"Hey, it's just a kid!"

Bullton and Piper exchanged a look. It was clear that Marine Boy was entirely unaware of the irony of his describing as a kid someone who appeared to be a year or two older than he was.

The boy had delicate features and long, strikingly blond hair. His eyes, when he opened them, were pale blue. He looked up at Marine Boy, and tried to sit up but failed. Marine Boy caught him as he fell backwards and supported his head in his arms. "Take it easy," he said. "We've got you."

The boy's lips moved, but no sound came out. Tears ran down his cheeks and one of his legs started to shake.

"He's in shock," Marine Boy said.

Bullton reached into a locker by his seat and produced a bottle. He poured a thimbleful into a mug and handed it to Marine Boy. "Here, give him this."

Marine Boy's eyes widened with surprise. "Is this..?"

"Whisky? Yes. For medicinal purposes, you understand."

Marine Boy shrugged, then held the mug to the blond boy's lips. The whisky trickled between them. The boy swallowed, then began to cough violently.

Marine Boy looked accusingly at Bullton. "Are you sure that was a good idea?"

"It's got his circulation going, hasn't it?" Bullton replied, stowing the bottle back in his locker. "Er, there'll be no need for you to mention this to anyone back at the base, will there?" Marine Boy rolled his eyes.

"Bullton," said Piper. "Just you get us back to Ocean Base as quick as you can. Marine Boy and I will look after our guest." Bullton punched the controls, and PC-1 was soon speeding through the water.

"Right," said Piper, "let's get that tank off." He undid the straps and slipped the oxygen tank from the boy's back. He glanced at the gauge. "Whew," he said, "you were lucky. You couldn't have more than five minutes' of air left."

"I – I know." The boy's voice was soft, and almost apologetic. He wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and sniffed mightily. "Thank-you," he said. "Thank-you all."

"It's what we're here for," said Bullton, over his shoulder.

"Yes, all part of the service," Piper confirmed. "But how did you get all the way out here on your own?"

"Long story," said the boy, looking sheepish. Piper decided not to press him.

"All in good time. Now, are you hurt?"

"My leg's killing me."

Marine Boy looked down at the left leg of the boy's scuba suit, which was scuffed and torn. He felt the boy's shin, gently. The boy gave a sharp intake of breath, but didn't say anything.

"I don't think it's broken," Marine Boy said. "Can you move it?"

The boy flexed his leg gingerly. "Yeah, just about. I bet I'll have some monster bruises, but I'm going to be OK. Thanks again."

"Good," said Piper. "Now let's get you comfortable." He and Marine Boy took their guest by the arms and moved him so that he could sit with his back against a bulkhead.

"What's your name?" Marine Boy asked him.

"Jack. Jack Templeton. My father – hey, I know who you are. You're Marine Boy. I've heard of you." Marine Boy gave an embarrassed shrug of acknowledgement.

"Is it true what they say about you?" Jack asked, wide-eyed. "I mean about the boots and that. Yes it is, I saw them in action. And the oxy-gum must be true, too, as you weren't wearing a tank." Marine Boy grinned sheepishly.

"What about the boomerang?"

By way of reply, Marine Boy slipped the weapon out of its sheath, flipped it open, and handed it to Jack.

"Wow! I've love to see you use it some time. Maybe even have a go myself?"

"Maybe. Right now you need to relax. We'll get you fixed up at Ocean Base."

"Oh, I'm OK really. I just got a bit panicky, that's all. Sorry; that wasn't very, well, brave of me, was it?"

"Hey – if I thought I was going to be dead in five minutes and there was nothing I could do about it, then I'd be feeling pretty panicky, too."

"Nah – you've faced death a hundred times."

Marine Boy gave a short laugh. "Don't believe everything you hear."

"How many then?"

"It's not the sort of thing I keep a count of. It's probably unlucky."

Jack was tactful enough to let the subject drop. Instead he said, "Tell me about Ocean Base."

"No need. We'll be there in..." he turned his head and looked out of PC-1's front window, "oh, about five minutes. I'll show you round."

"Really? Cool. Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Marine Boy patted his new friend on the shoulder. Jack smiled. He had very white teeth. Marine Boy smiled back.

"Hey, Marine Boy?" Jack asked.

"Yes?"

"What's your name? Apart from Marine Boy, I mean."

Marine Boy felt a lump in his throat. "It's Johnny," he said.

***

Marine Boy helped Jack out of PC-1. He'd brushed aside Bullton and Piper's offers of help, and insisted on supporting Jack himself. Jack was able to put some weight on his injured leg, but was glad to put his arm round Marine Boy's shoulder.

