As if on cue an ominous gust of wind caused her sun dress to shift. It annoyed her no end and she couldn't ignore the urge to straighten it. Fiona shifted the hemline; it got her full attention and distracted her from answering him.
Seizing the moment the young man said, "There's a great deal of wind but I've been navigating these waters all my life." He grinned enthusiastically, "Don't worry I'll get us there safely, you won't be planning on staying on the island all day now as that would cost you plenty."
"No, just an hour at most," she replied.
"Good because it may not look like it, but this old glass bottom boat is in popular demand," he said with a greedy gleam in his eye, "I would hate to miss out on the extra earnings from tourists. Are you ready to leave now?"
"Wait…now? You mean you want us to go to the island now," she said incredulously.
She had been thinking of changing out of her sun dress into something more comfortable like khaki trousers and a matching blouse.
He pushed, "Why not? This is the perfect time; most people are having lunch and with preparations for the Sunday festival ongoing no one will notice us. With this windy weather we'll be back from there in no time."
Seeing her wavering because she had not planned to leave immediately.
He held out his hand and said convincingly, "let me help you climb aboard."
Already he was appealing to her sense of adventure and his cheeriness was infectious. She could not resist and accepted the hand that kept her steady while she climbed into the boat.
Being on a glass bottom boat was a lot different than a ferry. The glass bottom boat gave her the illusion as if she was walking on water. It was very small and thin and there was a sheet of glass in the middle of the narrow boat.
They hadn't even left the shore yet and already she felt as if she was being treated to an underwater environment show. As a tiny school of baby fish darted to and fro when they created ripples in the water and tiny clams clung to seaweed for dear life.
She would never have paid attention to such simple things had she been bathing in the sea. It would just be the two of them setting sail. His little brother waved them off until they were so far off in the distance that the younger brother was no longer visible.
Being in such a small boat, she felt every movement as it rocked and swayed due to the breeze. Since she had recently eaten her stomach became a bit queasy as the boat rushed onwards to ride out some huge waves.
Fiona felt the wave gradually lift the boat up and then toss it back down as if they were surfing. Water sloshed over the sides and splashed with a spray of sea water.
So much for staying dry in the boat as long as the sea water didn't get in her eyes, she would be fine. The ripples of water were getting larger the further out they were at sea, but the wonderful underwater scenery compensated for it.
She saw sea turtles, baby porpoises and colorful coral kingdoms that made her want to try scuba diving someday so she could get up close and personal with the underwater wildlife.
Her companion yelled, "hang on!"
The boat was being rocked by another huge swell and the young man was doing his best to navigate the rough water and keep the boat steady. Soon the queasiness passed, and Fiona was thoroughly enjoying the moment.
They were at sea for at least another forty-five minutes and Fiona was mesmerized by sheer power of the vast ocean as unbroken waves roiled across the ocean floor.
"Look over there it's the forbidden isle," her captain shouted.
She couldn't see anything but rocks as a thick mist descended out of nowhere and made it hard for her to see off into the distance. When the fog started to disappear, it seemed even her escort was caught off guard.
As the force of the waves was propelling the tiny boat straight for a large mass of moss covered rocks that jutted out of the sea. Fiona gasped, as she watched waves crash into those rocks and she envisioned this small boat doing the same.
"Get us out of here!" she shouted.
The young man was trying very hard to steer the boat, but it was more like the opposite. Angry pounding waves rose up against the side of the boat and it made Fiona grimace with fear as she realized the danger they were facing.
"Sit down," he yelled, not wanting her to lose her balance and fall into the sea.
Fiona didn't even realize her behind was off the seat as her body was unconsciously inching closer to the young man. Turning her attention back to her seat because the boat was taking in water that reached up to her ankles.
Did the boat have a leak somewhere? So busy trying to scoop out the excess water she didn't notice when the boat banged against something and Fiona who hadn't been paying attention lost her balance and fell overboard.
She could hear the roar of waves in her ears, and her body went into shock the moment it felt icy tendrils of freezing water soaking her to the bone. Her arms flailed wildly as she fought for her life against the mighty sea.
Panic, losing air quickly, struggling to swim but it felt useless trying to fight the current. Fiona hadn't given up, but her body quickly exhausted itself beneath the cold blue water and instead of rising she felt herself sinking even deeper.
Fiona made one last push to make it to the surface. Hope was fleeting as she saw the glass bottom boat slip further away from her reach. It took all she had to make it to the surface, and it felt like it was for nothing.
As something clobbered her from behind and it felt like her head exploded, she saw a million stars that faded into nothingness, as her body floated lifelessly, sinking deeper as the sea reclaimed her.