eth like a dead weight。 Perhaps she was dead。 His lungs burned。 It was the worst pain he had ever felt in his life。 He fought the pain； and he fought the angry churning water and he kept kicking toward the light； that was his only thought； to kick to the light； to e closer to the light； to reach the light； the light； the light。 。。。
The light。
The images were confusing。 Beth's suited body clanging on the metal； inside the airlock。 His own knee bleeding on the metal of the hatch； the drops of blood spattering。 Beth's shaking hands reaching for her helmet； twisting it； trying to get the helmet unlocked。 Hands shaking。 Water in the hatch； sucking； surging。 Lights in his eyes。 A terrible pain ＇＇306＇＇ somewhere。 Rust very close to his face； a sharp edge of metal。 Cold metal。 Cold air。 Lights in his eyes； dimming。 Fading。 Blackness。
The sensation of warmth was pleasant。 He heard a hissing roar in his ears。 He looked up and saw Beth； out of her suit； looming large above him； adjusting the big space heater； turning the power up。 She was still shivering； but she was turning up the heat。 He closed his eyes。 We made it； he thought。 We're still together。 We're still okay。 We made it。 He relaxed。
There was a crawly sensation over his body。 From the cold； he thought； his body warming from the cold。 The crawly sensation was not pleasant。 And the hissing was not pleasant； either； it was sibilant； intermittent。
Something slithered softly under his chin as he lay on the deck。 He opened his eyes and saw a silvery white tube； and then he focused and saw the tiny beady eyes； and the flicking tongue。 It was a snake。
A sea snake。
He froze。 He looked down； moving only his eyes。 His entire body was covered with white snakes。
The crawly sens