Marine Boy's father was waiting for them, along with Doctor Baines, who ran Ocean Base's sick bay. He gave Jack a cursory glance.

"Well you appear to be one piece, young man. Which you shouldn't be by all accounts, but that's by the by. Let's get that wetsuit off and have a proper look at your leg."

Acting as if Jack was his patient and not the Doctor's, Marine Boy helped Jack peel off his suit. He was as gentle as possible, but Jack still winced a couple of times.

Reduced to a pair of dark green trunks, Jack Templeton was a shade on the skinny side, but wiry. What there was of him was almost all muscle. He boasted a light golden tan that Marine Boy reckoned was the result of natural sunshine rather than a UV lamp.

Dr Baines listened to Jack's heart and lungs, shone a light in his eyes, made him stick out his tongue. He checked the amount of movement he had in his leg, which was already sporting dark purple blotches.

"Doesn't seem to be anything broken, but we'll x-ray you just to be on the safe side. Then we'll put a heat pack on that leg, and give you a sedative. Always wise after a traumatic experience. Come along."

Once again, Marine Boy wouldn't let anyone else help Jack except him. Behind him, Bullton raised his eyebrows at Piper, who grinned back. As they progressed slowly along the passageway, Dr Mariner spoke to Jack.

"Did you become separated from the yacht Evening Mist?"

"Why yes, Sir," said Jack in surprise. "How did you know?"

"We picked up a message from them about a missing diver."

"Oh shit. Oops, sorry, Sir. My father and my uncle. They'll have my guts for this. Oh, and they'll probably be a bit concerned, too."

"I think they'll be more than that. But don't worry, we'll let them know that you're safe. But how did you come to be separated from them?"

Jack looked at his feet. "I was stupid, Sir. I was diving with my uncle. He cut the session short and gave the signal to return to the surface. I was annoyed; I wanted to stay down as long as possible, so I was slow coming up. Very slow, Sir; deliberately so. In fact, I gave my uncle the slip. Stupid, I know, but I only wanted to steal an extra ten minutes. When I did make it to the surface, the boat wasn't where I expected it to be, and there was a squall blowing, which showed every sign of getting worse."

"You're right about that," said Dr Mariner. "A squall has hit the surface. Nothing major, but lively enough. It's still blowing, as a matter of fact."

"Still?" Jack asked. "It seems so peaceful down here."

"Wind effects the surface, not the depths. What happened after you realised you'd lost the boat?"

"I tried to follow it. I couldn't see it as the waves were getting up, but I knew it must've gone in the direction the wind was blowing. It was difficult swimming through the waves, so I went back under. Then I saw a shark. A big one. It was quite a way off and showing no interest in me, but I was feeling pretty nervous. So I went down further and tried to hide in that clump of rocks. Then a lump fell on me and, well, I was rescued by Marine Boy."

Dr Mariner let out a sigh. "Well, you're an idiot, but a lucky idiot. How much diving experience have you had?"

"I've been diving since I was ten."

"Then you ought to have had more sense."

"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."

"Yes, well. OK, I'll get word to your father; now you see Dr Baines." Dr Mariner walked off.

Dr Baines was swift and efficient. After the x-ray had confirmed that nothing was broken, he wrapped Jack's leg from ankle to knee in a special bandage. "It's chemically treated," he said. "It'll slowly release heat into the muscle, which will help with the bruising and speed the healing process."

"It tickles."

"That's a good sign. It means your body has already started repair work. It may start to itch, too. If it does, don't try to scratch it. Now the sedative. Nurse?"

Nurse Callaghan was a large woman for whom words like "Stern" and "Forbidding" might have been specially invented. She was the only person on Ocean Base Marine Boy was actually afraid of, though he couldn't have said why. She handed Dr Baines a syringe.

"Right, I'm sure you've had injections before?" Jack nodded.

"This one in the rear, I'm afraid. Turn over and drop them. Just three or four inches."

Jack's face reddened, but he did as was told. Marine Boy averted his eyes.

"Good," Dr Baines said. "That will help you to sleep. You should be right as rain in the morning. Now, I suppose we'd better find you a bed. Nurse?"

"Er, Doctor Baines?" Marine Boy asked.

"Yes?"

"Is there any reason why Jack can't share my cabin? There's a spare bunk and everything, and he's not actually sick, is he? Please?" Marine Boy could feel Nurse Callaghan's gaze boring through him, though he refrained from looking in her direction.

Dr Baines was no fool. He heard the longing in Marine Boy's voice, and decided to bend the rules a bit. "Well, I shouldn't, but very well. He's your responsibility now. Keep the bandage on overnight, and bring him back here tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, Doc," said Marine Boy, and led Jack off.