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Consciousness returns graduallySounds strike me first: the roar of the water, much softer than in the mountain, al up at stars, drifting along on my back Luck or my body’s natural defenses? I don’t know I don’t care I’ here I could easily swiin the trip back to Vampire Mountain, which I see in the distance Except I don’t have the strength I try rolling over to swis and arms are like dead blocks of wood I’ve survived the ride through the h I’m completely limp and helpless

I study the landscape while the streaed and unspectacular, but beautiful after the darkness Anything would seem beautiful after the darkness I’ll never take the countryside for granted again

A, no control, at the mercy of the stream Maybe I’m dead already and just haven’t realized it No! Not dead Water splashes up my nose and I splutter: proof I’ive up, not after all I’ve been through I have to find strength tolike this forever: the longer it drags on, the harder it will be

I try willing energy intoand what a waste it would be, but that doesn’t give th I think about the vampires and the threat they face from Kurda and the vampaneze, but that doesn’t work either Finally, an old vah my icy bones: I recall thewater is doohost - no journey to Paradise for those who die in rivers or streaely (as I never believed the ht spurs me into action I raise a weak arm and flap feebly for the bank The action doesn’t do much, apart from spin me around a little, but the fact that I’m able tos up behind ishly, but they do respond I try to swim freestyle - can’t I roll over onto entle handtime, and I’m swept much further away from Vampire Mountain, but finally I’m in shalloater, out of the current

I half rise tofacedown, I turn et back on my knees I crawl out of the water onto the snowy bank, where I collapse again My eyes close I weep silently into the snow

I want to lie here and freeze: si But my feet are still in the water and I don’t like the feel of theoads , I brace myself, then rise slowly and painfully to , I stare around as if I’ looks different Day is breaking, but stars and theinside the ht looks like It’s wonderful I could stand here all day and just stare, except that wouldn’t get me anywhere, and soon I’d fall, into the strea so hten up, and lurch away frorily behind me - cheated of its victim