Page 53 of Feast

There was still a lot of space between Ika and the creature. A lot of frigid water. But that would never be enough to stop an abolith. They were known to be strong swimmers, and the thick layer of fat beneath their hide kept them warm even in the coldest water.

The abolith was perfectly suited to this environment.

Ika was not.

The patter of her heart was out of control. She felt lightheaded and giddy from the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Steady, Ika. Steady…

Without a signal, without even a twitch of the muscles to give Ika warning, the abolith leapt. Its furry, snow-encrusted mass drew an arc over the surface of the water. For a heart-stopping instant, Ika thought the beast would land right on top of her.

But the abolith came up short. Its weight hit the water with a slap, and it dipped beneath the surface.

Ika had no chance to be relieved.

The wave caused by the diving abolith rocked Ika’s makeshift raft. She lost her footing on the slippery ice and tumbled back into the water.

Cold.

Mind-numbing, bone-chilling cold that robbed the last vestiges of warmth from Ika’s body.

The fall disoriented her. For a panicked moment, she didn’t know up from down.

Then she felt the weight of the drenched fur cloak dragging her to the bottom. She flailed, trying to swim, but her limbs tangled in the oversized garment.

Take it off. Get free.

She pulled the fur cloak up and over her head, stripping herself to the skin in the dark, frigid depths.

Now she could swim unencumbered.

By some miracle, Ika had the presence of mind not to drop the spear. Or perhaps it was just cold and fear that kept her fist welded to the wooden shaft.

She was going to need it.

A surge of panic exploded through her body. That thing, the abolith, was somewhere in the dark water with her.

Fear worked in her favor this time. Another burst of adrenaline fueled her kicking legs. She sped upward and broke the surface with a gasp of chilly air that froze her lungs.

Get out of the water. Get to shore.

Ika swam, expecting with every stroke for the abolith’s claws and fangs to seize her and drag her under.

But somehow she reached the ice-encrusted shore alive.

Ika dragged herself up and out and rolled twice before struggling to her feet in the shin-deep snow, spear still clutched in her numb hands.

Her naked skin was pale and nearly blue with cold.

Ika felt nothing.

Her body was as cold and insensate as if it had been carved directly from the chunk of ice she had been riding.

She was going to die.

The only question was how: by cold or by fang?

There was a churning of water, and the abolith surfaced, climbing its dripping bulk onto the shore less than ten paces away. Its breath smoked in the chill air. Its four black-glass eyes blinked away the river water.