What would it be like to die like that? Would he even know it? Or would he strangle and gasp and shriek? He was sweating heavily now.
Just once, O Lord, just once more. Just to see them.
Well, this was his last plunge, either way. He was going to quit as soon as he had his seventh lion; he had it now, and he was through. One way or another.
"Gotcha!"
It was Petrone's voice. Nils couldn't hear the new cable click into place in his back; but he felt it.
And then he felt the slow and steady pull as he was drawn up out of the depths.