She heard the sound of cursing as Gabrielle shoved Bash directly beneath the hatch and then lifted one of his arms up towards her. Megan secured a good solid grip on his hand.

Cmon, Bash, she muttered, trying hard not to topple back through. Climb the fuck up for mommy.

Bashs pupils contracted in the bright daylight, his other arm hanging uselessly by his side. Megan fought back a sudden wave of despair. What if they couldnt get him out? What then?

Climb, damn you, she cried, finally losing her temper. Get the fuck up here, you son of a bitch. You were able to talk to her, so dont stand there pretending you dont fucking understand me!

She could feel now she was close to losing it. Shed had too little respite from a constant struggle for survival over the past several days. Up, damn you! she yelled. Climb up!

In that same moment Bash blinked, then she saw him reach up with his spare hand, his fingers tightening around the hatchs coaming.

Her heart began to thud. He heard me.

She held on to him, pulling and grunting with the sheer effort. Gabrielle was doing her best to help him climb up, but the space was too tight and the angle too difficult for her to be of any real use.

The muscles in Bashs arm flexed, and he rose up and through the hatch. Megan grabbed hold of his shoulders as he emerged, and let out a cry of delight.

Thats my baby! she yelled, putting all her strength into hauling him the rest of the way out. It felt like delivering the worlds largest child. He was soon crouching on the hull, staring mindlessly off towards the horizon, while Gabrielle also climbed out.

Shouldnt we get out of here? she said, her face shiny with perspiration.

Megan nodded, then carefully began to work her way down the smooth expanse of the hull to where it curved into the water below.

I think I can jump down from here, she said over her shoulder. It doesnt look too deep.

She slid a little further, then gravity took over, and she began to slide, her feet and hands skittering helplessly. She fell through the air for a brief moment, then landed feet-first in the freezing cold water barely a second later. The water came up to her waist, deep and cold enough to make her teeth chatter. Bash next, she called back up.

How? Gabrielle yelled back, in exasperation.

Just . . . give him a goddamn push, okay? Hes like a cat. Hell land the right way up.

I hope.

Bash came sliding down the hull a moment later, his feet and hands trying and failing to find purchase on the surface. He landed with an almighty splash, then came upright, shaking his head like a dog and sending off a spray of water.