Illustrated by Lee Kuruganti © 2008
The Shark's Tooth
© by Oonah V Joslin
That shark couldn't have liked the taste of Thor Thoressand because it took just one bite and then took off like a torpedo across the bay, leaving a four inch tooth embedded in the calf muscle that was hanging by a thread as the big man staggered up the beach and collapsed face down before a circle of terrified witnesses. He recounted the story often and showed off both scar and tooth. “Guess that's why they call me The Dentist,” he'd finish.
The shark's tooth became a family talisman. Thor Thoressand the second, carried it always – even into war in Nam. That was the reason he said, he'd never been shot down even by the plane that was coming straight at him that time. He'd seen it explode in a ball of righteous flame and plummet like brimstone into the sea. It had been hit by a tiny meteorite – an act of God if ever there was one. The sharks in the waters below would undoubtedly have feasted well on char-grilled pilot.
Thor Thoressand the fifth knew every story. The Thoressand who would have been poisoned had not the tooth fallen into his glass. A waiter had insisted on bringing him a fresh drink, thus uncovering a plot on his life. The Thoressand who'd been awakened by a severe toothache and found the hotel room he was staying in alight and the shark's tooth hot as a coal in his hand. He dined out regularly on stories about the famous family heirloom. And by coincidence, that was precisely what he was doing on a friend's yacht when the shark's tooth saved his life too. The after dinner brandies and stories over, he made to produce the shark's tooth from its usual place in his breast pocket, wrapped in its black silk handkerchief. Only it wasn't there. He rushed from the table in a fume of panic and began to retrace his steps onto the deck and back to his cabin. Passing close to one of the life rafts, he saw the hanky lying on the deck. As he reached for it, he felt the boat lurch violently to one side. It overturned completely within seconds. Out on the bay in the life raft, he knew not how, Thor watched in awe, as Le Réquin, having struck a reef, disappeared with all hands beneath the sinking sun.
Thor Thoressand the tenth had never seen a shark; had never seen the ocean; had never even been to Earth, but he carried the tooth of the Great White with him always. Not that such superstitions were to be believed in 2120, but it added to the entertainment value of the family tales he told, on long trips, studying astronomical phenomena. It was an ‘in joke' amongst the crews.
Thoressand is Nova – but it's okay, he has the shark's tooth , they would say.
Bemused newcomers would wonder what that meant – but they soon found out.
Jonas was a new pilot so they put him with Thor to learn the ropes. “Got one!”
“Already! Bearing?”
“Can't get one but we can't miss it, it's huge.”
“Okay, what are we still doing here, pilot?”
Jonas didn't need telling twice.
“Slow to approach speed…carefully now…”
“Affirm. God, Thoressand, look at that. It's vast!”
“Yeah.” Newbies were easily impressed. “Can you reposition? I want to be looking down its throat.”
Jonas laughed, “They told me you were Nova.”
“Oh, is that what they say?” Thoressand took it as a compliment and grinned showing all his teeth. “Well, it helps to be nova if you want to go chasing black holes.”
“Thor – Thor, look at this.” All around the event horizon was row upon row of bright points; maybe three thousand of them. “What are they?”
“Damned if I know,” said Thor. “I never saw anything like that before. Can we get closer?”
“NOVA!” said Jonas but he took the craft in. “You know, Thoressand, I'd almost swear they're moving forward like on a conveyer… You said you wanted to look down its throat … Never heard of a black hole with teeth before… Something fishy goin' on here… You lost something Thoressand?”
Thor Thoressand the tenth was rummaging about in his clothing. “Damnation! I must have left it behind…”
“What?”
“Stop moving in Jonas! In God's name man – STOP.”
“We're not moving. We haven't budged. Left what behind? ”
“Get us out of here, Jonas, NOW.”
