ALMOST ISLAND 



to be able in time to pull the ladder clear of the pass- 

 ing danger. In the event of its happening, the only 

 thing to do would be to leap clear of the ladder and 

 go hand over hand up the hose. 



My ridge proved to be the last projection I could 

 reach, and far from its catching on the ladder, I 

 found I could only touch here and there by dangling 

 full length, straight down from the lowest rung. 

 Beyond lay a valley of shadows, then more sand, 

 and my last view showed two grandfathers of all 

 groupers, at least six feet in length, turning slowly 

 and looking up at me. I had a moment's wild desire 

 to let go and try to cross the sandy deserts and 

 clamber the intervening reef mountains between 

 me and Almost Island a quarter mile away. Then 

 I remembered my limitations and ceased wishing to 

 impose too great a strain upon my wonderful re- 

 lations with the sea. 



I climbed leisurely, my body and legs floating 

 out behind, and again passed through the zone of 

 star dust and Aurelias, and before I knew it the hel- 

 met was whisked off, I was asked what I had seen, 

 and at once the perfection of my inarticulate vi- 

 sions began to be dissected and distorted by being 

 forced into the pitifully inadequate vehicle of hu- 

 man speech and writing. 



55 



