Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 Chet stood on the sagging porch of the Captain's house. He'd barely knocked when the front door swung open. The Captain stood there with a scowl on his crumpled-up face. He looked at Chet like he'd never seen him before. "Yes?" he said. "What is this about?" Chet's heart sank.

He thought of what Uncle Jerry had said, that the Captain's mind was like Swiss cheese, full of holes and gaps in his memory. "What is it?" the Captain said. "Are you selling something? I don't have all day." "Sorry, sir," Chet said. "I didn't mean to bother you." He almost turned around and walked away. But he forced himself to stay put. He stepped forward, close to the Captain, and peered right into his eyes. "Captain," he said in a loud voice. "I saw a shark. In the creek. It crashed into me." Chet lifted his shirt to show the angry-looking scrape. The Captain stared at Chet's chest. Then he looked into the distance. Did he even know where he was? "I know it sounds impossible, sir. It doesn't make any sense at all."

该页暂无翻译

The Captain looked back at Chet. "Sure it does," he said. Chet's eyes widened in surprise. "The creek empties out into the Raritan Bay, which leads right to the Atlantic. Pirates used to come to these parts. Buried their treasure all around here." The Captain's eyes kept getting brighter. "If the tides are high, and the currents are strong, a shark could get swept right up into the creek." Of course it could. "I saw it, Captain," Chet said, more confident now. "It was huge. And its eyes, just like you said…" "Killer eyes," the Captain muttered. Chet nodded. "Why are you standing here, son?" the Captain scolded. "We need to warn people! I'm getting my boat. You get down to that swimming hole. You tell people what you saw." "What if they won't believe me?" Chet asked. The Captain put a hand on Chet's shoulder. His grip was very strong. "Go!" he said.