Against the Tide (19 page)

In the second compulsory round, Rachel pulled back a small amount of the deficit with her standing back dive, scoring thirteen to Caroline's twelve point seven. She seemed more confident and her layout, according to Joan, had been technically perfect. I found it stunning. My pulse was now steady at 120.

Caroline responded with an imperious reverse dive. For the moment I was the invisible part of an emotional triangle, though I'd caught the odd glance from those who knew. The tension was beginning to make me light-headed. She gained a nine from her male admirer who managed to keep a straight face, as there were some obvious giggles from the crowd when he held up his card. Overall, she scored twelve point seven, which Joan thought was a fair result.

Rachel followed though she took some time to settle the board as she gripped it with her toes. Her execution was flawless and she hit the water like a spear with that rare ripping sound which signifies the perfect entry. She received an eight and two seven point fives, which gave a total of fifteen point three – by far the best dive so far. She was now point eight behind Caroline. I felt sure Joan could hear my heart hammering in my chest.

The compulsory section over, the divers had to hand in their three voluntary dives, which they were then not allowed to change. Rachel seemed to be arguing with Miko and I sensed that she was unhappy with at least one of the choices.

Brewster halted their argument by calling the divers to the table to submit their planned dives. Rachel still looked agitated, much to Caroline's amusement, but she deposited her hand written sheet, shrugged her shoulders and stalked back to Miko who rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Caroline was first to dive again and Brewster announced that she would attempt a forward running dive with two and a half somersaults in the pike position. This had a degree of difficulty of two point four and drew a small gasp from the crowd when he described it.

Joan nudged me. ‘That's a bit of a risk. The spring's not right.'

Caroline bounded forward but her take-off seemed hesitant and she didn't achieve enough initial height to complete the two and a half rotations. She spun out with her body still bent and her legs went over on entry. Her favourite judge gave her a seven point five but the rest of the marks were lower.

Saul had her total within seconds. ‘Fourteen point eight. She could –'

‘That's because of the tariff,' Joan interrupted. ‘It wasn't a good dive. I'm surprised she got that much.'

‘Next, Miss Vibert who will attempt the same dive.'

Joan gasped. Perhaps that was the source of the argument. Miko was pushing her into something she didn't feel confident about. I knew that feeling. I held my breath. Rachel's execution was almost identical as she failed to get the necessary height from her spring. Saul had the calculation: fourteen point four. Caroline was still ahead on points even though they had won two dives each.

Joan was as detached as ever. ‘That's daft, trying high tariffs when the board isn't right.'

Caroline attempted a forward somersault with two twists and another high tariff for her next dive and again failed to meet Joan's approval. She scored fifteen point two though, while Rachel managed twelve point three for a forward one and half-running tuck, which she executed well.

After five dives, Saul calculated that Caroline led Rachel by four points.

For her final dive, Caroline chose a reverse one and a half somersaults with tuck and a tariff of two point zero. She got nine from her friend but six point five from everyone else for an average of thirteen.

‘Rachel will have to score at least seventeen to equal her.'

We didn't doubt Saul's calculation but Joan laughed. ‘There's little chance of that. The best that Marjorie Gestring scored was just over sixteen in the Olympic final. Sorry, Jack, but, even with this crazy marking, I can't see that happening.'

I tried to speak but it came out in a rush. ‘Just be patient, Joan. There's the Miko factor to consider.' It was wishful thinking, but Rachel seemed more settled and Miko was smiling. Had he given her the confidence?

‘Miss Vibert's final dive…' Brewster turned to the scorer and, even though the microphone didn't pick it up, his voice was incredulous enough for us to hear the query. ‘Are you sure?'

The scorer nodded.

‘Her final dive will be an inward dive with two and a half somersaults in the pike position. This has a degree of difficulty of three point zero.'

This time the gasp from the spectators could be heard as far as the Dicq Rock.

Joan's mouth hung open in disbelief. ‘She's mad; he's mad; they're both mad. She can't pull that off. Even Pete Desjardins couldn't manage it and he designed that board.'

