A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER
Chapter Nine
"What do you mean, you can't
swim?" Harold asked with a laugh, as if Isolde was playing a prank on him.
"I mean, I don't know how to
swim," she said, as if it was obvious.
"You don't?" he
repeated, the meaning finally sinking in.
Isolde nodded sadly, sorry to
ruin his surprise for him. Harold's head sunk low and he shook it. Isolde
reached out to say she was sorry, but he suddenly stood up. Isolde thought he
was angry, but then noticed that he was laughing. He suddenly grabbed her hand
and pulled her to her feet. He began walking towards the Grand Staircase,
pulling her along with him.
Isolde firmly placed her feet on
the ground to stop him. Her new suit was held in one arm, and Harold turned to
look at her.
"Where are you taking
me?" she asked with crossed arms, his behavior being so odd at the moment.
"To the pool," he said,
as if it were normal.
"But I just told you--"
she began, but didn't finish her sentence, for Harold grabbed her hand and led
her to the lift.
The gates were shut and they were
going down when Isolde looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"What?" he asked.
Nothing seemed wrong to him.
"I told you," Isolde
said slowly. "I can't swim."
"Yes. You said that,"
Harold replied. "But I believe anyone who boards a ship should know how,
which is why I will teach you."
He opened the gates and pulled
her down the hall again. They were at the entrance of the pool room.
"Harold," she
whispered, in case anyone overheard her. "I'm not allowed in here."
"Today, you are," he
said with a grin, holding up the keys to the room.
Isolde looked shocked for a
moment, but then smiled. No one was in the area. He opened the door and let her
in. Isolde looked around in amazement. How they could put a pool on a ship? She
would never know. Harold gently nudged her towards a changing room. She walked
there slowly, not sure if she would slip on the wet floor or not. Once inside,
she slipped into the suit without a problem. The short skirt had a set of
shorts beneath it and the sleeves barely covered her shoulders. The entire outfit
seemed so odd, yet very beautiful. She walked out and set her neatly folded
clothing on a bench. Her bare feet made an echoing noise as she walked across
the room.
Isolde searched the room, but
could not see Harold. She was next to the pool and suddenly felt a cold splash
on her bare leg. She jumped in fright and saw Harold below her. His arms were
on the edge and he set his chin on them. He wore a pair of short pants and a
white undershirt. His grin was contagious and she couldn't help but smile at him.
"Come in!" he called at
her with a laugh.
She looked at the water with wide
eyes. It seemed to go on forever. She shook her head and stepped back.
"No."
"Fine," Harold said
with a frown. He kicked off from the wall on his back, looking at her as he
made his way across the pool. She crossed her arms and watched him. He pulled
himself out of the pool and walked towards her. Water was dripping from his
dark hair and down to his swimming outfit, which clung to him. Isolde stepped
back, not wanting to get wet.
"Come into the pool,"
he said pleadingly, his dark eyes watching her intently.
Isolde shook her head. Harold
sighed and lifted her over his shoulder before she had a chance to respond. He
walked towards the pool and headed down the steps, ignoring her hands that hit
his broad back repeatedly. When he finally reached the bottom, he set her down.
The water was warm and only about three feet deep. She looked at the water,
still fearful. Then she looked at Harold with narrowed eyes.
He simply laughed. She let out an
angry huff and turned to the steps. Harold stopped instantly and grabbed her
hand.
"The pool's not deep,"
he said. "Only five feet at the other end."
"Yes, well...that's still
over my nose," she said defensively.
"I'll be here with you the
entire time," he said reassuringly, leading her out further into the pool.
Isolde looked at the edges of the
pool and solid ground. She glanced at the water, which seemed to expand. Then
she looked into Harold's deep brown eyes. No lies could be seen in them. She
had complete faith in him. He looked down at her, waiting to see if she would
come. She waded towards him, knowing she could trust him, even with her life.