Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17 With Hugo somewhat subdued, Anton must have been able to wiggle his feet and legs the way Lester had told him to, because Dan saw that his head and shoulders were leaning back, as if he were trying to lie on top of the sand. The waves were lapping at his neck and chin. "Good, you're in position now," Lester said as calmly as if he were giving a tennis lesson. "Pretend like you're floating on your back— move your arms and legs like you're swimming." Dan watched in amazement as the rest of Anton's body gradually emerged from the quicksand. "Any minute now, you should be able to roll out," Lester said. Sure enough, a few moments later, Anton "swam" onto firmer sand and rolled onto his stomach. He pushed himself up on his hands and

knees and panted, looking so much like a giant breed of dog that Dan almost laughed. "Your turn," Lester said to Hugo. "Start wiggling your feet and legs." Hugo ignored him. "Get over here and pull me out!" he yelled at Anton. "He can't pull you out," Lester said. "The suction's too strong. You'll have to do what he did to get out." "Do like he says," Anton said. "GIMME YOUR HAND!" Hugo bellowed. Anton shrugged. Then he lay down on his stomach and put out his hand. Hugo grabbed it and Anton started pulling. Hugo struggled against the muck. "NO!" Lester yelled. "You're churning up the sand—" Instead of being pulled out, Hugo sank in further. "LET GO!" Anton yelled. "You're pulling me in!" Hugo responded by grabbing on to Anton's arm

with both hands. Anton made a fist with his free hand. "Let go or I'll bash your nose again!" he threatened. The quicksand was moving, sliding around and rippling as if it were a living thing. Now Hugo and Lester were both up to their armpits in the mire. Hugo was much taller than Lester; the waves were lapping at his chin. But they were washing over Lester's mouth. Just then the crest of a bigger wave broke over them. Lester managed to hold his breath in time, but Hugo emerged coughing and spluttering. "Okay, okay!" he choked out. "I'll do it your way!" He glared at Lester, then looked up at Anton. "Hold him so he don't get in my way." Anton grabbed one of Lester's arms, although Dan could see it that it was totally unnecessary. Lester wasn't getting in anyone's way. "Go on," Lester said. "Lean back, wiggle your feet." He held his breath as another wave washed over him. Hugo was mired deeper than Anton had been, so it was taking him longer to get his body into

position. Now Lester could only take a breath by stretching his head up between waves. "Lester!" Dan shouted. "Forget about him— save yourself!" He looked over his shoulder. Where were the girls? Hugo finally rolled out of the quicksand. "Let's blow," Anton said. "Wait!" Dan cried out. "You're just gonna leave him? After he helped you?" Hugo shrugged. "Whatcha want us to do, kid? He said it himself, we can't pull him out." "That's what he said," Anton agreed. They began splashing their way toward the beach, leaving Dan at the edge of the quicksand pit with Lester all but fully submerged. Dan glanced around frantically. No sign of Amy or Nellie. He looked at Lester, who was leaning back, obviously wiggling his legs in the quicksand. Dan knew that Lester could get himself out— if he didn't run out of air.

He thought he'd have enough time. He didn't count on the waves getting bigger so fast. Another wave crested, and Dan saw to his horror that Lester could no longer take a breath between waves; his head was completely underwater. A tube, like a snorkel, Dan thought desperately. Some sort of tube he could stick in Lester's mouth that would clear the top of the waves so he could breathe… Dan patted his pockets frantically. Nothing there. Nothing anywhere except water that was getting deeper by the minute. Lester was still leaning back, working his legs and feet toward the surface. But as Dan watched, Lester's eyes began bugging out. He was almost out of air. Dan had never felt so helpless. If he grabbed Lester and tried to pull him out, it would only make things worse. Should he run back to try to find help? No! I can't leave him here alone— I'm all he's

got! And in that moment, Dan knew what to do. Dan dropped to his hands and knees in the water. It was getting hard to tell where the edges of the pit were; he just had to trust that the sand would stay firm beneath him. He took a huge breath and puffed his cheeks out, leaning over so Lester could see him clearly. Lester jerked his head in a nod. He understood what Dan was doing. Dan plunged his face into the water. He found Lester's mouth with his own and exhaled all the air in his lungs. Then he surfaced and wiped away the water streaming into his eyes. It worked! Between waves, he could see Lester smiling! "YES!" Dan pumped his fist once. A few more breaths should give Lester enough time to get out. He inhaled, went under, and gave Lester a second breath. This time Lester gave him a thumbs–up. Dan was ecstatic. He still couldn't see the lower half of