

Brandy pushed him aside, fighting to keep herself from becoming caught in the entanglement of loops. Remaining spreadeagled atop the netting, she felt her way to David's left leg and began sawing at the thick, wet rope.

And then they stopped moving.

Freed of the current, David thrashed his way back to the surface, gagging in her ear. "Cut me loose!"

"Stop yer squirmin', I'm tryin'!" She continued attacking the rope, unaware that something immense was now rising slowly beneath them.

* * *

Calum steered his boat to the edge of the pontoon bridge. "I cannae get inside the bay!"

I saw the Nothosaur, and beyond it, the capsized Nessie III. I saw David thrashing in the water, caught inside a partially submerged fishing net, and I saw Brandy, trying to free him.

And in my mind's eye, I saw the monster, rising from the depths to take them, just as it had taken me seventeen years earlier.