"There are no secrets that time does not reveal."

- Jean Racine

Lightning cracked into branches, streaking across the vast darkness, illuminating below an endless, churning ocean. Amid the restlessness, lit like a tiny flame in the darkest pit, was a fishing boat. When all other boats had gone back to shore, this one had remained.

Several fishermen were readying the deck to pull in whatever their net had caught. There was tension aboard so thick it could be felt in the air, mixing with the charge the atmosphere was already stirring from the oncoming front. But the determination of why they were out here in the first place kept them going.

“Alright, reel it in!” One of the fishermen called finally. There was a loud noise and a thick rope that had punctured into the water began to pull its way back.

Each of the fishermen aboard had made their way to the edge of the ship, their eyes glued to the dark ocean depths as they swayed with the boat over each rolling wave that passed beneath them. No one spoke. No one breathed. No one blinked. Every last one of them with the same thought on mind: was this finally it? Was all their waiting finally going to pay off?

The connection of the rope to the giant net it clung to broke the surface. At first, nothing but net, but then a splash turned every head in the direction it came from. A flash of lightning reflected off something large that sank back into darkness. The dying sunlight caused some difficulty to know for sure, but it was hard to deny the size.

“Looks like we caught what we came for!” Someone finally shouts, answering all the silent questions. 

They all began hooting and shouting in triumphant as one quickly ran and grabbed his fishing gaff. When he returned he waited, a flicker of elation twinkled in his eye as anticipation set in. The moment he caught sight of the fish again, he threw his arm toward it, the hook of the gaff piercing deep into the fish’s skin.

A couple others grab hold of him as the fish began to fight against it, spewing water onto the fishermen who were observing off to the side. Wild pleasure now appeared in each pair of eyes. What they had caught was indeed what they were expecting. The game was on now as they struggled to pull it out of the water and into the large vessel.

“Get the tranq gun!” The one who hooked the creature yelled through gritted teeth. A fisherman in the back disappeared and no sooner reappeared with what was requested.

He made his way to the edge of the boat as he loaded the gun then aimed and without hesitation, shot at the fish. After a lingering minute, the fish finally quieted down until it had gone completely still. 

Everyone was motionless once more. The same anticipated look was painted on every tired, worn out face. But no one made the first move on pulling it in. The once thrilled and celebrated aura had suddenly shifted to what if’s. What if it was not what they had risked their lives for? What if it wasn’t actually asleep? What if it was waiting below the depths, watching...waiting?

"Well,” one of them finally said over the rain that had now begun to pour as the front entered their space. “What are we waiting for?”

His words seemed to awaken everyone from their thoughts as they began to slowly help each other pull it in.