Chapter 14

"Mike, where is he?" Jack flashed a light across the soft waves. "The surface is still agitated, so he must not have gone down long ago."

"I'm going in," Michael exclaimed as he slipped out of his shoes and dove in fully clothed.

"Sam! Come on, surface, dammit!" Jack ran across the slick tiled surface, slipping and sliding on spots of wet tile, and found a bank of switches. He turned them all on, and the overhead lights came to life. He rushed back to the deep end where he saw two shadowy figures. They seemed to become one under the shifting surface, and suddenly they broke through. Michael gasped for air and tried to hold Sam's still body aloft. Jack jumped in and helped him bring Sam to the edge of the pool, and they got out, picked him up and dropped him as gently as they could on the tile surface. Michael ripped the tape off Sam's mouth while Jack slipped a knife from his pocket and severed the tape around his wrists. As Jack worked on the ankle bindings, Michael started rescue breathing.

Jack tested several of Sam's pulse points as he worked his way up to his chest. "He doesn't have a pulse, Mike." Jack ripped open Sam's shirt, used his knife to cut the undershirt, and began chest compressions. They worked together, frantically trying to bring life back to their friend.

Not even running feet could get their attention. Then someone reached out, pulled them away, and left them to stand watching helplessly. Several pairs of hands lifted Sam away from the water and onto a dry blanket. A paramedic took over CPR while another placed leads on Sam's chest with quick efficiency. Someone placed a mask over his face and forced air into him. Michael and Jack watched helplessly as they shocked Sam.

"Nothing. Try it again."

The unit charged, and when it was ready, the paramedic announced. "Clear." Everyone backed off, and he shocked Sam again. "Nope. Let's try it again."

One more time. One last hope. Again, they were unsuccessful, and the paramedic shook his head.

"No, you can't stop!" Jack pulled out of the hands that held him and rushed forward. "Just give him one more chance!" He fell to his knees near Sam's head, the air sucking in and out of his own chest as if his breaths could somehow bring his friend back to life.

"Okay, clear." The charge ran through Sam's body, his back arched again, and nothing happened. They hung their heads. One paramedic studied his watch. "Time of..." Blip...Blip... Blip.

Everyone's eyes rose and they looked at each other. After a few seconds they finally inhaled and stared at the monitor in disbelief as it began to show signs of a heart coming back to normal rhythm. Jack was a big, strong guy, but he wasn't afraid to shed tears of relief. The beeping strengthened as the paramedics worked on Sam and finished preparing him for transport.

Sam had been floating around for awhile. The water was warm, inviting, and he wasn't afraid of drowning in it. It was light everywhere, and he couldn't see any details, but he knew that wherever he was, it provided a safe haven. He tried calling out, but he couldn't hear his own voice. It was still and quiet, peaceful. He could get used to it. Then something slammed him into a hard surface. Not just once, but three more times. He heard voices, a beeping sound, and when he tried to take a breath, it was as if his lungs were paralyzed. It was too hard, too draining to regain consciousness. He gave in and fell under the cover of oblivion.

As he became aware again, he heard soft voices. They sounded so far away. He tried to move toward them, but he was tied down. No, he was bound with duct tape. He moaned through the tape across his mouth and stirred, feeling a pressure in his chest. The voices grew excited and rose in volume. If he could just get closer, maybe they could help him! He felt the light feathery touch of a woman's hand and heard her voice. Yvette. But wasn't she drowning in the ocean? He dove in and tried to save her. He must have failed. Sam wanted to cry, because he loved her and she was lost to the water. A great sense of weariness overcame him, and he succumbed again.

Three days. It's been three days since they pulled you from the water. Why won't you wake up? The sounds of tears and words worked themselves into Sam's brain. He swore he heard them speaking to him on many occasions. He wanted to wake up, he really did. But it was too hard.

Daddy this math is too hard. I can't do it!

Yes you can, sweetheart. You're smart, you can master this!

Mr. Axe, I don't understand why a stupid battle from two hundred years ago is going to have any meaning for me.

A famous man once said that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

These kids need our help!

You've got a lot of people counting on you, Son. Don't let them down.

Mr. Axe...Sam...Sammy...Honey...

Too many voices calling out to him. Pulling at him to come back. Out of all of them, he missed his wife and family the most. He wanted to be able to see his kids grow up, graduate, make something of themselves and have great lives. His will to see that happen overcame everything, and on the fourth day, he mentally crawled out of the hole he was in and opened his eyes.