Abduction (12 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #Suspense, #Onbekend, #Unabridged Audio - Fiction, #Suspense & Thriller
He lifted the edge of the cashmere blanket and looked at himself. Not only was he naked, he detected
the same peculiar ring of puncture wounds around his navel as he'd seen on Richard and Michael when they'd emerged from the spheres.
Perry let out a low-pitched cry, then leaped from the bed to examine his wounds more carefully. He spread the soft skin of his abdomen. The puncture wounds were not deep and they weren't painful, much to Perry's relief. Most important of all, they seemed healed. As Perry absorbed this discovery, he had another shock. His legs and groin were hairy again! He inspected his forearm and discovered that the hair had returned there, too. He put a hand to his scalp, and smiled.
Perry grabbed the clothes from the ebony rack and pulled them on as he transversed the length of the room.
His reflection in the mirror practically made him swoon. His scalp was covered with a full head of hair. It was only about an inch long, but it was as thick and dark as it had been when he was in junior high school. He felt like he'd discovered the fountain of youth. Perry heard the others stirring. He turned in time to see Donald and Suzanne slipping back into their clothes. Richard and Michael were sitting on the edges of their beds, gawking at the surroundings. Their clothes were neatly piled in their laps. "Just as I thought," Donald said to no one in particular. "I knew those bastards would be in here screwing around with us when we were sleeping. That's why I wanted to set up watches." "It isn't all bad," Perry said as he sauntered over. "We've got hair! Can you imagine? Mine is thicker than it was when I lost it."
"I noticed my hair," Suzanne said with less enthusiasm. "Aren't you thrilled?" Perry said.
"I preferred the length I had yesterday," Suzanne said. "Or actually the length I had three days ago." "What do you mean, three days ago?" Perry questioned. "Yesterday was July twenty-first," Suzanne said. "Right?" "I guess," Perry said. He wasn't sure thanks to the overnight flight to the Azores. "Well, my watch, which someone took off my wrist but was nice enough to leave behind, says it's now the twenty-fourth."
Suzanne's watch had been the only one to last through the gassing. Its gold bracelet band remained undissolved.
"Maybe whoever removed it advanced the date," Perry suggested. The idea of being asleep for three days was disturbing, to say the least.
"It's possible," Suzanne said. "But I doubt it. I mean, to grow as much hair as we have, it would have
the same peculiar ring of puncture wounds around his navel as he'd seen on Richard and Michael when they'd emerged from the spheres.
Perry let out a low-pitched cry, then leaped from the bed to examine his wounds more carefully. He spread the soft skin of his abdomen. The puncture wounds were not deep and they weren't painful, much to Perry's relief. Most important of all, they seemed healed. As Perry absorbed this discovery, he had another shock. His legs and groin were hairy again! He inspected his forearm and discovered that the hair had returned there, too. He put a hand to his scalp, and smiled.
Perry grabbed the clothes from the ebony rack and pulled them on as he transversed the length of the room.
His reflection in the mirror practically made him swoon. His scalp was covered with a full head of hair. It was only about an inch long, but it was as thick and dark as it had been when he was in junior high school. He felt like he'd discovered the fountain of youth. Perry heard the others stirring. He turned in time to see Donald and Suzanne slipping back into their clothes. Richard and Michael were sitting on the edges of their beds, gawking at the surroundings. Their clothes were neatly piled in their laps. "Just as I thought," Donald said to no one in particular. "I knew those bastards would be in here screwing around with us when we were sleeping. That's why I wanted to set up watches." "It isn't all bad," Perry said as he sauntered over. "We've got hair! Can you imagine? Mine is thicker than it was when I lost it."
"I noticed my hair," Suzanne said with less enthusiasm. "Aren't you thrilled?" Perry said.
"I preferred the length I had yesterday," Suzanne said. "Or actually the length I had three days ago." "What do you mean, three days ago?" Perry questioned. "Yesterday was July twenty-first," Suzanne said. "Right?" "I guess," Perry said. He wasn't sure thanks to the overnight flight to the Azores. "Well, my watch, which someone took off my wrist but was nice enough to leave behind, says it's now the twenty-fourth."
Suzanne's watch had been the only one to last through the gassing. Its gold bracelet band remained undissolved.
"Maybe whoever removed it advanced the date," Perry suggested. The idea of being asleep for three days was disturbing, to say the least.
