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The spire was right there, within arm’s reach

He slammed the tip of the paddle into the rocks, then leaned all his weight into it and pushed, but the as too powerful and the raft simply rotated around the pivot point the paddle created

“Co around,” he called between clenched teeth

“Got it!”

Re on her knees to face the other side, her paddle raised and ready With a splintering thunk she slahtly slowed, bounced off the rock and spun again

Saravity back into the raft, and reached for the throttle His hand was halfway there when he felt his sto of the motor as the raft’s tail end came out of the water

He had only a fraction of a second to call “Re the rock was close, but not

how close, he turned his head, looking for it Then out of the fog he saw it rushing toward his face

CHAPTER 36

Seconds orback toward consciousness One by one his senses started to return, beginning with a feathery sensation on his cheek, followed by the distinct and fareen apples

Hair, he thought, hair brushing my face Coconut and almonds

Remi’s shampoo

He forced open his eyes and found hi into her upside-down face He looked around He was lying in the botto on her lap

He cleared his throat “Are you okay?” he asked

“Am I okay?” Remi whispered “I’m fine, you dummy You’re the one that almost drowned”