Something gurgled around his ears. He was still falling, but a lot slower, and the texture of the air had changed…

Water. You're in the water.

That must be the ground where I'm going. Man, just look at those jagged pieces of rock.

I don't think I want to be going there.

And then, his instincts came back. He moved his arms back in a powerful stroke, steering himself upwards. The surface came closer fast, a field of blinding brightness compared to the cool, gloomy shades of blue and green of what lay below. But still it was far above his head. The gurgling of the water was deafening. Spots of red were dancing before his eyes. A salty taste was in his mouth, sickeningly salty. Up! Air! There was room for nothing else in his mind. A hot pain was building up in his lungs, trying to force his clenched jaws open, urging him to suck in – anything, anything out there. And the brightness was coming closer, closer, but still not fast enough, closer, his lungs were about to explode, closer, the blackness was reaching for him once more, closer, ever closer, almost there, he couldn't hold his breath any longer, his jaw snapped open…

And he was there. The light engulfed him, and his head came up through the surface. Treading water hard, he greedily inhaled a huge mouthful of air. He saw the sun in the sky, saw the small white clouds, saw the tower of Knox's seaside dwelling – so far above! – and knew he was alive.

Ye gods.

The shore seemed very far off.

Summoning all his strength, he started swimming towards it. But he felt so limp, so… drowsy… No, don't black out right now! You'll make it. It's not that far, you're almost there…

Let's face it. You're too tired.

No, I'm not going to drown! Not after all I went through yesterday!

Not before Knox has given me those five hundred dollars, God damn it! And twenty extra!

He ploughed through the water as fast as he could, feeling exhaustion drag down his limbs, down into the darkness below. But he would not give up. Not him. Not now.

It really wasn't far anymore now.

He continued fighting the salty waves. Several times they met over his head, making him swallow water, but every time he came up again and swam on. At last there was ground under his bare feet. He struggled onwards, staggered, fell, crawled out onto the golden sand, pulled himself away from the water. He got up to his hands and knees and spat several times, until the sickening taste of salt wasn't so overwhelmingly strong anymore.

I made it! I jumped!

And then his resources were spent, and he collapsed and remained lying where he was, one foot still washed over by the waves. The sudden emptiness of his mind was so wonderfully comforting…

Someone was prodding him, fussing over him, but he didn't care. He didn't want this refreshing feeling of blankness to go right now.

Then he was turned around, and he looked right up into Vivian's face. What was it that shone in her eyes? Anger? Or was it concern?

"My God, Anthony, you could have gotten yourself killed…"

He smiled up at her weakly. But I didn't. I'm too good to die.

Death, I defy you.

There were Mikey and Paulie, too, bending over him.

Right now, at this moment and in this place, life was good.

"Anthony!" It was Knox, running towards them. "Thank God, you crazy boy, you're alive!"

Why God? I don't need God to protect me. I'll manage on my own.

Knox knelt down beside him. "Just imagine what Morgan would have said if anything had happened to you just now!"

Benji? Yeah, Benji. What would he have said?

No idea. Doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm not going to let anything happen to me.

After all, I'm an Assassin.

Grinning up at Knox, he wished that his parents could see him now. They surely would be proud.

For you, Mother and Father, I will not allow anything to happen to me. For you I will live.

Can you hear me, Death? I defy thee.