My feet hit the wood and I follow Morgan to the end.

She turns to me, holding out her hand.

I feel that icicle along my spine again. I look at my watch. “I can’t do it. I can’t swim.”

“You can too! We have to save Diesel.”

I shake my head. Lift it to see a wave sweeping over him.

“Take my hand. Trust me!” Morgan’s grey eyes lock on to mine.

Trust, trust. Am I just imagining Diesel’s thoughts inside my head?

I blink and look down at her fingers, which are waving impatiently.

We can save our whole pack together.

I sigh and grab at them. We both jump in.

The water smacks me like a wet hand, burning into my nose and making me cough.

“Swim underwater but stay with me,” Morgan says.

The water looks green, much darker than the pool, but I allow myself to sink, then follow Morgan’s glowing white legs. We swim and swim till I need to come up for air. Diesel flounders just a metre away.

“Make sure to lift his head up. I’ll get his back.”

I’ve got your back — her famous saying. Now she will have my dog’s. I move slower on top of the water. I catch a mouthful of water and cough again.

“Don’t panic. We only have to swim a little more and then we can walk him in.”

I push myself forward. Still able to breathe, still in control. But Diesel looks limp, like roadkill in the water. I gulp and push harder.

“We’re almost there. I’ve got his hips.”

I wrap my arm around his shoulders. His head feels too heavy. My other arm stretches ahead; my knees fold and then straighten behind me. Once, twice …

“Oh my god. Luanne, stay in the stroller!” Morgan suddenly calls.

I look up in time to see her tumble out and scramble to her feet. “No, baby. Don’t come in the water!”

She giggles and toddles forward.

“You don’t have your water wings on. Go back!” I yell.

She keeps coming. She’s up to her knees now. A wave hits her and she stops for a moment, looking startled. When the second one hits, she falls backward.

She isn’t laughing now. She isn’t making a sound. She’s not even trying to get up.

“Dad!” I scream. “Mom!” I wave. They are so far away.

Dad suddenly turns and looks. He jumps to his feet, points, and yells to Mom. They break into a run. Dad’s a former track star, and his legs stretch long like a giraffe’s. Can he make it in time?

I can’t chance it. Heart in my mouth, I let go of Diesel and rush to Luanne. In five strides, I duck down and scoop her out of the water. She sputters and then wails.

Turning back, I see Morgan dragging Diesel, but his head hangs limp in that water-filled cone. Morgan sobs.

Can I leave Baby Luanne on the shore and rush back to help? Or is it too big a risk?