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Then Jerry shot down to watch Stefan Karsky dieto catch the last splendid moments. He positioned himself just inches from Karsky's mask. A surge of recognition and a hand went up to grab Jerry. But there was no strength in it. His diaphragm shuddered for air that would not come. The snorkel sank loosely in his teeth, making an absurd grin around the bit. A few lazy bubbles trickled from the corners of his mouth. His arms began to curl into his chest. Though the mask was still in place, it was half-flooded. A froth of mucus had filled the nose cavity. But what especially caught Jerry's attention was Karsky's eyes. They seemed to fill his facemask. Stop-action terrorthe look was like catnip to Jerry. |
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Jerry had watched many people die up close, first in Vietnam, then in his stateside trade. He was certain he could detect the exact moment of deathnot in the final heartbeat or the last breath or when he heard the rattle. No. He could catch it in the eyes in that split moment when they passed from light to eternal sightlessness. It was like trying to catch the green flash of a tropical sunset. Conditions had to be just right, and you couldn't blink or you'd miss it. Like the green flash, it was elusive but just as rewarding. |
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Jerry pressed his mask close until it nearly touched Karsky's. He held the man's face in his hands and watched life flit from the eyes. The green flash. |
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Jerry corkscrewed to the surface, heart pounding as if he had just made love. The water was still clear of bathers but a few more people had arrived at the beach. He had perhaps fifteen, twenty minutes before bathers came out. He gulped air, then kicked back down. |
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The dead man made pop-eyes at him. Like a fish. With a knife he exploded the tube and removed it from the body. He raised the man's shirt and examined the skin. No bruises or abrasions. The inflation tube had embraced him like a pillow; and without fins, the man could never get enough kick to leave pressure marks. Stefan Karsky had drowned with no signs of foul play, as the newspaper would report. |
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Jerry fitted a fin back on Karsky's left foot, straightened out the legs and back, and set the orange snorkel so that he appeared to be watching the fish. He pushed the body into deeper water and |
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