LITMIR.BIZ

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making the water rough, and it was time to go. He turned the boat, realising that he’d been unwise to come out here. He wasn’t an experienced sailor, but the need to know had been compelling. Now he had just enough time to get to shore before matters became unpleasant.

      Almost at once he discovered his mistake. The waves mounted fast, tossing his little boat from side to side. Rain began to fall more heavily every moment, lashing the angry water, lashing himself, soaking through his clothes, which weren’t waterproof. The sooner he drove on the better.

      But without warning the engine died. Nothing he could do would start it again. Frantically, he peered at the fuel gauge and saw, with horror, that it still showed ‘Full’.

      But that was impossible after the distance he’d already travelled. The reading was wrong, and must have been wrong from the start. He’d set out without enough fuel, and now he was trapped out here in the storm.

      He groaned. It went against the grain to admit that he needed help, but there was no alternative. He would have to call Kate and ask her to notify the rescue service. Then it would be all over the island. He could almost hear the laughter. Especially hers. But it couldn’t be helped.

      Taking out his cellphone, he began to dial, trying to steady himself with his feet as he needed both hands for the phone. That was when the biggest wave came, rearing up at the side of the boat, forcing him to cling on with both hands. With despair, he saw the phone go flying into the water. He made a dive for it but another swell hoisted the boat high, twisting it so that he went overboard into the sea.

      Floundering madly, he tried to reach the boat, but the waves had already carried it away. Farther and farther away it went, beyond his strength to pursue, until it was out of sight.

      Now his own body seemed to be turning against him. The shock of being plunged into cold water had caused his heart to race dangerously, making him gasp and inhale water. His limbs froze, and he could barely move them. He wondered whether he would die of cold before he drowned.

      Time passed, tormenting him, then vanishing into eternity until time itself no longer existed. Perhaps it had never existed. There was only darkness on earth and the moon and stars high above.

      His wretchedness was increased by the thought of his children, waiting in vain for his call tonight. They would think he’d forgotten them, and only the news of his death would tell them otherwise. Then it would no longer matter.

      Darius wanted to cry aloud to them, saying he loved them and they must believe that, for he would never be able to tell them again. But the distance stretched into infinity, and then another infinity that he feared because so much was left undone in his life—so many wrongs not righted, so many chances not taken, so many words not spoken…and now…never…never…

      Why was he even bothering to tread water? Why not just let go and accept the inevitable?

      But giving in had never been his way. He must fight to the end, no matter how much harder it was.

      In his dizzy state he seemed to lose consciousness. Or was he going mad? That might make it easier. But doing things the easy way wasn’t his style either.

      Yet the madness was already creeping over him, giving him the illusion of lights in the distance. It was impossible but he saw them, streaming out over the water, turning this way and that as though searching. Then the beam fell on him, blinding him, and a cry split the darkness.

      ‘There he is!’

      The universe seemed to whirl. Vaguely, he sensed the boat approaching, ploughing through the waves. Another few seconds—

      But it seemed that a malign fate was intent on destroying him even now. A wave, bigger than the others, reared up, sweeping him with it, up—then down back into the abyss—up—down—then away from the boat to a place where he would never be found. A yell of fear and rage broke from him at being defeated at the last moment.

      Then he felt a hand clasp his, the fingers tightening with fierce determination, drawing him closer. The waves fought back but the hand refused to yield to them. Suddenly he realised that two men were in the water with him, and were loading him onto a stretcher. Gradually the stretcher began to rise, taking him clear of the sea, lifting him to safety.

      From somewhere a man’s voice said, ‘OK, I’ve got him. You can let go, Harry.’

      And a woman replied, “No way. This one’s mine.’

      Harry! That voice—

      Shocked, he opened his eyes and saw Harriet’s face.

      ‘You,’ he whispered hoarsely.

      Harriet was there, leaning close to ask, ‘Was there anyone else with you—anyone we still need to look for?’

      ‘No,’ he gasped. ‘I was alone.’

      ‘Good. Then we can go back. There’ll be an ambulance to take you to hospital.’

      ‘No, I must go home—my children—I’ve got to call them. Wait—’ he grasped her ‘—my cellphone went into the water. Let me use yours.’

      ‘I don’t have it here.’

      ‘Then I must call them from home.’

      ‘But the hospital will have—’

      ‘Not the hospital,’ he said stubbornly.

      ‘Gee, you’re an infuriating man!’ she exclaimed.

      ‘Yes, well, you should have left me in the water, shouldn’t you?’ he choked. ‘You had the right idea the first time.’

      A coughing fit overtook him. Between them, Harriet and Walter got him under cover, and she stayed with him for the rest of the journey. He slumped in the seat, his eyes closed, on the verge of collapse. Watching him, Harriet was glad she hadn’t needed to answer his last remark. She wouldn’t have known how.

      At the lifeboat station she helped him ashore, and there was another argument.

      ‘No hospital,’ he insisted. ‘I’m going home.’

      ‘Then I’ll take you,’ she said. ‘Walter—’

      ‘Don’t worry, I’ll do the report. You keep him safe.’

      Darius was about to say that he would drive himself when he remembered that his car was a mile away. Besides, there was no arguing with this bossy woman.

      Somehow, he stumbled into her car and sat with his eyes closed for the journey.

      ‘How did you manage to find me?’ he murmured. ‘I thought I was a goner.’

      ‘Kate raised the alarm. She said you left suddenly after you talked about the wind farm. Later, she went out and bumped into an old man she knows who works on the shore. He said he’d seen you leaving in your motorboat. When you didn’t return she tried to call you on your cellphone, but it was dead so she alerted the lifeboat station.’

      Kate was waiting at the door when they arrived. Darius managed to stand up long enough to hug her.

      ‘Thank you,’ he said hoarsely. ‘I owe you my life.’

      ‘As long as you’re safe,’ Kate insisted. ‘Just come in and get warm.’

      In the hall, he made straight for the phone.

      ‘Get changed,’ Harriet said urgently. ‘You’re soaking.’

      ‘No, I’ve got to call them first. They’ll be waiting.’ He’d been dialling as he spoke and now he said, ‘Mary? Yes, I know it’s late. I’m sorry, I got held up.’

      From where she was standing, Harriet could hear a woman’s sharp voice on the other end, faint but clear.

      ‘You always get held up. The children went to bed crying because you didn’t keep your word, and that’s it. Enough is enough.’

      ‘Mary, listen—’

      ‘I’m

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