A fisherman discovered an ancient metal coffin on the beach at dawn: when he lifted the lid, he froze at the sight inside.
The fisherman rose early in the morning, as always. Darkness still clung to the sea, the air was cool and wet, and the waves murmured steadily, hinting at a plentiful catch. He readied his tackle, inspected the boat, preparing to sail offshore, when his eyes noticed a strange object on the stony beach.
At first, he thought it was just a large crate or a discarded container washed up by the tide. But the nearer he approached, the stronger a vague unease stirred in his chest. Before him rested a coffin. Ancient, iron, layered with rust and seaweed, as though it had drifted across the sea for many years before finally landing here.
“Oh Lord,” the fisherman muttered, glancing around in bewilderment. The shore was deserted. Only the roar of the surf and the cawing of gulls echoed around his discovery.
His first instinct was to leave it alone and immediately summon the police. Yet curiosity proved stronger. The man crouched beside it, inspecting the coffin closely.
A corroded, fragile lock dangled from the cover. With one firm tug, it snapped off.
The fisherman’s pulse raced. He carefully raised the weighty lid, and what lay inside made him freeze.
Within were human remains. Bones, fragments of once-worn garments, and iron pieces blackened by water and age.
The man staggered back in shock and instinctively covered his mouth. For several moments, he stood motionless, unable to process what he was seeing.
Later, when specialists arrived, they concluded the coffin was nearly a century old. Most likely, it had sunk into the sea after some forgotten shipwreck. Waves and tempests had carried it adrift for decades before finally throwing it ashore.
The tale swiftly spread through the region. Neighbors whispered, speculating about the ocean’s mystery and the unknown soul within. For the fisherman, it became the strangest day of his life.
It felt as if the sea itself had chosen to unveil to him a long-buried secret hidden in its depths.