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the dinghy, climb in, and row back, saving the day. I hastily started to strip down, and Jude
said, “You're not seriously going in after it, are you, my love?”
“I have to; how will we get back otherwise? I won't be a minute.”
“Please be careful, Jonathan!” I heard her yell as I dived into the icy, black water. The cold
hit me like a tunnel of icicles. It robbed me of my breath, and I turned blue instantly.
I sobered up within seconds and looked back at the boat and at Judi. I could hardly see
either of them; then I looked ahead and saw the little backside of the errant dinghy making
good her escape. I had no option but to strike out after her to see if I could catch up. The
winter wind was freshening; it was probably about nine at night and all was dark except for
some pinprick lights way in the distance, street lights most likely.
After about five minutes of thrashing downwind towards the rapidly diminishing dinghy,
I realized the chase was futile, and I caught hold of a mooring chain from a neighboring
boat. I hung on in the freezing night trying to catch my breath; I was almost sobbing with
cold and exertion. Jude was calling my name, and as I was downwind of her I was able to
hear. I tried yelling back that I was OK but couldn't tell if she heard, as she kept repeating
my name over and over. I had no choice but to swim back to Déjà vu before I became too
cold. I struck out once again and howled at how icy and frighteningly black it was. The
initial energy I had from the beers now deserted me, and I found myself getting very tired.
My breathing too was getting faster and more urgent. I cursed at the fact that I smoked and
at how I had forgotten to tie up the dinghy. I noticed that little wavelets were forming, as
I was downwind and swimming against wind and current. Every now and then a wavelet
would wash into my face and I would get a mouthful of icy water, which I immediately
spat out. I was becoming exhausted quickly in this cold, and I stopped for a few seconds
and dimly saw Déjà vu upstream. Oh God help me! I thought, this is terrible; I don't want
to drown.
I started swimming slowly upwind again, the wavelets hitting my face the whole time. I
did not have the energy to keep my head up high enough, and suddenly I had a mouthful of
cold water of which I swallowed half. It was terrifying, but it brought adrenalin screaming
through my blood. I struck out blindly in panic and flapped about like a drowning Eng-
lishman. Had this been in daylight it would have been hilarious to watch, but it was dark
and cold and I was convinced I was going to drown. Another wavelet of choking cold wa-
ter poured into my mouth, and this time I got some in my lungs. I coughed and spluttered
and started to sink. My head went under, and I felt the icy fingers close around my face
and neck. Once again I struck out wildly and started inching towards the boat through the
choppy water. I could make out Jude now, and she was bending over the stern rail looking
