handle with both hands, and gave a titanic tug.

 

The door opened fully.

 

He reached inside and grabbed Puller’s arm and next the waist of the woman. He

didn’t know if they were unconscious or even alive.

 

But if they were still alive they wouldn’t be for long unless he got them out of

the water.

 

He kicked off hard to the surface. A few moments later he broke it cleanly and

hauled them up, one on his right, one on his left. He used his legs to kick to

shore, careful to hold their faces out of the water.

 

Both were wheezing and spitting up water, but their eyes remained closed and

they made no move to free themselves from his grip or try to swim on their own.

 

He set them both on land. Then he rose, dripping wet, and examined them more

closely.

 

Puller was breathing hard. He turned to the side and upchucked water. When his

eyes fluttered and he looked like he might try to sit up, Rogers reached down,

gripped his neck, and gave a squeeze firm enough to cut off a substantial part

of his airflow. The weakened Puller gave a shudder and passed out.