Julian put on a burst of speed, launched himself to the surface, and spit out his regulator.
The rain and wind were relentless, howling around him.
“Petula,” he bellowed, then paused to listen.
Nothing.
“Petula,” he cried out again.
Swimming on the surface now to reach the bobbing van while keeping his eyes peeled was difficult.
“Here.”
Petula’s voice hit his ears. It was shaky but loud.
Thank God.
But where was she?
“Yell again,” Julian shouted, looking around, trying to place her.
“Up here,” she hollered.
Julian swam to his right, around the van which seemed to be tipping in that direction more and more with each gust of wind.
That’s when he saw her. She was perched on top of the vehicle, lying flat, clutching the lip of the roof where it met the van’s body. It was a position that wouldn’t be sustainable for very long. Her fingers had to be blue with cold.
“Petula,” Julian swam as close as possible, speaking as calmly as he could. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here now.”
He could feel her panic.
“You’re doing great,” he continued to soothe. “You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. But I need you to listen.”
She lifted her head, and he blanched. Petula looked terrified.
“You can do this, Petula. I promise.”
She was listening.
“As soon as I say, you’re going to let go and slide down into the water.”
He thought she sobbed, but couldn’t be sure. What hecouldsee clearly was her shaking her head. Vehemently. Before she laid back down on the metal surface.
“Yes.” Julian made his voice strong to be heard above the wind. “You can do this. You can. I know you’re scared, but I’m right here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
When she raised her head again, he held up the rope, which still, thank god, had a few feet of play in it. “I’m going to put this rope around you, then tie you onto me,” he told her, hoping that the more information he imparted would help mitigate her fear. “I’ll do all the work. Okay?”
Did she nod from her prone position? He couldn’t be sure.
“I also have a regulator for you,” he said, “so if you do go under, you’ll still be able to breathe.”
Petula lifted her face a fraction of an inch; her eyes frantically searched his, trying, he believed, to ascertain whether or not he was telling the truth.
He held the rope up again, then the regulator, so she could see them both.
“I… I can’t let go,” she managed to shout, her voice trembling.
Julian knew that before long she’d have no choice. Her fingers would go completely numb, and her grip would give way.
