Guy--Twenty-Nine

Splog # 118

Twenty-Nine

   As Guy slowly and steadily descended deeper into the water, he was troubled by an occasional moment of trepidation. The air he was used to breathing was receding farther and farther away and he could feel pressure building against his unprotected skin. It didn't cause him any pain. It wasn't so much that it was uncomfortable as that it was unfamiliar. The first time he had found himself underwater everything had been happening so suddenly and in such a queer fashion that he hadn't really been aware of the bodily sensations caused by such an environment. But now, as he sank, he could feel how the water pushed against his skin and muscles as he got deeper. He could feel the temperature dropping also. And it was getting darker. This confused him somewhat as he couldn't remember having any difficulties seeing during his first encounter with the blue head. Further pondering, however, reminded him that after a few exchanges he had started watching bubbles, and the next thing he knew his head was sticking out of the water. So he didn't remember much of what it had been like below the surface. By now, goosebumps were starting to make themselves felt up and down his arms and legs and across his torso. And just as his feet landed in some soft muddy sand, the voice spoke again.

   "Now, let me see. It should have been right below us. Where? Where? Where? Not in my hair! Where? Where? Where? Not over there! Where? Where? Where? Can't find its lair! Where? Where? Where? Can't be so rare!"

   During this subdued chant, Guy found himself turning around and around and peering into the shadowy depths that encompassed him. He couldn't see much of anything and evidently the voice couldn't either for it suddenly let out a harsh laugh.

   "Hah! What am I doing? What am I thinking of? Hah! How foolish! Oh, Guy, sometimes I just crack me up! Here I am, excuse me, here we are searching the depths in their native obscurity and expecting to discover, or perhaps uncover would be a more appropiate term, what needs the assistance of light to bring it to...well, to light. Would you have the courtesy to blink your eyes once or twice?"

   Without hesitation, though also without comprehension, Guy blinked once. Nothing happened so he blinked again. Completely unaware of what results were expected, Guy blinked a third time. When still nothing occurred, Guy asked if he should continue his ocular exertions.

   "Well, yes," the voice responded, "but allow one suggestion. Just relax a little. Unclench those fists. Good. Let your shoulders down and your stomach out and remember to breathe. Now this time, when you blink, don't clamp your jaw or furrow your forehead or wrinkle your nose or squeeze your brain. Stand still. Relax. Breathe. And blink."

   Guy did his best to be guided by the coaching of the voice and, when he opened his eyes after the briefest of blinks, he found he could see his surroundings with perfect clarity. HIs first thought was that light must be streaming from the orbs of his eyes, but he found no shadows at the limits of his vision as he would if he were shining a flashlight. It was more like his eyes had greater capacity to see in darkness.

   "Easy, wasn't it?" came the voice. "Now we should find it with no trouble."

   Guy resumed looking around the sandy floor that stretched as far as his vision did.

   "What exactly are we looking for, Mr. Spatula?"

   A shriek erupted from Guy's mouth, an extraordinary combination of laughter and horrified shock. Bubbles foamed crazily all around his head and shot to the surface of the water.