Page 168 of Inbetweeners
“Which ensures that I will worry about it. Is there a harness you can wear?”
Nix laughed. “The sea’s not rough enough.”
They managed three more tacks, and a gybe, just for practice, before Nix sailed them into a small bay and released the anchor. The sun had caught Emmett and his cheeks were flushed.
“Time for a swim,” Nix said, and stepping past him, dived off the side of the boat.
When he surfaced, a horrified Emmett was staring down at him.
“What’s wrong? Come on in.”
“But now I’m the only one on board.”
“The boat’s not going anywhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. The anchor’s firm.”
“And the water’s deep enough to dive in?”
“I just did.”
“But you’re an idiot. If I’d known what you were going to do, I’d have stopped you.”
“I saw how much anchor chain went out. It’s plenty deep enough. Hey, there are flippers and snorkels in the box on the starboard side in the cockpit. Bring them to the stern and we can go snorkelling.”
Nix swam round to the back of the boat, hoisted himself up to sit on the platform and waited.
Emmett joined him with the equipment. “I’ve never snorkelled before.”
“Nor have I. How hard can it be? You just have to remember not to breathe if the top of the tube is under the surface, but these look as though they have a valve that closes off to stop you sucking in water.”
Once they were kitted up, they slid down into the warm sea. Nix was immediately entranced. The flippers made him more buoyant as well as able to swim faster, and the view through the mask was incredible. Lots of fish of all colours and sizes were darting around among the rocks. He had no idea what they were, but they looked pretty.
He could see Emmett just ahead, gently moving his flippers up and down and Nix swam up and tugged one of them. Emmett panicked and surfaced. Nix came up beside him and took the snorkel from his mouth.
“Shark attack!” Emmett blurted.
“Because a shark would tug at a flipper.”
“It might. Don’t do that again unless there really is a shark.”
“We’re not going to get attacked by a shark. This is fun. The fish are amazing. Want to head towards the beach?”
“Okay.”
Nix was distracted by a school of narrow silver fish, glittering like a flurry of daggers. By the time he walked onto the beach, Emmett had taken off his mask, snorkel and flippers, and was lying flat on his back with his eyes closed.
“I’d forgotten how much I love the sun.” Emmett sighed.
Nix stood so that he was casting Emmett in shadow.
“I also haven’t forgotten how to punish people who prevent the sun from giving me loving caresses.” Emmett opened one eye and glared at him.
“How do you feel about those who kick sand all over you?”
“Now I know how to sail, they might find themselves stranded.”
