Costigan's Needle by Jerry Sohl

Author:Jerry Sohl
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: science fiction, time travel, star trek, twilight zone, parallel universes, medical research
Publisher: ReAnimus Press

Part Two: Displacement

10

The lights went out and his chair was pulled from beneath him. It was purely a reflex action, the gasp that Devan gave, but it served him well because before he expelled the breath he was surrounded by water. This was unexpected and frightening and he thrashed about wildly. The more he struggled, the more he needed new air and the more need there was for him to reach the surface, so he increased his efforts and still he did not emerge....

Reason took over and he stopped working his arms and legs so frantically. Though the water was heavy against his eardrums and his lungs ached for air, he forced himself to remain calm. In a moment his face popped into cold air and he breathed huge chunks of wonderful air.

After several gulps of fresh air he became aware of the commotion around him, the churning and splashing of many people, occasional bits of water spattering his face, the cries of men and women, the gurgling sounds as people went under. He kicked himself as high out of the water as he could, saw faintly a dark clump of something that looked as if it might be land to his left, started to swim toward it.

A hand grasped his shoulder, fingernails cutting in deep. An arm circled his neck and threatened to cut off his air. He could hear hoarse breathing in his ear. With this added weight he sank beneath the waves, hearing a confusion of sounds as he went down. His assailant did not move but clung tighter instead.

Using both hands and summoning all his strength, Devan pried the arm away from around his neck. He kicked for the surface just as the other arm went around his neck and the body moved to face him. They shot through the surface, gasping for breath. In the dim light of night as they bobbed on the water he could see the woman’s terrified, wild-eyed face. It belonged to Betty Peredge. She was looking through him.

He slapped her hard. Recognition came into her eyes.

“Let go, Betty!”

“I—I can’t!” she sobbed, struggling closer, clinging frantically to him. They went under again. This time he pushed violently upward and as they emerged he struck at her head with his fist.

She let go for a moment, would have grabbed him again if he hadn’t got hold of her long hair, held her away, her head dipping in and out of the water, her nails making shreds of the skin of his arm.

“Stop it!” he yelled.

Betty hung onto his arm, taking deep breaths and coughing.

“I’ll take you to shore,” he said. “Relax.”

He came up behind her and she did not resist. He cupped one hand under her chin and towed her on her back. She grabbed his hand occasionally, then remembered and let go. In a matter of moments they were making progress in one direction, but Devan was at a disadvantage because he could not lift himself out of the water to see where he was going.

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