Dimly, she heard Marc shouting anxiously, “Kate, Kate, are you badly hurt?” She got herself up on one knee, staggering as pain shot through her head, and he bellowed at her to stay down. “I can manage, but if you go overboard in this sea I shall not be able to do a thing about it!” They fought their way doggedly, the coast shim- mering through mountains of spray, but the wind was driving them off all the time. They rounded a sheer cliff and Kate gasped in horror as she saw black rocks rising up, their jagged points like broken teeth above the water. Marc was desperately trying to avoid them, but the wind was too strong. A grinding crash, the sound of splintering wood, and Kate again felt herself thrown about like a rag doll. This time icy water engulfed her. Panic made her strike out furiously, arms flailing. The cold water seemed to be dragging at her, pulling her downwards. Then Marc swam up at her side, grabbing her by the throat from behind, turning her on to her back in a deft rolling movement.
