Beginnings 068 – Revenge of the Snakefish

Paul Xanthus looked at the crumpled, lightly steaming wreckage of his scoutship and frowned. “Born for trouble,” he declared. “The only habitable planet in a cluster full of rocks, and I manage to crash. At least I chose a nice spot for it.”
The yellow sun sent reflections twinkling off rippled water as he turned to survey the nearby lake. The water was clear, blue, and cool-looking. Little waves lapped on the pebbled shore, signs that something big and loud had recently passed close overhea...