‘You have a real tan,’ Diana said to him as the three of them walked over to the pool.

‘A farmer’s tan,’ David said. ‘You two look pretty fine yourselves.’

Constance always did. The change was more noticeable in his sister whose body was firmer now and less bloated, whose face had been smoothed by rest and pleasure. David regretted that he hadn’t opted for at least three weeks, but he had needed to be conservative on this first adventure.

Constance took up her usual place by the sheltering wall, and David sat down with her to watch Diana swim. He wondered if he could persuade his sister to take up swimming at home. He was far more aware of her imprisonment than he was of Constance’s and wondered if Diana’s disproportionate guilt was in part a way of not blaming Constance for their isolated circumstance.

When Diana got out of the pool, she came over to Constance and said, ‘Won’t you try it if I stay right with you?’

Constance looked at David as if he might offer some protection from this suggestion.

‘I’ll go in, too,’ he offered.

Reluctantly Constance took off her wrap and walked with them to the steps at the shallow end. The warmth of the water surprised and pleased her, but it took her time to go down from one step to another. The water, when she finally stood on the bottom, covered her breasts, and David realized, as he stood only waist deep, that already she’d feel possessed by the water. He and Diana stood on either side of her, neither making any suggestions. Slowly Constance walked to the side of the pool, and Diana walked with her. David remained where he was, watching. Constance turned back to him.

‘Shall I swim?’ she asked Diana.

‘I think you can.’

Already Constance’s feet were off the bottom as she hung on to the side of the pool. She pushed off, her face in the water, and swam to David who caught her by the hands to support her while she found her footing.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘This is a very wet experience.’

She set off from David and swam back to Diana who stood there at the edge of the pool, laughing.

‘I’m quite good at this,’ Constance said, recovering herself.

She set off again, this time swimming past David to the other edge of the pool.

‘There’s really nothing to it,’ she said.

David could not even regret that it had taken her two weeks to gather up her courage. That she was swimming was enough to vindicate them in the risks they had been taking for all their sakes. David swam off himself, wearing his hat and sunglasses, smug old turtle under the desert sun.

— 12 —