"It's possible," Suzanne said. "But I doubt it. I mean, to grow as much hair as we have, it would have
taken more than three days. Maybe we've been asleep for a month and three days."
Perry shivered. "A month?" he gulped. "I can't imagine. Besides, the hair growth we've had has to have come from some kind of amazing treatment. My hair's back to the way it was when I was fourteen. I'll tell you something: as a businessman, I'd kill to find out the secret. Can you imagine? What a product." "They didn't do me any favors," Donald said. "I didn't want hair on my head." "Did you notice the puncture wounds on your stomachs?" Suzanne asked Perry and Donald. They both nodded.
"I think that means we were on life support of some kind," Suzanne said. "Maybe the same kind our divers had been on in those spheres."
"That was my thought," Perry said. "I suppose they had to keep us on something if we were out so long."
"Hey, are you guys okay?" Suzanne called over to Richard and Michael, who were finishing dressing. "I'm all right," Richard said. "Except for the fact that I was wishing this was all a bad dream." "Drugging us is in violation of the Geneva Convention," Donald growled. "We're civilians! Who knows what these puncture wounds mean. They could have given us anything--AIDS, or truth drugs." "Actually, I feel really good," Perry admitted. He flexed his arms and stretched his legs. It was as if his body as well as his hair had been rejuvenated. "Me, too," Michael said. He touched his toes and then ran in place for several strides. "I feel as if I could swim for twenty miles."
"I got my hair back but now my beard's gone," Richard said. "Explain that!" The other men reflexively stroked their chins. It was true. They had no stubble. "This is getting more and more interesting," Perry said. "I'd say it's getting more and more surreal," Suzanne said. She looked closely at Perry's cheeks. Previously he'd had a definite five o'clock shadow. Now his complexion was perfectly clear. "Hang on, guys!" Richard exclaimed. He pointed at the door on the wall opposite the mirrors. "Looks like we're being let out of the cage."
All eyes turned to see the door silently open. Beyond was another long white corridor with framed holographs. The light coming from the other end of it was bright and natural. "That looks like daylight," Suzanne said. "It can't be daylight," Donald said. "Unless we got moved somehow." Perry felt a chill go down his spine. Intuitively he knew that everything that had happened so far was a
Perry shivered. "A month?" he gulped. "I can't imagine. Besides, the hair growth we've had has to have come from some kind of amazing treatment. My hair's back to the way it was when I was fourteen. I'll tell you something: as a businessman, I'd kill to find out the secret. Can you imagine? What a product." "They didn't do me any favors," Donald said. "I didn't want hair on my head." "Did you notice the puncture wounds on your stomachs?" Suzanne asked Perry and Donald. They both nodded.
"I think that means we were on life support of some kind," Suzanne said. "Maybe the same kind our divers had been on in those spheres."
"That was my thought," Perry said. "I suppose they had to keep us on something if we were out so long."
"Hey, are you guys okay?" Suzanne called over to Richard and Michael, who were finishing dressing. "I'm all right," Richard said. "Except for the fact that I was wishing this was all a bad dream." "Drugging us is in violation of the Geneva Convention," Donald growled. "We're civilians! Who knows what these puncture wounds mean. They could have given us anything--AIDS, or truth drugs." "Actually, I feel really good," Perry admitted. He flexed his arms and stretched his legs. It was as if his body as well as his hair had been rejuvenated. "Me, too," Michael said. He touched his toes and then ran in place for several strides. "I feel as if I could swim for twenty miles."
"I got my hair back but now my beard's gone," Richard said. "Explain that!" The other men reflexively stroked their chins. It was true. They had no stubble. "This is getting more and more interesting," Perry said. "I'd say it's getting more and more surreal," Suzanne said. She looked closely at Perry's cheeks. Previously he'd had a definite five o'clock shadow. Now his complexion was perfectly clear. "Hang on, guys!" Richard exclaimed. He pointed at the door on the wall opposite the mirrors. "Looks like we're being let out of the cage."
All eyes turned to see the door silently open. Beyond was another long white corridor with framed holographs. The light coming from the other end of it was bright and natural. "That looks like daylight," Suzanne said. "It can't be daylight," Donald said. "Unless we got moved somehow." Perry felt a chill go down his spine. Intuitively he knew that everything that had happened so far was a
preamble of what was going to happen in the next few minutes. The problem was he had no idea what it
was going to be.
