按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he clung desperately to the gin pole。 A seat cushion popped to the surface next to him； and Brody grabbed it。
（〃They'd hold you up all right；〃 Brody remembered Hendricks saying； 〃if you were an eight…year…old boy。〃） Brody saw the tail and dorsal fin break the surface twenty yards away。 The tail waved once left； once right； and the dorsal fin moved closer。 〃Get away； damn you！〃
Brody yelled。
The fish kept ing； barely moving； closing in。 The barrels and skeins of rope trailed behind。 The gin pole went under； and Brody let go of it。 He tried to kick over to the bow of the boat； which was almost vertical now。 Before he could reach it； the bow raised even higher； then quickly and soundlessly slid beneath the surface。
Brody clutched the cushion； and he found that by holding it in front of him； his forearms across it； and by kicking constantly； he could stay afloat without exhausting himself。
The fish came closer。 It was only a few feet away； and Brody could see the conical snout。 He screamed； an ejaculation of hopelessness； and closed his eyes； waiting for an agony he could not imagine。
Nothing happened。 He opened his eyes。 The fish was nearly touching him； only a foot or two away； but it had stopped。 And then； as Brody watched； the steel…gray body began to recede downward into the gloom。 It seemed to fall away； an apparition evanescing into darkness。
Brody put his face into the water and opened his eyes。 Through the stinging saltwater mist he saw the fish sink in a slow and graceful spiral； trailing behind it the body of Quint … arms out to the sides； head thrown back； mouth open in mute protest。
The fish faded from view。 But； kept from sinking into the deep by the bobbing barrels； it stopped somewhere beyond the reach of light； and Quint's body hung suspended； a shadow twirling slowly in the twilight。 Brody watched until his lungs ached for air。 He raised his head； cleared his eyes； and sighted in the distance the black point of the water tower。 Then he began to kick toward shore。
1