Trask handed him the binoculars. “I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing, but it looks like they’ve got a flotilla of leatherbacks keeping them company.”
Vince put the glasses to his eyes, and sure enough, he saw them too.
“I count, three,” Jett confirmed. “Two near Lace, and one near the captain.”
Vince shook his head. If that didn’t beat all. He was aware that at times, dolphins, and even whales had been known to assist swimmers, but turtles? That was a new one on him.
He took a closer look.
“They’re not exactly helping them stay afloat, they’re just kind of…hanging out.”
“Maybe they think Lace and the Captain are food,” Buck speculated.
“Or possible mates,” Jett added humorously. “Those are the only two reasons leatherbacks run in packs.”
“Whatever the circumstances,” Vince said thankfully, “I bet they helped keep Lace calm.”
By this time, they were nearly in position above and to the right of Lace. Vince could see nothing but the huge, tired smile encompassing her face.
She gave him a thumbs up to let him know she was okay.
“I’m going for Lace,” Vince said, already having donned his harness.
Of course he was.
Nobody argued.
Vince picked up and attached the Quick-Strop he’d use to secure Lace to the winch they’d employ to pull them both up.“The rest of you can draw straws to see who picks up the captain.” Vince growled. “My vote is to leave him as fish bait.”
“Not really an option,” Jett told him. “But we’ll rock, paper-scissors, and whoever loses will make things as uncomfortable for him as possible.” Jett narrowed her eyes and rubbed her hands together; an evil look on her face. “Those sling buckles can be a bitch if you position them in the wrong place you know.”
While Jett and Vince’s siblings brain-stormed ways to make the captain’s rescue as unpleasant as they could, Obi-Wan kept the helo at a height of fifteen feet, and was holding steady.
“She’s all yours, Vince,” he said, giving the go-ahead.
Vince, in full diving gear, jumped clear of the helo for a moment of free flight, hitting the water before going under to a depth of what he surmised was approximately ten feet.
He quickly kicked his way to the surface.
Vince spotted Lace, no more than a dozen feet away, paddling toward him.
He quickly swam her way.
“Fancy meeting you here,” she greeted with an enormous smile.
Vince could see the underlying fatigue on her face, despite her upbeat greeting.
He spit out his regulator.
“Hey, Lace. I figured you might need a lift,” he responded, emotion choking his voice, thinking of what easily could have been the outcome here. “You didn’t think I’d come for you?” he questioned, keeping things as light as he could.
“Oh, I knew you’d come,” she giggled. “It’s just that I pictured you motoring in on a boat like James Bond, not jumping from Belle like Superman.”
He just bet that she’d run that first scenario in her mind.
“James Bond and Superman, I’m not,” he told her. “But Belle was certainly our best and quickest option.”
Vince couldn’t help himself. He got right in front of Lace and kissed her hard on her blue lips before he began fastening the Quick-Strop around her.