Argon

18

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Argon

“Why are we doing this again?” Simon asked. He checked the gauges on his scuba tank to ensure all the levels were appropriate, especially the argon, oxygen, and nitrogen.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared to dive in China’s Bermuda Triangle.” With a wink, Yasmine teased her boyfriend.

“Did I say I was scared? Stop putting words in my mouth, woman.” Simon shook his head in frustration.

They prepared to dive into Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province. It was the largest freshwater lake in China.

“I’m just teasing you, Honey. But to answer your question, we’re searching for treasure.” Yasmine kissed Simon on the cheek.

“In less than a hundred feet of water?” Simon asked.

“Supposedly, over two thousand ships have disappeared in these waters, but no one can ever find them. Why is that?” Yasmine asked.

“Darlin‘, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet,” Simon teased.

“Think of it as an adventure.”

“I must say, it’s beautiful here. Look at all of these birds.” Simon waved his arm towards the shores of Poyang Lake where thousands of birds congregated.

“Not to quote Google and Wikipedia, but millions of birds migrate here every winter, including the Siberian Crane.” Yasmine finished the last of their preparations for the dive.

“Ready?” Simon sat on the edge of their rented boat in his wetsuit and scuba gear.

“Of course.” Yasmine smiled through her dive mask.

Splash

Entering the cold water of Poyang Lake, the couple quickly descended to the silty bottom. A pair of dolphins swam curiously nearby, then continued on while clicking messages to one another. Dolphins in fresh water? Unusual, but the water was more brackish than fresh.

Their dive lights shone, illuminating the bottom of the lake. Nothing to be seen on the bottom but silt.

Yasmine tried to lift her feet to walk along the sandy bottom. But they wouldn’t move. Surprised, she glanced down to see them sunk into the silt up to her ankles. She waved her arms towards Simon who was also stuck in the silt, which acted more like quicksand.

Yasmine screamed, and bubbles escaped her mouth and floated to the surface, only fifty feet above. She tried lifting her legs again, but the more she struggled, the more they sank. Recalling that struggling in quicksand only made one sink quicker, she stopped moving.

Simon must’ve reached the same conclusion because he stopped struggling, too. Leaning, he reached for her, but their fingertips were just out of reach.

They eyed each other with desperate longing. Now their calves disappeared into the silt.

An idea formed in her head. She removed her scuba tank and placed it on the silt. The hose still reached her mouth. Hopefully the lessened weight would prolong the descent to her death. She removed her dive belt and dropped it.

Simon followed her lead and rid himself of the extra weight. Then he remained still.

The lessened weight slowed their descent, but they still sank into the bottom of the lake. China’s Bermuda triangle was about to claim its next victims. Now Yasmine realized what happened to all those ships and souls aboard. They sank into the bottom of the lake, disappearing forever.

The silt neared their knees, and Yasmine realized her only option. She performed the sign of the cross, placed her hands together, and prayed.

Simon prayed, too.

Yasmine’s praying calmed her breathing and slowed her heartrate. She didn’t panic, she simply prayed for a miracle.

Click, click.

The dolphins returned and circled the sinking humans. They studied Yasmine and Simon inquisitively. Then a dolphin got close enough for Yasmine to touch the beautiful creature. She removed her dive glove and stroked the dolphin’s slippery skin. The dolphin looked into her eyes, and a sense of peace filled Yasmine. At least her final moments of life could be spent in the company of one of God’s beautiful creatures.

The dolphin nudged its head under her arm.

Reading its mind, Yasmine instinctively grabbed the dorsal fin.

Simon and the other dolphin mimicked them.

The dolphins moved their powerful tails and pulled Yasmine and Simon out of the silt and up to the surface of the water. Their prayers were answered.