—2-0, Erik said.
The third time Tobias managed to hit the ball a few times, but then Erik smashed the ball past him.
—3-0.
On the fourth and fifth serves Erik aced him, and then it was Tobias’s turn. Erik stood in the same place and returned his serves.
—0-6.
—0-7.
—0-8.
—0-9.
—0-10.
—10-0, Erik said. Before long he’d won the match. Then they changed sides, and the same performance was repeated. Once or twice Tobias tried to start a conversation.
When they were out in the daylight again, Tobias was dripping with sweat. Erik closed the door, and Tobias looked at him.
—It was here when I moved in, he said.
The hill was behind them now, and they continued past the fields. Erik pointed at a utility pole where he had seen an owl. He pointed at a large farm a good distance away.
—That’s my closest neighbor, he said.
They passed a cluster of tall trees, and then they came to a small lake. On the bank was a boat landing, but no boat.
They stood in silence and stared across the water.
—Lay down, Erik said.
Surprised, Tobias looked at him.
—You’ve got to see between the second and third boards.
Tobias glanced from the boat landing to Erik.
—Go ahead, Erik said.
Reluctantly, Tobias lay down on the cold landing. The green boards were slightly damp. He positioned himself so he could see between the second and third boards.
It was like looking through a piece of clear glass. The bottom was covered in rotten leaves. There were tangles of vegetation, and Tobias could see a long translucent string with small black eggs inside. He could see a yellow-brown mussel. Where it had inched along, it had left behind a thin, white trail in the sand. He raised his head and looked at Erik. Erik stood on the shore of the lake staring beneath the dock; he didn’t look up, and Tobias sensed that Erik wanted him to be patient. So he stared at the water again.
He looked at the mussel. It had not moved. He traced its trail across the sandy bottom and then looked at the black fish eggs. A school of tiny fish flickered through his field of vision. They hovered right below him; they were almost transparent and their fins were tinged with red.
At that moment a huge fish glided beneath the dock. Tobias couldn’t see the whole thing at once: only its gills and part of its back. Its skin was light green and dotted with yellow spots. It moved a bit, and a large round eye the size of a quarter came into view.
Tobias pulled back instinctively. He turned to get Erik’s attention, but Erik wasn’t there. Tobias got on his knees and scanned the lake. Then he bent forward slowly and looked at the water again.
The fish was still. Tobias stared at the black iris and the yellow-green circle around it. The eye didn’t blink. He could make out a number of small, spiked teeth in the front of its mouth.
He rose. He moved onto the path searching for his teacher.
—Erik, he called.
No answer. Tobias walked along the sodden path.
He went to the other side of the lake and stood a moment looking toward the boat landing.