The one that got away (standard:fantasy, 3112 words)
Author: Santu	Added: Nov 23 2001	Views/Reads: 3106/2202	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
gone fishing lately. hope you enjoy this little fish story. please do me the honor of sending some feedback to improve my writing. thanks. enjoy

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story


“Haven’t had my bloody coffees yet. So lay off” said I rather irritably.


“Not a morning person are we?” Said he with a twinkle in his eye. 

“Yea? What gave it away?” I said sarcastically. 

“Whoa there kimosabi. I am just having a bit of fun at your expense”
said the old man 

“Man you have being a a-hole down to a art don’t you?” I asked and
turned to leave. 

The old man never lost his smile and said, “ I come in peace”, in an odd
sort voice that I couldn’t help but loose my grumpiness and crack up 
laughing. He extended his arm and said “ name’s John Henry the third” 
“Anthony. Parents couldn’t come up with something new?” said I “Too 
shay. So, where are you camping?” asked John. “ Among those trees.” 
Pointing to a clump of ponderosa’s. “Want to join me for a cup of 
coffee?” “Why not?  Perhaps some caffeine would do me good.” For the 
first time I noticed the man’s eyes. They were differently colored. One 
was brown that was rather common. But his left eye was a clear ice 
blue. The overall effect was rather starling. And I guess he noticed me 
looking ernestly at his face that I guess he felt a bit odd. “Coffee? 
Or are you going to go to sleep standing?” asked John “Coffee? Ah yes 
coffee! Sorry for staring like that. Its just you have a rather unique 
set of eyes. Plus you will be bouncing off the walls after the coffee” 
said I. 

“I know. The blue one was a gift. The brown’s my own” 

I looked startled at him and began to question his sanity. Furthermore,
I started to regret having invited him to my camp. 

“Don’t worry. You will understand what I mean. Oh don’t look so
horrified I am not crazy” 

“Are you sure?” asked I rather doubtfully. 

“Now if I was crazy, do you seriously expect an yes?” He asked laughing.
“ 

We reached my camp and I made some coffee and sat down began talking
about the valley, hunting and the fishing. And I began to question him 
about fly-fishing. He answered them patiently and with enthusiasm. I 
confirmed that he was a veteran fly fisherman and that he was no 
crazier that any other fisherman I have met. Then he asked how long 
since I went fishing. It rather startled me and I said about ten years. 


“Feel like you are missing something?” asked John. 

“Yes.” Said I a bit bewildered 

“Anyone who had gone fishing and enjoyed it can never just give it up.
Even though you never caught a fish in your life. Fishing hooks the 
fisherman more than the fish. And you can never unhook yourself. There 
is something mysterious in fishing that when you through that line in 
to the water it bind you to it. When you are gone too long from the 
water it calls to you by making you feel as if you are missing 
something. No one knows what this thirst is. But know this my friend it 
can only be satisfied by coming back to the waters” 

When John said this it seems like he was looking right through me toward
the little stream. A momentary longing and glaze filled his eyes and 
the smile wavered. But as quickly as it appeared it disappeared. And 
for the first time I noticed that the empty feeling I had gone and in 
place was a euphoric sense. Further, I realized that every word that he 
said made sense. “You are looking for the pool aren’t you?” I asked 
suddenly “ that’s why you are here. You are trying to bag big one 
aren’t you?” 

He looked startled and looked at me as if noticing me for the first
time. 

“I am not looking for it. I know where it is.” He said as if I asked
where the sky was. 

“So its true. The legend I mean. A pool where it is filled with so much
fish that would can reach in and grab them. And not to mention big 
rusty” I said in all one breath. 

His smile got brighter. “ I don’t know about reaching in a grabbing. Who
is big rusty?” 

“The big trout that is said to be about four feet long. Some fishermen
by the Dam say that it tears away every hook that was lucky enough to 
catch it. They say it must have so many hooks rusting in the mouth 
hence the name “Big Rusty”” 

“Big Rusty... “ mused John smacking his mouth as if tasting something “
I like that. Yes I have seen him. Caught him once as well. I guess one 
of my hooks is rusting in “Rusty”” He began to laughing in a deep rich 
laugh that seem to fill the forest. 

“You have to take me to the “pool”. I’ll pay you. I just want to try my
hand at bagging “big rusty”. Or even to see this big trout. It’s a 
privilege of a life time,” said I 

“Aye. It’s a privilege all right. But why would you want to catch
something as majestic as “big rusty”? So you can stuff him up and 
display it to your friends as proof of how good a fisherman you are? 
Real fishermen don’t need proof to show off. They do it for the simple 
pleasure of it. Plus they know it right here” thumping his clenched 
fist on his heart. 

“I know how good I am. Between you and me not very. And as for mounting
him in my living room.. that will never happen. I respect fish too much 
to do something as degrading as that. Specially something as big as 
“Rusty”. No I just want to see if I can bring him in. You know test 
what I know. See if my hook would be the only one not to rust in its 
mouth.” 

“Ahh I know what you mean” John sat back against the big ponderosa and
looked thoughtfully at me as if looking into my soul itself. He looked 
as if unable to decide then suddenly got to his feet and said, “You 
want to see the “Pool”? Try you hand at “Rusty”? Done. I’ll take you 
there on two conditions. One that if you catch him you will release him 
unharmed. Two, you will never tell another soul about the “Pool” until 
the time is right to pass it on to another” 

“How will I know when the time is right?” 

