Krakens Attack at Dawn
[Author's Note: This is another writing exercise from Jeff VanderMeer's Wonderbook . The exercise was to consider the same story from different points in time. After writing my notes and some ideas for temporal placement, I enjoyed all of the scenarios, so I wrote them into a single story.] The Night Before Aboard the HMS Water Skunk , First Mate Skipper found the words first, and he immediately sought out Captain Blythe to show him. The captain lifted his eyepatch so as to see the scrawled message as best as possible. His mouth moved as he read the words. “Krakens Attack at Dawn,” he said to Skipper when they were back in the captain’s quarters. “What do you suppose it means?” Akimobshanks meowed from his perch on the tabletop. “Indeed,” said Skipper. “It is an omen to be sure.” “Yes, yes,” said Blythe. “But who wrote it?” “Someone, I presume,” said Skipper. “Or else it might not have been written.” “You mean the message may have just appeared, as if by bedevilt...