Richard walked to the doorway to get a better look. He shielded his eyes against the brightness reflecting off the glossy white walls.
"Can you see anything?" Suzanne asked.
"Not much," Richard admitted. "It opens up at the end and there's a wall opposite. It must be open to the sky. Let's go!"
"Hold up a minute," Suzanne said. Then she looked at Donald. "What do you say? Should we go? Obviously our hosts expect us to."
"I think we should go but as a group," Donald said. "We should stick together as much as we can, but maybe we should pick one person to speak for us if we encounter our captors." "Fine," Suzanne said. "I nominate Perry." "Me?" Perry squeaked. He cleared his throat. "Why me? Donald's still the captain." "True," Suzanne said. "But you are the president of Benthic Marine. Whoever is holding us might appreciate the fact that you speak with some authority, especially about the drilling operation." "You think the reason we're down here is because of the drilling?" "It has crossed my mind," Suzanne said. "Still, Donald's been in the military," Perry whined. "I haven't. What if this
is
a Russian military base?" "I think it is safe to say it is not a Russian base," Suzanne replied. "It's not completely out of the question," Donald said. "But I think Perry is a good choice regardless. It will give me a better chance to assess the situation, especially if things get hostile." "Richard and Michael!" Suzanne called. "Do either of you have an opinion about who speaks for us?" "I think the prez should be the one," Michael said. Richard merely nodded. He was impatient to go. "Then it's decided," Suzanne said. She gestured for Perry to lead them down the corridor. "Okay!" Perry said with more alacrity than he felt. He tightened the golden braid around his tunic, squared his shoulders, and headed toward the corridor. Richard gave him a supercilious glance as he passed and then fell in behind him. The others followed in single file. Perry slowed as he approached the end of the hallway. He was even more certain the light streaming in was sunlight since he could feel its radiant warmth. He gauged the space ahead to be an open sky enclosure approximately twenty-feet square.
was going to be.
Richard walked to the doorway to get a better look. He shielded his eyes against the brightness reflecting off the glossy white walls.
"Can you see anything?" Suzanne asked.
"Not much," Richard admitted. "It opens up at the end and there's a wall opposite. It must be open to the sky. Let's go!"
"Hold up a minute," Suzanne said. Then she looked at Donald. "What do you say? Should we go? Obviously our hosts expect us to."
"I think we should go but as a group," Donald said. "We should stick together as much as we can, but maybe we should pick one person to speak for us if we encounter our captors." "Fine," Suzanne said. "I nominate Perry." "Me?" Perry squeaked. He cleared his throat. "Why me? Donald's still the captain." "True," Suzanne said. "But you are the president of Benthic Marine. Whoever is holding us might appreciate the fact that you speak with some authority, especially about the drilling operation." "You think the reason we're down here is because of the drilling?" "It has crossed my mind," Suzanne said. "Still, Donald's been in the military," Perry whined. "I haven't. What if this
is
a Russian military base?" "I think it is safe to say it is not a Russian base," Suzanne replied. "It's not completely out of the question," Donald said. "But I think Perry is a good choice regardless. It will give me a better chance to assess the situation, especially if things get hostile." "Richard and Michael!" Suzanne called. "Do either of you have an opinion about who speaks for us?" "I think the prez should be the one," Michael said. Richard merely nodded. He was impatient to go. "Then it's decided," Suzanne said. She gestured for Perry to lead them down the corridor. "Okay!" Perry said with more alacrity than he felt. He tightened the golden braid around his tunic, squared his shoulders, and headed toward the corridor. Richard gave him a supercilious glance as he passed and then fell in behind him. The others followed in single file. Perry slowed as he approached the end of the hallway. He was even more certain the light streaming in was sunlight since he could feel its radiant warmth. He gauged the space ahead to be an open sky enclosure approximately twenty-feet square.
About six feet away Perry stopped and Richard bumped up against him.
"What's the matter?" Suzanne asked. She pushed past Richard. Perry didn't answer since he didn't know exactly why he'd stopped. Slowly he leaned forward so that he could see progressively more of the opposite wall. He was looking for the top, but he couldn't yet see it. After a step forward he tried again. This time he could see the top of the wall which he estimated to be about fifteen feet high. Above that he could see feet, ankles, bare calves, and the hems of outfits like the one he had on.
