But Nils ignored him.
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.