The Dragunov Rifle, Pt. One

It started on a cool day in Valencia Bay. Bay High had just been let out, and kids were coming and going. This story centers on a small group, not unlike any other gang of teenagers.1

It was a motley crew, the de facto leader being the tall, muscular Johnny Ramos. He was an all-around cool guy, and played shortstop for the school baseball team, the Pirates. There was also his girlfriend, Natalie Sparks. She was the school's best guitar player and, on alternate Thursdays, the lead player of a local garage band named Dragonfire. There was Jim Sanderson, a.k.a. Specs. He was a short, skinny kid with an IQ higher than most of the teachers. And to round out this crew was William Tucker. He was a military brat, his dad and mom being Marines stationed at the base nearby. He was quiet, not saying much. And what he did say was so loaded with Gyrene slang that very few could translate it into plain English.2

As it was, the crew was heading toward town in Johnny's car, an old VW Bug that had by all means seen better days. They'd just fallen into their normal inane conversation when a strange sight drew Specs's attention. There was a boat anchored just offshore, near an old deserted island in the bay. It was off Bad Point, renowned for its dangerous currents and unpredictable tides. Anyone anchored out there was nuts. And Jim pointed that fact out.3

"Who'd be crazy enough to anchor out in Bad Point?"4

Johnny answered after a good look at the boat. "Sparky, could you hand me the field glasses under the seat?" When Natalie handed him the binoculars he peered out at the vessel, and proclaimed, "What in the world is Nate Crawford doing out there? That's his trawler."5

Specs spoke up, saying, "This is weird. Nate's not crazy enough to anchor in Bad Point, and why would he be out anyway? It's not fishing season, and the tourists have long gone. I say we keep watching. See what's up."6

Will spoke up and said, "I agree."7

After a few minutes, Johnny saw a man emerge from behind a rock on the island. A man who wasn't Nate Crawford. "Hey, Specs. You live next door to Nate; does he ever rent out his boat?"8

"You mean, like somebody pays him and he gives them the keys for a while? No. He's more posessive of that boat than anybody I know."9

"Well, whoever's out in Bad Point is not Nate. Hang on, he looks like he's taking crates out of the hold and moving them onto shore."10

Their curiosity was piqued, and in a unanimous decision, they decided to go in that night and check out what was going on. Little did they know what was in store for them...11