THE MURDER

     The sky looked dark and savage. Huge white capped waves lapped viciously at the jagged rocks that jutted out of the raging water as if trying to escape its strangling grasp. In the distance a sailing yacht could be seen tossing and twisting, occasionally engulfed entirely by a huge black wave only to appear.

     Suddenly cutting through the roar of the sea a piercing crack was heard. The main mast of the yacht was splitting. It fell, crashing through the rear portion of the hull and deck as if they were made of toothpicks, then plunged into the sea. Again and again gigantic waves tossed the crippled boat, finally throwing it into the rocks. There was a hysterical scream of a woman, a cry of murderous pain from a man and a gurgle as the cruel sea engulfed the smashed yacht.

     All that remained was the roar of the sea and the whistle of the wind through ancient caves in a distant cliff. A torrent of rain, as cold as death, pounded the rocks, washing the last splinters of the yacht and a piece of sailcloth into the monster's mouth.

           BY...
               Donna Shaw
                   '61