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eyond the sandy beech that was renewed by
the frequent tropical storms. There were bright colored fish, green and
brown seaweed, and broken coral formations, some white and dead, some
brightly colored with life. We passed over a deep dark pool where it
looked like the bottom dropped out from under the lagoon for a few
hundred meters, and as the bottom rose to meet us and there was more and
more coral. We were approaching the reef.
I got Mary's attention and then pointed to the surface and stood up,
treading water. I pulled out my snorkel as Nana's head surfaced beside me.
"We've got to be careful of the coral," I said. "We really ought to have
worn gloves, at the very least."
"Right," Nana Horiuchi said. "Let's stay away from the main part of the reef."
Suddenly, there was a swirl of water. "My legs!" Nana Horiuchi screamed, and then
went under.
I ducked my head under the surface in time to see some kind of huge fish
lunge at her. A shark? What ever it was, it got Mary and swam quickly
away with Nana's body sticking out of its mouth. Nana Horiuchi was gone. I bit my
snorkel, blew out the water, and then looked around, my heart pounding.
Should I try to rescue her? Should I run away? Was there anything I
could do?
Th
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