The Lagniappe

The Lagniappe

Jean tried to make out the words that were coming over the static filled radio. Something's terribly wrong.

"Adventure, this is Challenger. Say again."

She quickly glanced at the depth meter. Two thousand feet – almost half a mile! The bathysphere "Challenger" was conducting a survey near the Galapagos rift. There had been a disease outbreak among several fish species and they were looking at the possibility that newly discovered vents were the cause.

She did a quick mental calculation – it would take more than 4 hours to decompress and reach the surface. How much time do I have? Her question was answered by the sudden upheaval of the floor.

Boom! A sudden thunderous sound reverberated through the hull and Jean felt a second lurch as the bathysphere began to descend, free from its anchoring cable.

The momentary silence was broken as the thick plastic and quartz viewports began to fracture. This is it, she thought, the pressure increasing and her vision narrowing until all was black.

Jean blinked, light flooding her vision. She pushed herself up, coughing, as water sloshed around her.

Peering out, she could dimly see shapes surrounding her. Sharks? At this depth? She became aware that the pressure was easing somehow. She leaned closer to the viewport and then fell back. Her last thought – more an impression – was of a greenish hand with webbed fingers gripping the metal port frame.

"I think she's coming around."

Jean started at the voice before a hand firmly pushed her back down. She became aware she was in a bed in the Adventure's infirmary.

"How ...?"

"We're not sure. When the anchoring cable snapped, we thought you were lost. Somehow, it became entangled in the sea-anchors. It's a miracle."

Jean started to object but then thought better of it. She lay in the warm sunshine and mentally sent a "thank you" to Poseidon.


Notes:
An entry for the 3/15/10 round of "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  [13+]
Prompt: Write a story that includes the words: thunder, plastic, disease

Word Limit: 300
Word Count: 300

lagniappe [lan-yap] ~ an unexpected or indirect benefit.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please, as long as you're here, leave a comment. Criticisms, thoughts, reactions, yes – even words of encouragement or praise – are all equally welcome

Ken