CHAPTER TEN
A hand plunged down through the water.
It grasped her arm, hauling her above the surface like a brutal rebirth. She spluttered as she gulped in air then coughed violently.
‘Hang on to me! I’ll pull you up.’
Sam’s face was above her, leaning over the side of a fishing kayak. Lily’s throat was on fire from the seawater and she felt like throwing up but he held on to her by the shoulders and the back of her T-shirt.
‘Don’t give in now!’ he ordered. ‘Come on, kickhard! Help me get you on board before the next wave comes.’
Lily thought shewaskicking, though her legs were so cold and weak she could barely feel them.
‘I – I’m try – ing.’
Somehow Sam dragged her half over the edge of the kayak, almost capsizing it as he did so. She kicked again and felt herself thrust upwards before his eyes widened in horror.
‘Lily! Hold on! I––’
A deep roar drowned out the rest of his words, then a wave – bigger than any before – broke over the kayak and toppled it sideways, tossing Sam into the waves and Lily back into the maelstrom.
She went under again briefly but was flung upwards amid a whirlpool of foaming white water.
The kayak rolled past her, its sharp rudder just inches from her face, and she choked back a scream. Before she could think, another wave hurled the craft into a rock where it bounced off again, this time the right way up.
Eyes streaming from the salt, almost choking, she trod water desperately as she scanned the sea for Sam. What if he’d drowned trying to save her? She was still being tossed around like a cork. She had to reach the kayak before another set of massive breakers rolled in.
‘Sam!’ she screamed as loud as she could, even though her throat was raw. ‘Help!’
Everything was green and black and white, the roar of the surf deafening her and the salt stinging and blinding her.
‘Sam!’
‘Here!’
Gloriously, miraculously, he was swimming out of the gulley that separated the cave from the rocky ledge.
‘Grab the kayak!’ he shouted.
Lily struck out, her clothes weighing her down, her limbs cold and numb. The kayak seemed no closer until a wave lifted it and brought it towards her, almost on top of her. The wave set had passed – for now – but she had to get hold of the craft. She clung to the side while Sam swam over. Even from a few metres away, she could see the blood on his forehead.
A few strong strokes later, he was beside her in the water. ‘Get in!’ he shouted, shoving his hand under her bum so shecould haul herself into the craft. With one last monumental kick, she scrambled into the base and held her hand down into the water for Sam, who was still clinging onto the kayak.
‘Come on!’ she said, desperately.
‘No, I might capsize it.’
Fresh strength flooded her. She wasn’t going to leave him now. ‘Get in!’ she said, reaching for his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, he took it and her arm felt as if it was being ripped from its socket while he struggled aboard, the kayak rocking under his weight.
His forehead was gashed and he was breathing hard but he sat down on the seat and issued orders to Lily, who was half-lying in the stern.
‘The rudder’s probably done for, but we have to get away from the rocks. There’s a paddle strapped to the side, grab it and use it.’ His bent legs worked frantically to propel the kayak away from the jagged teeth of the rocks.
Fumbling with cold fingers, Lily unfastened the paddle from the inside of the kayak.
‘Use it like an oar – both sides, as hard as you can,’ he said.
She saved her breath for paddling. With Sam propelling them, the little craft began its agonising escape from the cliffs. Foamy crests of waves appeared ahead. Lily wanted to scream but she was too busy paddling. The waves broke over the kayak but it stayed upright.
