Читать книгу Into the Abyss. Diving to Adventure in the Liquid World онлайн

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Derek motored round me perfectly, just as I had told him. The rope closed in on me and as it came past me I grabbed hold of it and he slowly took up the slack. I flipped the rope over one ski and got myself into the start position - skis upright, arms outstretched and rope between the skis.

Once I was ready I looked up and saw Derek standing up at the stern of the boat looking at me, waiting until I was ready. He had one hand on the tiller throttle of the engine. I looked at my skis and shouted out “Hit it”. I heard the engine roar and I was pulled forward, but not with enough torque to get up. I was dragged through the water in a mass of white water for a second or two. My arms felt as though they were being pulled right out of their sockets - I realised I wasn’t going to get up on this occasion. I let go of the ski rope handle and sank down into the water.

Once the motion subsided I looked up to see what had happened and saw the boat careering off to one side – there was no sign of Derek. My God, I thought, what has happened? Where is Derek? Has he slipped and fallen?