He doubted, along with the best Biblical referents, that the sky in heaven was blue. But he wasn’t going to argue. There was a constriction, a tightness in his throat, that wasn’t caused by fear. Elaine was hugging him and crying. It felt like he’d swallowed a cork.
“For Christ’s sake let me get some air!” he finally managed to croak. She backed off.
“Damn you, damn you. You scared the hell out of me, you insensitive, you . . . !” She sniffled. Her hair was wet and stringy and she was totally beautiful. “I ran away and left you.” The crying broke out again in full force, and she fell onto his chest, sobbing.
“I’m sorry, I apologize for my inconsiderateness. Tell you what, I’ll marry you. Will that make up for it?” He rolled over, felt the softness of the mat they’d slipped under him. Someone had removed bis tanks and mask.
She pulled away, stared at him in stunned silence. For some reason, this started her crying all over again. They’d removed his fins, too. He wiggled his toes.
Only one set moved.
He sat up slowly and looked down at himself. His
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WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE . ..
right foot ended at the ankle in a swath of bandages and dried blood. His voice was so even it shocked him.
“What happened?” he asked the old Matai, who had been watching him carefully. He was aware the question lacked brilliance, but at the moment he didn’t feel very witty.
“He did not take you, Sea-Doctor Poplar. Perhaps so close to the surface, the sun blinded it at the last moment. Perhaps He lost you against the bottom of the boat.”