“More bats. Great.” Suddenly feeling isolated and defenseless, I scanned the wet sand for a weapon—while a mile away a wave I estimated at well over two hundred and fifty feet pounded the shallows into foam, the shattering sea chasing the flying mammals to higher altitudes.

The waves are getting bigger …

The tide surged inland, quickly flooding the shrinking expanse. Instinctively, I backed away as the water reached my knees, the flow continuing another fifty feet before retreating, the powerful undertow nearly dragging me with it.

Once more, the returning surf summoned the lizards, the circling scavengers descending to claim a place at the feast. And then I spotted it—washed up on shore half a football field ahead in the draining sand.

The raft! Looks like it’s in bad shape, but there are flares onboard. Might need them to start a fire. Go for it, before the kite runners grab it!

I ran toward the steadily diminishing shoreline, leaping over a dog-size jellyfish, my feet sinking calf-deep in the abrasive wet sand. The twinkling reflections of sunlight were nearly blinding, blurring my vision. By the time I reached the partially inflated raft my feet were bleeding again, not from the lacerations suffered at sea but from hundreds of annoying tiny cuts.

Scooping up a handful of sand, I examined the grains closer, surprised to discover glass shards mixed in with the kernels. How…?

The clap of wave striking shoreline startled me, as it was much louder than the others. Looking up, I was shocked to see a four-story tidal surge racing inland less than half a mile away.

Grabbing the life raft, I ran.

Sinking, stumbling off balance, I made it back to my starting point when a wall of froth barreled into me from behind. Shoved underwater, I managed to roll onto the buoyant vinyl sheath, which carried me ahead another thirty yards before I was sideswiped by another section of wave, this one curling back toward the ocean.

I rolled off the partially inflated raft and stood chest-deep in water, fighting the powerful riptide. Somehow I managed to maintain a grip on the twisting remains of deflated vinyl, only to find myself engaged in a losing game of tug-of-war, the receding sea dragging me face-first through the water.

“Vanilla … sway!” I choked up a mouthful of sea, my mind screaming at me to let go as the river tugged on the raft as if it was a parasail.

Finally I did let go, only the riptide refused to let go of me, dragging me until the depth lessened enough to allow me to stand. Knee-deep and unable to catch my breath, I bent over and gasped for air—as a terrifying rumble rose behind me—my shadow suddenly blotted out by another.