Saul raised his eyebrows and expelled a long breath. Miko looked confident and Rachel seemed calm as she climbed the ladder and assumed her position.

Miko called out to her. I thought it was a word of encouragement but it was an instruction. She grabbed the handrail and reached out with her foot to the ratchet mechanism, which moved the roller fulcrum under the board. She nudged it back several notches to increase the spring of the board. This was an even greater gamble as she obviously hadn't had a chance to test it. I couldn't watch.

We guessed that the board had been set up by the heavier male divers who had been practising earlier. They must have pushed the fulcrum forward, which was why the lighter girls weren't getting the height. This could catapult her into the heavens if she got it wrong.

She waited until the crowd was quiet. Even the seagulls stopped to watch this one. I sucked in a deep breath and steeled myself to watch the tragedy unfolding in front of me. As soon as she moved forward, the scoring would start. She stretched her body to its full height, looked towards Green Island in the distance and strode to the end of the board, absorbing its deep dip as her weight pulled it down. Without hesitation, she pivoted on the very edge to face inwards.

I focused all my energy, hoping to project a wave to support her but she was well beyond my reach now – a lonely, vulnerable figure. Yet I was close enough to see her rib cage expand as she drew in her final breath.

She started to bounce the board into vertical momentum. She waited for the up thrust then allowed the elasticity of the movement to launch her skywards. She must have gained two metres before she bent from her hips, straightened her legs, pointed her toes and started to rotate. She had finished the first somersault before she passed the end of the board again. My heart stopped as she missed it by an inch before completing the final rotation a fraction too late to get full extension. Her entry produced the sort of white water that Miko wanted from polo players not divers.

The crowd held its breath as she surfaced – all eyes on the judges. Seven, five point five, five point five, five point five, five point five and six. Not the highest scores of the afternoon by a long way. Saul shrugged. He hadn't been able to make the calculation. Like us, he had been too focused on Rachel, who now floated on the surface, looking anxiously at Miko.

After an age, the PA system hissed into life. ‘Miss Vibert's high tariff dive has scored a total of fifty-one points – an average of seventeen exactly.'

‘They're level. Seventy-nine point three each.' Half a dozen seagulls took flight at Saul's shout. Several spectators turned towards him.

‘They're level on ordinals as well,' Joan added.

‘What?'

‘Positions, Jack. They each won three dives. ‘They would have come equal fourth in the last Olympics with those scores. That shows how accurate the judging is.'

After a long pause, during which the scorer's pencil seemed to be doing some high tariff dives of its own, Brewster made the announcement. Saul had been correct – they had the same score. How ironic.

From the volume of the cheers, it was clear that the audience had made its own decision about the winner though and Rachel left the water and rushed to hug Miko. She turned towards us and waved. I wanted to hug her as well but I wasn't sure that would be welcomed.

There was more discussion at the table before Brewster picked up the microphone again. ‘Under the rules of this competition, the trophy, if defended, will be retained by the current holder in the event of a tie. I therefore ask Miss Hayden-Brown to step forward to receive it from His Excellency.'

The silence was embarrassing, even the governor seemed hesitant but Caroline strode forward and relieved him of it. She had enough sense not to hold it aloft in triumph and hurried over to Kohler, who wrapped his arm around her. I felt no sense of jealousy – perhaps the green-eyed monster was dead, had sunk without trace to the bottom of the diving pit.

After the diving was over it was the turn of the water polo teams. The navy only had five players so Brewster invited Kohler and Cookie to play for them. I was still suspended so wouldn't have a chance for another confrontation with my Dutch friend. I felt relieved so stayed in my seat and tried to relax.

The Jersey team was far too strong and, even though Kohler played very well up front, he didn't get any real scoring chances. Nelson seemed to enjoy marking him though no blows were exchanged. Kohler looked far more comfortable as a forward. I wondered why he had chosen to play as a full back and mark me in the previous game.

