Inconveniently Taken By Water

The water is now up to Terence's waist.

The cuttlefish has swum off.

Terence wishes it hadn't.

It could have told Gaius what happened, after Terence had sunk into the sand. 

Then Gaius would know where to dig.

But now he wouldn't.

However...

At the moment the top half of Terence is still visible.

And here is Gaius now.

Hold still! says Gaius.

That's the only thing I CAN do, says Terence.

I'm coming in, says Gaius.

 He takes off his clogs.

And steps into the water.

He grabs hold of Terence and pulls.

Help! cries Terence.

I am helping, says Gaius. You need to help too. Wriggle your toes a bit.

Terence wriggles his toes in the sand and feels himself rising.

Sque-e-elchhh! He has now fallen backwards, on top of Gaius.

Curses! says Gaius. I mean no, not curses, at least you are out.

They both stand up, and the rescue is complete.

Are you all right? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. But I thought I was done for.

Indeed, says Gaius. What caused you to enter the water?

Roo-kai found a Nachoo, says Terence. And it floated away. Then he found another one and asked me to hold it.

I see, says Gaius. And where is it now?

Terence looks at the surface of the water where the second Nachoo might logically be.

But it has floated away like the first one.

I suppose it can't be helped, says Gaius. 

No, says Terence. It can't be.

Pity, says Gaius.

But it wasnt my fault, says Terence.

I didn't say it was, says Gaius.

So are you sorry for me? asks Terence.

But Gaius knows a trap when he hears it.

No, says Gaius. Maybe you should be sorry for me.

Why? asks Terence.

Then he sees why.

Gaius's clogs are floating out to sea and have already reached deeper water.

I shall have to swim out and retrieve them, says Gaius.

He rolls up his shorts and dives in.

Terence is disappointed that this has happened. 

He's lost the moment to ask for a horse.

Or anything really.