they had to get out of the damn car first. “Knox! Knox! Wake up!” He reached up,

shook her violently, then slapped her face. “Knox!” He heard her sputter and

then choke as water entered her mouth. “What…what?” she began groggily.

 

Puller had to arch back to keep the water out of his mouth.

 

He pulled his gun but knew it was no good. He should have done that sooner. A

mistake. Probably now a fatal one.

 

Unlike in the movies, guns immersed in water did not fire. But with nothing to

lose, he pointed it at the car window and pulled the trigger.

 

Nothing happened.

 

The water was now up to his eyes. Even arching back he couldn’t keep his mouth

out of it. He started to sputter and choke on the foul stuff.

 

He rammed his big feet against the glass, but he couldn’t get any momentum

pushing through the water.

 

Holding Knox up, he put his back against the steering wheel, torqued his body,

put his feet against the door and pushed, slowly, methodically. He was using

every ounce of his considerable strength. He could feel the door give, but only

a bit.