Chapter 42

“You’re hurt,” the woman said. “Let’s try to grab him, Charles.”

I moved toward them as best I could. The woman stopped the boat next to me and leaned over. “Can you shift for us, dear? I’m worried we won’t be able to lift you if you don’t.”

I let myself drop under water, and I moved through the shift quickly, knowing that it would be more painful than usual. Under water, I screamed out in Dauphinese, Dolphinese, English, French, and a few other languages I had learned along the way. As I emerged from the water, the couple grabbed me and pulled me on their boat.

“I hope you didn’t hear all of that,” I said.

“Enough to know that you are in a lot of pain,” the man said. His eyes were kind like the woman’s, and I was glad they had grabbed me.

“Our sons?” the man asked. “Derek and Wyn, are they alright?”

The woman looked at the other boat, the one which only Tom and Mr. Woodard now occupied.

“And Sam?” she asked, alarm in her voice. “Is Sam okay?”