When I woke I was comfortable until I moved. Then I felt as though I’d been in a fight with the toughs from the recycling dump. I couldn’t lift my arms above my shoulders and every time I turned my head I had to stifle a wince. I ached. I was also alive. It was a reasonable trade.
Someone was shouting from onshore. I tried to ignore it. It didn’t go away. Then the phone buzzed. They weren’t going to leave me alone.
When I got up into the deck house I saw there were two people waiting for me. Milo and Daisy. The tide was well up. If they wanted to see me they could jump down on to the pontoon. I opened the door.
“Good morning.”
“Are you all right?” Daisy, voice sharp with anxiety.
“Never better. Don’t fuss.”
“Milo told me what happened. You’re lucky to be alive.”
“As long as I haven’t swallowed too many lethal parasites, I’ll survive.”
Milo didn’t like that. “You’ll let the medics check you over?”
“Worried I might sue?” I don’t know why I was annoyed. It wasn’t his fault.
“Of course not. I’m worried about you.”
“No need.”
They were both just standing there and I gave in. “You’d better come aboard.”
Milo would have preferred it if Daisy had found an urgent reason to return to work, but she wasn’t leaving till she’d heard every detail. I let them both settle while I made caf and ate some of yesterday’s bread. Daisy was first to show impatience.
“Sit down, Humility. I want to know what happened.”
“The ladder broke away from the wall as I was coming down it. I must have eaten even more than I thought last night.”
She glanced sideways at Milo. The interrogation about last night would come later when he wasn’t there. “How did you get out?”
“Yes. How?” Remembered shock was in Milo’s voice. “I couldn’t see. I thought you’d been swept away.”
I explained about the rope and Daisy shook her head at my luck. Milo found it hard to believe.
“You should be dead! Just think about it…
“I’d rather not.”
I was discovering I didn’t want to think about it at all. I didn’t want to remember the horror of the fall, the shock of the water, the eternity of fighting the living river and knowing I could not possibly win. My sore hands were shaking. I held them carefully between my knees and hoped neither of my visitors had seen.
Milo had tried to take my hands when he first came in, looking hurt when I wouldn’t let him. Then he’d seen that underneath the quick-heal I’d sprayed on they were raw from the rope and torn where the rusty ladder had been ripped from my grasp. He’d winced, tried to conceal his revulsion, and looked away. Now he and Daisy were both watching me. I shook my head.
“It’s over. I’m not hurt. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
I wasn’t sure either of them agreed. Wasn’t sure if that last statement was true. Didn’t want to talk about it.
“Haven’t either of you got jobs to do?”
Daisy looked at her chrono and swore. “Yes. I do. We’ll talk later.”
I wished she sounded less threatening. When she left I discovered I’d rather she had stayed. Milo looked serious.
“I want you to come and stay with me.”
“Milo…”
“No. Listen. It’s not the same question as last night.”
“It sounded a bit like an order.” It came out cool. I don’t like orders.
“I’m sorry. But you must see the sense of it. You can’t know how long repairs will take.”
“I can use the dinghy to get to another landing.”
He didn’t know enough about boats to know I couldn’t possibly use oars for a couple of days yet.
“Humility, listen…”
“No, Milo. You listen. I won’t leave the Pig just because I fell in the water…”
“You nearly drowned!”
“Nearly. And I still don’t want to leave. I’m comfortable here and if I have any aches and pains to nurse I would rather do it in my own home. Alone.”
I’d forgotten aristos were seldom direct, and used to getting what they wanted. He looked both hurt and angry, but I was too sore to feel sympathetic. I waited, feeling the stiffness in my face and unable to do anything about it. He let out an exasperated breath.
“Your choice. If you change your mind, call me. I’ll put a priority on your name. The call will find me. Take care.”
“Thanks.”
He didn’t kiss me when he left.
Now I’d won I was shaky again. I didn’t move from the support of the deckhouse door when I watched him take the high step which was all that was needed to take him ashore.