Water Is Life or Death

Glad you could join us for the next underwater episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

Quivering his way to the spot where Vernon vanished, Clifton tried to ignore the tickle of doubt in his chest. Elliot believes in me.

Taking a deeper breath than his lungs had ever held before, he kicked his chubby back legs as hard as could and dove into oblivion.

Reluctantly, he forced his eyes open.

The wavery light swimming through the water made patterns he’d never seen that laughed and danced across the bottom. For a forgetful moment, he hung like a lazy bluebottle fly suspended in thick summer air.

But it wasn’t air, and his lungs were tugging at his throat reminding him they needed to breathe.

Quickly, he spun searching for some sign of Vernon.

There! called the triumphant voice in his head as his lungs nagged him for oxygen.

He propelled himself toward a bit of yellow that had caught the light, and found the Queen’s Liaison lying still and possibly lifeless on the sandy bottom of the pond.

Clifton’s lungs now screaming, he crouched as he picked Vernon up and sprang for the surface.

He would never forget that first breath. Rushing fresh and clean down his throat, it washed through every part of his body; he felt more alive than he ever had. It was like being reborn. Something woke up in Clifton that he hadn’t known was sleeping — he felt a drive to live.

But it looked like Vernon’s drive was gone.

Elliot was waiting on the lily pad to help them out of the pool. Laying Vernon on his back, he leaned over the Liaison’s unmoving chest.

His voice grim, Elliot said, “I think I know what to do.”

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story... View all posts by Sue Ranscht