72 Taking advantage of the shark's stopping,
North went for his knife. He had just got it out, when the shark tried
a new tactic. it started rolling over and over, trying to shake off the
harpoons. North's line snapped taught again, jerking the knife from his
hand. He watched in horror as it hit the water's surface, and sank.
73 Now he had a NEW problem; each time the shark rolled, it pulled him
closer and closer to the water. Finally though, another Fisherman
arrived and managed to get in and cut North free. They flew back to the
flier, which immediately called the rest of the Fishermen in, hurried
back to the coast, and the nearest hospital.
74 North's injuries were not severe. He'd lost a little skin but
nothing that couldn't be fixed in a few days. He was soon back with his
friends and in a restaurant eating their catch. He offered the
Fisherman that had cut the line a reward, but he refused. "I may be in
the same position myself, someday," the man insisted.
75 "Well, at least," argued North, "let me pay for your supper and the
ruined day's fishing."
76 The man agreed to that. North didn't know one of the men on the
flier had had a camera and filmed everything that had happened. By the
time they got out to the street the pictures were being shown on every
news service! One Announcer was describing how the recent military hero
had almost ended up as a shark's lunch.
77 For the first time North saw pictures of the giant that had come out
of the water after him. "He meant business," North laughed, "that's for
sure!" The others didn't consider it so funny. Sweet Cloud phoned her
brother and told him she wouldn't be home. She and North would take some rooms on the coast and return in the morning.
78 "Good throw, sis!" her brother complimented, "I just saw the
pictures! You take care!"
79 "I will," assured Sweet Cloud.