He clawed his way to the bank and pulled himself up, like some sea-dwelling lifeform that was anxious to get the whole evolution thing over with in one go.
Nobby was already there, spread out like a frog, leaking water.
'Is that you, Nobby?' said Sergeant Colon anxiously.
'It's me, Sergeant.'
'I glad about that, Nobby,' said Colon fervently.
'I wish it wasn't me, Sergeant.'
Colon tipped the water out of his helmet, and then paused.
'What about young Carrot?' he said.
Nobby pushed himself upon his elbows, groggily.
'Dunno,' he said. 'One minute we were on the roof, next minute we were jumping.'
They both looked at the ashen waters of the pond.
'I suppose,' said Colon slowly, 'he can swim?'
'Dunno. He never said. Not much to swim in, up in the mountains. When you come to think about it,' said Nobby.
'But perhaps there were limpid blue pools and deep mountain streams,' said the sergeant hopefully. 'And icy tarns in hidden valleys and that. Not to mention subterranean lakes. He'd be bound to have learned. In and out of the water all day, I expect.'
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