When Hannah awoke she stretched and could not recall ever having slept so well in her life. Perhaps it was her near death experiences that made her appreciate her existence the more. No matter the circumstances. She was fit. She was healthy. She was alive. That is all that mattered for the moment. Sitting up in the bed seeing the cove and the magnificent turquoise, blue-green water in front of her. She smiled. Another beautiful day. The sea was calm and the sky blue. All of a sudden she saw what looked like a person half way between the shoreline and the ship. She squinted to see better and realized that it was not a person but Talbot making his way out to the ship - alone!! 'Why is he going out there without me?' She screamed inside her head. That was not the plan. Anger welled up inside her chest. 'What is he doing?' Her interrogation continued in her mind. She shot up like a bullet out of a gun and ran to the water.
"What in God's name are you doing!?" She shouted with anger and enough force for him and her both.
"I can't hear you!" He shouted back.
She did not know what possessed her but she started to run into the water and run and swim out to him. If he was going in the ship so was she. He agreed. Why did not he keep his word? What if something happened to him out there and she was on shore without noticing that he was even gone?
He was trying to go out there without her. He started out while she was asleep and hoped that she would not wake before his return.
As he watched her swimming out to him, he stopped to wait for her. He could still stand with the water up to his chest. She would not be gainsaid, he realized that now. On further thought he could use her help to retrieve things from the ship. Two are better than one. Forever the sailor, why would he ask a passenger to assist him in his duties on ship. Never would that happen. He could not make the adjustment easily.
As she swam towards him he saw that she was angry.
"Calm yourself Madam or you will get winded." He shouted to her. And he waited. Her face was gravitas, she was dignified and serious now, albeit soaken wet. He laughed inside because he knew that he was in difficulty with her for she was vexed with him, he would have to suffer the consequences of not upholding their agreement.
She was so beautiful when she was fired up.
Arriving near him she stood also. One can never decide if it is faster and more efficient to walk in the water or swim when the water is shallow. She was exhausted when she reached him. Her breathing now labored. "Why did you leave without me? You should have woken me to accompany you. I would fret the whole time you were away had I woken to find you out of sight, not knowing if you had gone to the ship or to the waterfalls. Why did you do that?" She would not stop and was speaking through the laborious breathing thus making herself worse.
"Madam, calm yourself, I beg of you." He pleaded. Not smiling on the outside but, hugely on the inside.
She huffed and puffed for a while longer and he stood there patiently thinking that he could have been on ship and back by this time. She trying to catch her breath was looking to the left and to the right and not making eye contact with him. Now at further thought she felt foolish for making such a fuss about this. The water was not particularly deep, as yet and he was strong and healthy. Why could he not go to the ship and see the condition of it and investigate those things that might be salvaged, without her? If he needed assistance surely he would ask for it.
Talbot was patient with her for he realized her reaction and action was based on fear. Fear of something happening to him and she would be left alone. He had insight and wisdom. Therefore he waited for her to catch her breath and for her to finish her rant, then they would be able to proceed.