Perry straightened up and turned to the others. "There are people on top of the opposite wall," he whispered. "They're dressed the way we are." "Really?" Suzanne questioned. She leaned forward to try to see for herself, but she was too far back. "I can't be positive," Perry said. "But I think they're wearing these same flimsy satin clothes we are." He and everyone else had assumed the flimsy, weird, lingerie-like outfits were prisoners' garb. "Come on!" Richard said, even more impatient now. "This I gotta see. Let's go!" "Why would they be dressed like ancient Greeks?" Suzanne asked Donald. Donald shrugged. "You've got me. Let's just move out and see for ourselves." Perry led the way. With his hand over his eyes to shield against the glare of a square of bright sky, he looked up. What he saw astounded him to the point that he stopped dead in his tracks and his mouth gaped in wonderment. Suzanne bumped into him and the rest of the group nudged against her all equally dumbfounded.
They were standing in a penlike enclosure. Fifteen feet above was a glass-enclosed loggia ringed by a marble balustrade and supported by fluted columns whose capitals were encrusted with gilded sea creatures. Fronting the enclosure the entire loggia was packed with people pressed against the glass and staring down in unmoving, silent, intense curiosity. As Perry had surmised from his limited earlier view, they were all dressed in the same identical, loose-fitting satin tunics and shorts. Perry had had no specific mental image of what the people were going to look like, but what he was confronted with hadn't even been part of his imagination which leaned toward expecting fiercer-looking captors. Before he'd caught the glimpse of the satin outfits he'd anticipated uniforms, and he'd expected stern if not openly hostile expressions. Instead he found himself staring at the most beautiful collection of people he'd ever seen, whose faces reflected an almost divine serenity. Although the ages varied from tiny children to vigorous elders, the vast majority were in their early to midtwenties. Everyone radiated good health with lithe bodies, sparkling eyes, lustrous hair, and teeth so white they made Perry think of his own as being yellow by comparison.
"I don't believe this!" Richard gushed as he took in the spectacle. "Who are these people?" Suzanne asked, her voice an awed whisper. "I've never seen such a gorgeous group of people," Perry managed. "Every one of them. There's not even an average-looking one in the bunch."
"What's the matter?" Suzanne asked. She pushed past Richard. Perry didn't answer since he didn't know exactly why he'd stopped. Slowly he leaned forward so that he could see progressively more of the opposite wall. He was looking for the top, but he couldn't yet see it. After a step forward he tried again. This time he could see the top of the wall which he estimated to be about fifteen feet high. Above that he could see feet, ankles, bare calves, and the hems of outfits like the one he had on.
Perry straightened up and turned to the others. "There are people on top of the opposite wall," he whispered. "They're dressed the way we are." "Really?" Suzanne questioned. She leaned forward to try to see for herself, but she was too far back. "I can't be positive," Perry said. "But I think they're wearing these same flimsy satin clothes we are." He and everyone else had assumed the flimsy, weird, lingerie-like outfits were prisoners' garb. "Come on!" Richard said, even more impatient now. "This I gotta see. Let's go!" "Why would they be dressed like ancient Greeks?" Suzanne asked Donald. Donald shrugged. "You've got me. Let's just move out and see for ourselves." Perry led the way. With his hand over his eyes to shield against the glare of a square of bright sky, he looked up. What he saw astounded him to the point that he stopped dead in his tracks and his mouth gaped in wonderment. Suzanne bumped into him and the rest of the group nudged against her all equally dumbfounded.
They were standing in a penlike enclosure. Fifteen feet above was a glass-enclosed loggia ringed by a marble balustrade and supported by fluted columns whose capitals were encrusted with gilded sea creatures. Fronting the enclosure the entire loggia was packed with people pressed against the glass and staring down in unmoving, silent, intense curiosity. As Perry had surmised from his limited earlier view, they were all dressed in the same identical, loose-fitting satin tunics and shorts. Perry had had no specific mental image of what the people were going to look like, but what he was confronted with hadn't even been part of his imagination which leaned toward expecting fiercer-looking captors. Before he'd caught the glimpse of the satin outfits he'd anticipated uniforms, and he'd expected stern if not openly hostile expressions. Instead he found himself staring at the most beautiful collection of people he'd ever seen, whose faces reflected an almost divine serenity. Although the ages varied from tiny children to vigorous elders, the vast majority were in their early to midtwenties. Everyone radiated good health with lithe bodies, sparkling eyes, lustrous hair, and teeth so white they made Perry think of his own as being yellow by comparison.
