The room went silent for a moment, before the scoffing began. One man leaned back and snorted. “Scheduled? You think the sea keeps a watch in its pocket?” Another laughed. “He’s writing bedtime stories in a book now. Careful, Erik, the monster might read it and come knock.”
Even Marta shook her head. “You think you can tame fear with scribbles? It doesn’t matter how you dress it up. The sea takes who it wants, when it wants.” But Erik didn’t falter. He tapped the notebook with a calloused finger. “If it comes like this every time, then tonight you’ll see it for yourselves.