“Boss!” He had pulled out his phone. “They’re trapped.” He took a photo. “Yeah… It’s too late for them.” He laughed, turning to us. “The Boss sends his regards and tells me he intends to be a long way away when you drown.” He turned and started to slog back towards the shore. I could see Patrick in the distance.
I was sinking fast, every attempt to pull my limbs free was like pulling against rapidly setting concrete as the sand set solidly against us, we were up to our hips and trapped firm. I grabbed my phone. “Dan… Shit, we’re trapped in the bay.” My fear increased as I saw the river channel become deeper. “The tide!” I yelled. “Oh Christ, the tide’s coming in…”
I realised that we were doomed, the tides changed fast. I dialled my phone again. “Yes, coast guard…” I was waiting to connect when a wave hit my body engulfing me. “Shit!” I desperately tried my phone but it was dead.
“Kate… Thanks for coming back for me.” Adam leaned across, hugging her. It was clear we couldn’t move and there was no escape, we were firmly trapped in the shifting sands. The tide progressing, flowing around our bodies.
“I love you… I hope you know that…” Adam clutched hold of her.
Kate turned to me, her eyes streaming with tears. I wanted to say something, anything which could help, but this was it, after everything, crashes and gangsters, here I was, about to drown within sight of my own stable yard. How bloody ironic. I could no longer feel my lower body, a combination of the crushing sand and the freezing water.
“Would you marry me, Kate? I can’t get down on one knee, but I am almost there I guess.” Adam laughed nervously.
“Bit late Adam…” She gulped.
“Oh, better late than never.” Kate shook her head. “Yes… I would have loved to have married you.”
I was not sure if Adam would die of drowning or the loss of blood from the deep slash to his chest which was currently soaking into Kate’s clothes and turning the advancing tide pink.
So, this was it. Although our rate of sinking seemed to have slowed, we were still slowly seeping into the sand and mud and the water level was increasing, with waves now splashing across my chest. I’d lost track of time, how long would this take? I wanted this now, I’d brought it on myself. Now, I stupidly envied my brother, embracing Kate. At least he wasn’t facing this alone. Yes, I had him beside me, but I knew I had to give him up now, he was Kate’s now. That feeling hurt more than anything, more than the fact that I was facing death. I had been here before, the horsebox crash, kidnapped with seemingly no hope. However, now, alone in a vast estuary, there would be no trace of me, no sign I had ever been here. Once the last few bubbles disappeared I would be forgotten everyone I had was here and I had doomed them all.
“Sorry…” I muttered the phrase. I wasn’t sure that the others had even heard me.
“What?” Kate looked up.
“Sorry… I don’t know what else to say. I brought you into this.” Kate reached across, both Adam, and she took me in my arms.
“Look, we’re a family. Your brother has just about made you my sister-in-law…” She kissed my cheek. “Don’t be sorry. I would have liked a longer future, but I’ve had a great past.”
We held each other in our arms, the warmth felt good as the water lapped around my chest, inching higher by the moment. I don’t know how long we stayed there, I had given up hope and finally resigned myself to my fate. She was right, we might have a short future but, together, we had had a hell of a past.
“What the hell was that? Oh, God!!” Kate looked up, twisting around to see what the approaching noise was.
I looked around, suddenly seeing the source of the noise as a bright yellow and orange boat came around the bay towards us. Was that? I looked more closely and saw Dan standing at the bow of the boat yelling.
“Amanda?”
I raised my arm, I was cold, my energy sapped. The boat was soon beside us, life-boatmen were bustling around forcing rods into the sand, I felt a rush of air and my legs started to come free. I screamed as I was dragged from the mud, slithering onto the boat. The men grabbed me, wrapping me in a blanket. Dan grabbed me.
“I got your message…” He shrugged.
“Just in time…” I stuttered, panicking as I saw Adam freed.
Adam fought with the men, his face pale, it was clear he’d lost a lot of blood and was deeply confused, as Kate was dragged free, she grasped hold of him, calming him. He became still in her arms.
***
Time passed in a blur, from the rapid trip back to shore and into ambulances. I moaned, struggling as they took Adam away, Dan held me, telling me that he needed urgent attention.
His warmth was so soothing, it engulfed me, just needing to close my eyes for a moment.
IV
IMAGINATION OR REALITY
33
Forward Transitions
The water engulfed me, I was struggling but I couldn’t get free. I screamed but it only caused more
