Eve's Men (36 page)
Authors: Newton Thornburg
The Coast Guard had other ideas, however. Moving in close, they forced him to work against the wash of the boat, which was considerable. At the same time, one of the crewmen eased the doughnutlike raft into the water and slipped down into it, extending a boat hook out to the swimmer in the apparent expectation that he would give up and take hold, let himself be pulled to safety. But Brian didn’t reach for the hook, nor did he seem at all bothered by the boat’s wash or by whatever it was the officer was shouting at him through the bullhorn. He simply went on swimming, and the patrol boat patiently plowed along next to him, until they were both out of the cove and heading into the Sound.
Eve had wrapped herself in the blanket again and was leaning back against Charley, trembling in the circle of his arms. He could tell by her breathing that she was trying hard not to cry. For himself, he felt angry more than anything else, reflecting that even now, at the very end of his tether, his brother had to put on a show, do it
his
way.
Finally, though, just as Brian and the Coast Guard boat had begun to fade into the mist, Charley saw him reach up and take hold of the boat hook. Quickly then he was pulled aboard, first into the raft, then into the boat itself.
Eve shivered violently. “Oh, thank God! Thank God! I was afraid he’d just dive under and disappear!”
“Me too,” Charley said, though long experience had taught him that Brian loved life—and himself—far too much to choose death over surrender.
As the patrol boat headed back towards them, Eve turned in Charley’s arms. “Hold me tight,” she said. “And don’t ever let go, okay?”
“Never?”
“Never.”
Charley’s arms tightened around her. “You’ve got it,” he said.
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