Children of the Storm - Elizabeth Peters [81]
Since this was clearly no longer the case, no one bothered with a verbal contradiction. Ramses bent over and began pulling back the soaked rugs. He found the trouble almost at once, and announced his discovery aloud.
“There are three holes drilled through the bottom. Daoud, turn back at once, we’ll never make it to the other side. Nefret, give me your scarf.”
“No use,” said Emerson curtly. He was kneeling, feeling about with his hands under the rapidly rising water. “They are each over an inch in diameter. Must have been plugged with some substance that would slowly dissolve or be knocked out by the motion of the waves.”
David had joined Daoud in the bow and was helping him with the sail and the tiller, but the boat moved slowly and sluggishly. It was clear that we were going to sink before we could make it back to shore. Emerson pulled off his coat and waistcoat. Ramses had already done so. Raising the long heavy plank, he pitched it over the side and then lowered himself into the water. “Nefret!” he called.
She followed him without an instant’s hesitation. Water had reached the seats and was still rising. “Give it up, David,” Emerson shouted. “Help me with the others.”
He turned to me. I knew I had to get out of the long skirts that would encumber my limbs, but I was having a hard time with my buttons, for my hands were not as steady as I would have liked. I am not skilled at aquatic exercise. I was not the least worried about myself, however, since my dear Emerson was at my side. He was completely at home in the water, and so were Ramses and David. It was the others, especially Evelyn and Walter, who were the objects of my concern. It was somewhat reassuring to see Walter carefully removing his eyeglasses and tucking them into his inside pocket, Evelyn slipping out of her velvet evening wrap, Lia crawling along the bench toward her mother. I could only thank God this had not happened when the children were with us.
As I continued to fumble with my buttons Emerson caught hold of the neckline of my frock and ripped it down and off, picked me up, and tossed me over the side. I came sputtering back to the surface, supported by my son’s firm hands, and saw that the others had abandoned ship as well. Emerson had seized his brother and sister-in-law, one in each arm, and was guiding them toward the plank to which Nefret clung. David had Lia in tow. I pushed the wet hair out of my eyes and rapidly took stock of the situation. Yes; everyone was present and accounted for, safe for the moment at least. Everyone except . . .
A thrill of horror ran through me. A dark shape against the silvery ripples, the boat went down, and with it went Daoud, sitting bolt upright in the bow. The last I saw of him was his large, calm face, eyes wide open and mouth tightly closed, as the water rose up and over it. Only then did I remember he could not swim a stroke.
CHAPTER SIX
Daoud!” I shrieked. “Save him! Hurry!”
That is what I meant to shriek. Unfortunately, a wave washed over my head and only a prolonged gurgle expressed my sentiments. Clinging one-handed to the plank, I blinked the water out of my eyes in time to see Ramses’s feet disappear under the water. My admonition had been unnecessary; he had gone to Daoud’s rescue as soon as he was certain I was safe.
“Hang on, Peabody!” Emerson bellowed directly into my left ear. “And for God’s sake close your mouth!”
His hands hoisted me up till my arms rested across the splintery surface of the plank. Then they were gone, and I knew that Emerson too was gone, down into the dark depths after Daoud.
So there we were, bobbing up and down in the eddies, lined up along the gangplank like diners at a table. With a thrill of patriotic pride I observed that all the faces, though streaming with water and plastered with wet hair, were as unperturbed as those of well-bred persons at an evening party.
Then a more remarkable sight drew my attention. It was the head of Daoud, his eyes still open, his mouth still closed, erupting from the water. Next to appear were his arms, spread