Whilst Astra had slept, the raft had drifted down-river as far as the Aryn
Ocean. There was just enough light for her dimly to see the white foam of
the waves breaking on the shore now some one hundred yards behind her.
Astra cursed herself for having slept for so long - over twelve hours by her reckoning. She did not know whether the point at which the river had reached the sea was still in Hespan territory or whether it was in one of the Eastern Kingdoms; if the latter, it would probably make things a lot easier. Even if it was the former, though, she could not stay with the raft, for the odds were that she would die of hunger or thirst before she made landfall or was picked up by a boat. No, she would have to try to swim to the shore. That might not be easy, judging by the rate that either the river's outflow or the tide seemed to be carrying the raft away from the shore. In the minute or so that she had been pondering her options, the breakers seemed to have become noticeably more distant. Astra reluctantly removed her slippers, skirt, doublet, hat and veil - for it would not be practical to attempt to swim in them - leaving her in her bloomers and the diaphanous blouse. She retained on her fingers the "knuckle-dusters" that Zari had given her. Then she jumped into the sea and made for the shore.
|
7/6/2004 11:52:13 AM
Extending Enabled
21393228 episodes viewed since 9/30/2002 1:22:06 PM.