Pêro clasped his hand on the pole. He braced his feet firmly in the bottom of the skiff and with one swift movement brought his body and the stick back into the vessel. The pushing pole hung over the rail. He felt a disturbing presence lingering below.
“We must get out of here,” Pêro said with urgency.
“God’s waters giveth and taketh away,” the nun said softly, as she resumed her perch in the bow.
Pêro thrust the stick into the water. He pushed with both hands with all his strength, driving it down into the watery depths, trying to propel them forward. It met something seemingly solid, and then suddenly plunged down a foot, nearly causing him to fall out into the murky depths. He pulled up, the pole disengaged, and the boat lurched forward. He had a sinking feeling that what he had just