"I don't believe this!" Richard gushed as he took in the spectacle. "Who are these people?" Suzanne asked, her voice an awed whisper. "I've never seen such a gorgeous group of people," Perry managed. "Every one of them. There's not even an average-looking one in the bunch."
"I feel like we're rats in a huge experiment," Donald said under his breath. "Look at them gawk at us!
And remember, appearances can be deceptive! Keep in mind these people have been toying with us for their own amusement. All this show might be some kind of trap." "But they're stunningly beautiful," Suzanne commented as she slowly turned to take in more, "particularly the children and even the aged. How could this be a trap? I can tell you one thing for sure, seeing these people certainly puts to bed for certain the idea of this being a secret Russian submarine base." "Well, they're not American either," Perry said. "There's not one overweight person in the entire crowd."
"This must be heaven," Michael said in a dazed whisper. "I think it is more like a zoo," Donald spat. "The difference is that here we're the animals." "Try to think of something positive," Suzanne suggested. "I have to say I'm relieved." "Well, there is one thing," Donald commented. "At least I don't see any weapons." "You're right!" Perry said. "That's definitely encouraging." "Of course they don't need any weapons, with us imprisoned down here and them up there," Donald added.
"I suppose that's true," Perry said. "What do you think, Suzanne?" "I can't think," Suzanne said. "This whole experience continues to be too surreal. Are we looking at a patch of sky up there?"
"It certainly looks like it," Perry said. "Do you think there is a chance we could have been transported eastward when the
Oceanus
fell down the shaft?" Suzanne asked. "I mean, could we be on one of the Azores Islands?" "The only way we're going to find out is if they decide to tell us," Donald said. "Who cares where we are," Michael said. "Check out the women! What bodies! Can they be real or are we just imagining this?"
"That's an interesting thought," Suzanne said. "Last night--or whenever it was that we ate--the food tasted as we wished. Could that be happening now with our vision? I mean, it's another sense. Maybe we're seeing what we want to see."
"That's too far out for me to even contemplate," Perry said. "I've never been a big believer in the supernatural."
"Hey, who the hell cares," Richard said. "Look at that chick with the long brown hair. What a figure! Hey, she's looking at me."
Richard smiled broadly, raised his hand, and waved enthusiastically. The woman smiled back and held up her hand, pressing her palm against the glass.
And remember, appearances can be deceptive! Keep in mind these people have been toying with us for their own amusement. All this show might be some kind of trap." "But they're stunningly beautiful," Suzanne commented as she slowly turned to take in more, "particularly the children and even the aged. How could this be a trap? I can tell you one thing for sure, seeing these people certainly puts to bed for certain the idea of this being a secret Russian submarine base." "Well, they're not American either," Perry said. "There's not one overweight person in the entire crowd."
"This must be heaven," Michael said in a dazed whisper. "I think it is more like a zoo," Donald spat. "The difference is that here we're the animals." "Try to think of something positive," Suzanne suggested. "I have to say I'm relieved." "Well, there is one thing," Donald commented. "At least I don't see any weapons." "You're right!" Perry said. "That's definitely encouraging." "Of course they don't need any weapons, with us imprisoned down here and them up there," Donald added.
"I suppose that's true," Perry said. "What do you think, Suzanne?" "I can't think," Suzanne said. "This whole experience continues to be too surreal. Are we looking at a patch of sky up there?"
"It certainly looks like it," Perry said. "Do you think there is a chance we could have been transported eastward when the
Oceanus
fell down the shaft?" Suzanne asked. "I mean, could we be on one of the Azores Islands?" "The only way we're going to find out is if they decide to tell us," Donald said. "Who cares where we are," Michael said. "Check out the women! What bodies! Can they be real or are we just imagining this?"
"That's an interesting thought," Suzanne said. "Last night--or whenever it was that we ate--the food tasted as we wished. Could that be happening now with our vision? I mean, it's another sense. Maybe we're seeing what we want to see."
"That's too far out for me to even contemplate," Perry said. "I've never been a big believer in the supernatural."
"Hey, who the hell cares," Richard said. "Look at that chick with the long brown hair. What a figure! Hey, she's looking at me."
Richard smiled broadly, raised his hand, and waved enthusiastically. The woman smiled back and held up her hand, pressing her palm against the glass.
