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“Go,” he said Linda took one last breath, detached the hose froh

Juan was getting light-headed He re else with him that was important What was it?

He looked down and saw thethe books That’s what it was He picked it up and it felt like it was packed with lead

He took a few deep breaths and unplugged his mask

Squeezing through the hile carrying the sack required all of his rapidly draining strength When he was finally free of the ship, he saw Linda’s silhouette floating above hiht

He swam to her and saw that her eyes were barely open

He shook her shoulder to keep her fro His lier holding the bag It had slipped out of his grip He looked down, but it was lost so the ropes of the lifeboat davits

Every stroke toward the waiting Noo of Linda She was feebly kicking, and the combination of heat and lack of air was about to render her unconscious

He spotted the flashing light next to the open air lock door on the bottom of the sub and willed himself to reach it He pushed Linda into the small space and followed her in

His h the pain and pull the hatch closed When the light was green, he slae the water

Then he blacked out

When he ca on Nomad’s floor covered with cold packs He tried to sit up, but Julia pushed him back down

“Linda,” he croaked

“She’s all right” She pointed at Linda lying next to him She was also buried in the cold packs Her eyes were blinking

“I’ain,” she said