Symes tried to grin. The effect was ghastly. "I do?" He said tentatively.
"Of course you do. Your God tells you so. Do you doubt him?"
"Doubt? No. Absolutely not. Never. Wouldn't think of it. Tough young specimen. That's what I am. Tough. And young. Tough young specimen. Certainly. You bet."
"Good," Forrester said. "Now let's see you in action."
Symes took a deep breath. He seemed to be savoring it, as if he thought it was going to be his very last. "Wh—what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to pick up another stone and throw it. Let's see how high you can get it."
Symes was obviously afraid to move from his spot in the water. Instead of going back to the land, he fished around near his feet and finally managed to come up with a pebble almost as big as his fist. He looked at it doubtfully.
"Throw!" Forrester said in a voice like thunder.
Symes, galvanized, threw. It flew up in the air. Forrester drew a careful bead on it, went zap again with the pointed finger, and blasted the rock into dust.
The silence hung on.