"Hey!" Richard crooned. "She likes me!" Richard blew kisses, which made the woman smile more
broadly.
Encouraged by Richard's success, Michael made eye contact with a woman with shiny, jet black hair. She acknowledged him by putting her palm against the glass just as Richard's acquaintance had done. Michael went crazy jumping up and down and waving frantically with both hands. The woman responded by laughing heartily, although there was no sound because of the glass. Suzanne lowered her gaze and got Donald's attention. "I don't see any suggestion of hostility," she said. "They all look so peaceful."
"It's probably just a ruse," Donald said. "A way of putting us off guard." Perry reluctantly took his eyes off the beautiful people to consult with Suzanne and Donald. Richard and Michael continued their antics for the benefit of the two women. They were both trying to improvise a sign language.
"What are we going to do?" Perry asked. "I personally don't like standing here making a spectacle of myself," Donald said. "I suggest we go back to the living quarters and wait to see what happens. Obviously the ball's in their court. Let them come to us in our office, so to speak."
"But who are these people?" Suzanne questioned. "This is bizarre, like a science fiction movie." Perry was about to respond but the words stuck in his throat. He pointed over Suzanne and Donald's shoulders. One of the enclosure's walls was mysteriously opening. Behind it was a staircase leading up to the loggia.
"Well," Suzanne exclaimed. "Like you said, Donald, the ball is in their court, and I think we're being invited to a face-to-face meeting."
"What should we do?" Perry questioned nervously. "I think we should go up," Donald said. "But let's go slowly and stay together. And, Perry, you do the talking like we decided."
Richard and Michael had not seen the silent appearance of the stairway thanks to their communication gestures which had competitively progressed to pure silliness. Above, the crowd was responding gleefully to their antics which only encouraged them to new heights. But when they caught sight of the stairs, they bolted for them. They were both eager to make more intimate contact with their newfound female friends. "Hold it!" Donald barked. He'd stepped sideways to block the divers' mad dash. "Fall in! We're going as a group and Mr. Bergman is doing the talking." "I gotta meet this brunette," Richard said eagerly. "I got a date with the raven-haired honey," Michael added out of breath. Both divers tried to step around Donald, but he reached out and grasped their upper arms in a viselike
broadly.
Encouraged by Richard's success, Michael made eye contact with a woman with shiny, jet black hair. She acknowledged him by putting her palm against the glass just as Richard's acquaintance had done. Michael went crazy jumping up and down and waving frantically with both hands. The woman responded by laughing heartily, although there was no sound because of the glass. Suzanne lowered her gaze and got Donald's attention. "I don't see any suggestion of hostility," she said. "They all look so peaceful."
"It's probably just a ruse," Donald said. "A way of putting us off guard." Perry reluctantly took his eyes off the beautiful people to consult with Suzanne and Donald. Richard and Michael continued their antics for the benefit of the two women. They were both trying to improvise a sign language.
"What are we going to do?" Perry asked. "I personally don't like standing here making a spectacle of myself," Donald said. "I suggest we go back to the living quarters and wait to see what happens. Obviously the ball's in their court. Let them come to us in our office, so to speak."
"But who are these people?" Suzanne questioned. "This is bizarre, like a science fiction movie." Perry was about to respond but the words stuck in his throat. He pointed over Suzanne and Donald's shoulders. One of the enclosure's walls was mysteriously opening. Behind it was a staircase leading up to the loggia.
"Well," Suzanne exclaimed. "Like you said, Donald, the ball is in their court, and I think we're being invited to a face-to-face meeting."
"What should we do?" Perry questioned nervously. "I think we should go up," Donald said. "But let's go slowly and stay together. And, Perry, you do the talking like we decided."
Richard and Michael had not seen the silent appearance of the stairway thanks to their communication gestures which had competitively progressed to pure silliness. Above, the crowd was responding gleefully to their antics which only encouraged them to new heights. But when they caught sight of the stairs, they bolted for them. They were both eager to make more intimate contact with their newfound female friends. "Hold it!" Donald barked. He'd stepped sideways to block the divers' mad dash. "Fall in! We're going as a group and Mr. Bergman is doing the talking." "I gotta meet this brunette," Richard said eagerly. "I got a date with the raven-haired honey," Michael added out of breath. Both divers tried to step around Donald, but he reached out and grasped their upper arms in a viselike
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