After my swim and the diving, the rest of the afternoon was an anticlimax. There was some light relief when the tide, hurried by an increasing swell, started to slip over the pool walls earlier than expected. It tugged the pitch and goals backwards and sideways as it surged in and sucked out.

The two teams shook hands to the applause of the handful of spectators. Even Saul had slipped away and there was no sign of Miko.

Brewster was struggling with the trestle table and beckoned me over to help him. It was a bit like folding a deck chair and, unless you had the knack, it could frustrate you. He hadn't but I had and was pleased to assist. We carried it back to his office. I felt he was going to say something but he just nodded his thanks and sat down at his typewriter.

On the way back to the pool side, I came face to face with Caroline. She was walking under the diving board, holding Kohler's arm. She glared at me and hissed “bastard” as we passed. Kohler said something which made her laugh.

Devoid of a suitable response, I could only smoulder and move on to collect my kit. I needed to rehearse some “spontaneous” retorts in case we bumped into each other again.

Rachel and Joan were sitting on the wooden bench overlooking the diving area talking quietly. They stopped as I approached. Rachel smiled. I smiled back, very unsure of myself.

Rachel spoke first. ‘Well done, Jack. That was a fantastic race. We're so proud of you –'

‘But I didn't win.'

They both laughed.

Rachel patted the seat beside her. ‘Seven seconds faster than you've ever swum before, Jack. You can bet Miko's already worked out a new training programme for you. Besides, the Dutchman is older and more experienced. You did so well.'

‘I thought you'd missed it.'

‘I almost did. There was a problem at home. But no, I saw everything. I managed to squeeze in next to your headmaster.'

‘It's just that I didn't see you,' I said.

‘I went straight to the changing room after the result. Wow, that was so fast.'

I must have looked puzzled. ‘What's wrong?' she asked.

‘It's just that Saul said you weren't here. He went to rescue you from your father and he had to bribe –'

‘How silly.' She laughed. ‘Saul is such a liar. He knew I was here. He was playing games with you.' She was giggling now.

‘What's so funny?'

‘I'm just trying to imagine him arguing with my father. You've met him now. He allowed you a few seconds. How long do you think he'd give Saul?'

Yes, it was a funny picture. I picked up the rhythm of her laugh and, as it subsided, we locked eyes. She moved closer.

I wrapped her in my arms and whispered. ‘You looked so beautiful this afternoon, you made my heart sing. I just wanted to get on that board and hug you in front of everyone.'

She stayed close but stiff in my arms and whispered back, ‘Really. That's interesting. Shame you didn't.'

Joan stood and chuckled. ‘I'll leave you two to mate in private.'

Rachel reached out and grabbed her arm. ‘No, stay. Jack and I aren't going to embarrass you. Gosh, I feel exhausted. I don't know about you but I'm still trembling.' She did know. We both did. I was and she wasn't. Instead, she seemed cool and in control. I felt that hollow feeling of loss again. ‘Miko thought the judges were too generous but I suppose it was entertaining. But enough about that. Let's talk about Jack's race.'

I started to protest but she spoke over me. ‘It was amazing to watch, Jack. I don't suppose you could hear the crowd – they were in a frenzy. Miko almost exploded after your turn. What was exciting, though, was watching the judges. Brewster must have realised how fast you were going because he called all the backup timekeepers to him and told them to put their watches on you. I was watching you with one eye and the frantic activity around the finish with the other. Centenier Phillips was brandishing his gun as though he wanted to shoot someone.'

‘That would have been me, then.' I felt like he had.

Joan touched my wrist. ‘I've got to go, Jack, but there's something I want to ask you. Rachel has been telling me about your little water polo episode with the Dutchman on Sunday. Do you know any more about him?'

‘Why?' Rachel and I spoke at the same time.

‘It's odd, but I'm sure I've seen him before.'

‘He's only been here since Friday. He's a student on holiday with his uncle.'

Joan snorted. ‘Or so he says. There is something very familiar about him. I've been studying him, especially his swimming action. I couldn't swear to it but I think I saw him at the Schwimm Stadion – in Berlin, during the Olympics'