“You just will know it. And when it’s right to one person and one person
only. Agreed?” asked John putting his hand out. 

I shook his hand with great enthusiasm unable to believe the opportunity
to witness one of the most popular legends in fishing: “Big Rusty and 
the Pool” 

The rest of morning hours of the day we spent following the stream
uphill. The trail looked like mouse trail that ended abruptly with the 
stream disappearing into a wall of a steep upward slope covered with 
ponderosa’s and other brush. I wondered about my companion again but 
decided to follow him along the edge to the other side. He started up a 
dry trail that was made by water when it rained. “Careful not to make 
any sudden moves. Plus whatever you see don’t be afraid it won’t hurt 
you.” 

It was the first time we talked since we left the campsite. Clutching my
rod I scrambled after him as he went up the slope with the grace and 
familiarity. My breath was taken away as I stood on the ridge and 
stared down at the scene that unfolded before me. Tree of various 
sizes, shapes and colors stood guard over a considerably sized pool of 
water. The pool was the darkest blue I have seen. And it made little 
waves as it slowly touched the banks that held her. The sun directly 
over the pool illuminated it a way that it created a light blue ring 
around the pool.  The color reminded me of something but could not 
remember what as I stared in childish awe. All of a sudden I could see 
a trout jump from the deep blue water at an insect that was hovering 
above it. It measured a good foot to foot and a half. I approached the 
pool carefully and could see shadows of various sizes and shapes 
gliding like monsters beneath the blue cloak. “Well? Aren’t you going 
to fish?” John’s voice broke into my wonderment. 

“I just want to take it all in” said I grinning like a school boy and
began to get things in order to cast my first cast in the “Pool” 

“I don’t see big rusty though,” I said. 

“He’ll come. Oh by the way a friend has to come to say hello,” said john
pointing to the other side of the bank. It was a gray wolf with blue 
eyes stretching lazily with deadly grace. 

“Don’t worry. Just enjoy yourself. He is there just to check up on us,”
As he cast his fly. It was like watching a master artist at work. The 
motion were in such harmonic motion as if the rod was just an extension 
of his arm. The fly flew back and forth like a whip playing a shadow 
over the water in such a close proximity that I could see the fish 
gathering beneath in anticipation. The fly landed a bit further than 
the middle of the pool and all of it was done effortlessly. My cast was 
well short of his but was immediately taken a trout I saw earlier. We 
supped on the couple of the fish a bit later. It was the best meal I 
ever had. I hurried back to the water as I saw haliose nearing the end 
of his ride across the sky. All of a sudden the fish that was seen 
swimming were no longer to be found. It was as if they were never 
there. Then I saw him. A dark shadow that eclipsed anything I have seen 
before gliding just beneath the surface with regal aloofness. It almost 
looked like the mythical serpents from deep the old sailor used to talk 
about.  I watched as it slow circled my fly with I cast almost to the 
middle of the lake this time. And it took the fly and quickly realizing 
it as a hook turned and swum away from me. I pulled to make sure the 
hook as really hooked and let some line and tried to pull it in. But it 
pulled with such strength that my boots let marks on the bank. It 
pulled me into the water that I almost went head first into it. Digging 
my heals in, I pulled with all my might as my muscles screamed for 
mercy. Despite the cold whether I was sweating like I ran a marathon 
and felt the grip give under my sweaty palms. All of a sudden it 
reversed course at felt it coming straight toward me that I felt as it 
I was doing a back flip on to the bank.  Even then I did not let my rod 
go free as I scrambled on to my feet. “Big Rusty” had slowed his 
approached and was almost still as if waiting for me to get back into 
place. Then he jumped high above the water to in show of power and 
beauty. The scales glittered like silver with specks of gold in between 
against the dying light of the day. A sight that was so magnificent 
that I almost let go of the rod to cover my eyes I shame for I knew I 
was not worthy to see much less catch such a creature. It ended as 
quickly as it started.  I felt the line snap back at me as I fell back 
on my behind clutching the rod and breathing heavily. John calmly 
walked over to me and patting me on the back sat down next to me. Then 
“Big Rusty” jumped again in a final show of farewell. Then I saw it. My 
favorite fly right next to the one I just used. It whipped its tail as 
if to say twice you hooked me and twice I have got away. I was utterly 
humbled. “I don’t think any man has the privilege of bringing him in. 
He is one of a kind, isn’t he?” I nodded trying to grasp the event that 
just played before me. “But you did get a chance. It is more than 
anyone can hope or dream of. Cheer up old boy there is more fish in the 
sea”, said John, “ a bit wet aren’t we?” the smile returning to his 
face. “You think?” I asked jovially. I never felt such satisfaction and 
euphoria after loosing a fish. 

“There may be more out there, but never one like him,” I added. “Nope
not like him. Never like him” agreed John with an edge of reverence in 
his voice. The dark shadow disappeared in the cool depths of the Pool. 
We sat in silence watching lazy curl of the little ripples that started 
to appear again as the pools tenants reappeared. 

John but a hand on my shoulder and said, “time to go”. I looked up at
and watched as the candle that is the sun slowly flicker out beneath 
the horizon. I got up and started fallowing John and saw that the stars 
have again come out to play again. 

-Finis- ô 


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