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           TwoyoungEnglishmentalkingindrawlingOxfordaccentslaylikebroilinglobstersnotfaraway,andbeyondthemtwowomendrowsilyspeakinginGerman.Daneglancedatthewomenandself-consciouslyhitchedhisswimsuit,awaretheyhadstoppedconversingandhadsatuptopattheirhair,smileathim.

           "Howgoesit?"heaskedtheEnglishmen,thoughinhismindhecalledthemwhatallAustralianscalltheEnglish,Pommies.Theyseemedtobefixtures,sincetheywereonthebeacheveryday.

           "Splendidly,oldboy.Watchthecurrent—it’stoostrongforus.Stormouttheresomewhere."

           "Thanks."Danegrinned,randowntotheinnocentlycurlingwaveletsanddivedcleanlyintoshallowwaterliketheexpertsurferhewas.

           Amazing,howdeceptivecalmwatercouldbe.Thecurrentwasvicious,hecouldfeelittuggingathislegstodrawhimunder,buthewastoostrongaswimmertobeworriedbyit.Headdown,heslidsmoothlythroughthewater,revelinginthecoolness,thefreedom.WhenhepausedandscannedthebeachhesawthetwoGermanwomenpullingontheircaps,runningdownlaughingtothewaves.

           Cuppinghishandsaroundhismouth,hecalledtotheminGermantostayinshallowwaterbecauseofthecurrent.Laughing,theywavedacknowledgment.Heputhisheaddownthen,swamagain,andthoughtheheardacry.Butheswamalittlefarther,thenstoppedtotreadwaterinaspotwheretheundertowwasn’tsobad.Therewerecries;asheturnedhesawthewomenstruggling,theirtwistedfacesscreaming,onewithherhandsup,sinking.