The Infernal Aether (First Draft)

Chapter 32 - The Loss of an Old Friend

We each held our breath as the front window filled with blue and then cracked with the impact of us hitting the water head-on. We bounced and skidded along the surface for a few moments and then spun to a halt before lurching down under the water. A series of crackling noises like the sound of tiny gunfire filled the room as the window fractured and before I could check on the health and whereabouts of the others we were pushed back by a deluge of water.

I lost all sense of perspective, any idea of what was up or down, where the walls or window were. I had managed to pull in a good lungful of air before we were immersed and I resolved not to waste it. A hand touched mine and I spun round to see Maxwell, cheeks bulging, pointing toward the hole which had once been the window. I nodded and then spun round, looking for the others. Kate was thrashing around not too far away and we both grabbed her and pushed her forward. I let Maxwell guide her out and then looked round for Freddie in the murky darkness. I saw a form by the rear bulkhead and kicked toward it, rewarded by the sight of my old friend's lifeless form. I looped an arm round his chest and then kicked us toward the window and out of the craft.

My lungs were burning as I pushed us through the window, in my desperation ignoring the shards of glass which threatened to rip us apart as we passed through. I kicked up as soon as we were clear, panicked by the lack of light. Was I heading in the right direction? Was I actually swimming down, away from the surface? Or maybe we were trapped underneath the craft, doomed to waste our last breaths futilely trying to claw our way around it.

My cheeks felt as though they would burst and finally I could take no more, expelling the contents of my lungs and reflexively gasping, taking in water. I clamped my mouth shut as the liquid hit my throat, but there was nothing for my body to feed on and I started to kick around, panicking.

My hand waved out into something cold and free and then, mercifully, my head broke the surface. I coughed out water and sucked in sweet, cool air, treading water to keep myself from sinking below again. Somehow I had managed to keep hold of Freddie in spite of my thrashing around and I pulled his head up, holding his mouth out of the water. It was only then that I registered the deep gash, such that half of his head was missing. I had no time to register sorrow but instead kicked toward the shore before the last of my strength ran out, dragging the corpse behind me.

Thankfully we had crashed not too far out from the shore and in no time I felt stones beneath my feet. I pulled Freddie's body up so that it was not in danger of washing back out and then threw myself onto my back, letting my tired muscles relax.

I looked up at a desperate splashing sound to see Maxwell's head bobbing toward me. I waded out and helped him with Kate's immobile form. "Dear God, no," I muttered. "Not her too."

We pushed and pulled her body onto the shore, noticing how she did not even flinch as we dragged her over the hard stones. I bent over her, listening. There was a faint pulse but no breathing. I put my lips over hers and blew into her mouth; one, two, three. One, two, three.

I lost count of the number of times I repeated the pattern. At some point I felt Maxwell's hand on my shoulder but I ignored it and continued with my labours.

Her lips twitched and then she started to cough. I slumped back, panting, suddenly aware of how tired I was.

After a few minutes of retching she sat up and gave me a weary smile. "I s'pose that means we're even."

I laughed and then shrugged.

She noticed Freddie's body, still lying half in the water. "Is he...?"

"I am afraid so," said Maxwell. We looked down at my friend's inert form while beyond it the remnants of the deflated balloon floated limply on the water, marking the final resting place of Freddie's constant companion, The Old Lady.