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           SoonIshallseeThyface,butnow,stillinthislife,IthankThee.Thepain!MydearestLord,Thouarttoogoodtome.IloveThee!

           Ahugetremorpassedthroughthestill,waitingbody.Hislipsmoved,murmuredaName,triedtosmile.Thenthepupilsdilated,droveallthebluefromhiseyesforever.Safeonthebeachatlast,thetwoEnglishmendumpedtheirweepingchargesonthesandandstoodlookingforhim.Buttheplaciddeepblueseawasempty,vast;thewaveletsranuprushingandretreated.Danewasgone.

           SomeonethoughtoftheUnitedStatesAirForcestationnearby,andranforhelp.NotthirtyminutesafterDanehaddisappearedahelicoptertookoff,beattheairfranticallyandswoopedinever-increasingcirclesoutwardfromthebeach,searching.Nooneexpectedtoseeanything.Drownedmensanktothebottomanddidn’tcomeupfordays.Anhourpassed;thenfifteenmilesouttoseatheysightedDanefloatingpeacefullyonthebosomofthedeep,armsoutstretched,faceturneduptothesky.Foramomenttheythoughthewasaliveandcheered,butasthecraftcamelowenoughtothrowthewaterintohissingfoam,itwasplainhewasdead.Thecoordinatesweregivenoverthehelicopter’sradio,alaunchspedout,andthreehourslaterreturned.

           Wordhadspread.TheCretanshadlovedtoseehimpass,lovedtoexchangeafewshywords.Lovedhim,thoughtheydidn’tknowhim.Theyflockeddowntothesea,womenallinblacklikedowdybirds,meninold-fashionedbaggytrousers,whiteshirtsopenatthecollarandsleevesrolledup.