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. I knew that if
Thick-Neck Nick lumbered by, he was sure to hear me.
I don't know how much time passed. When you're scared,
breathless, lying in rainwater up to your lower lip, and have
heavy fish netting on top of you shutting out the light, nothing
moves slower than time. Absolutely nothing.
But my heart started picking up its pace when I heard fast-
approaching footsteps. I cringed down at the bottom of the boat.
The rainwater covered my mouth. I had to breathe through my
nose.
The steps came closer.
It was useless. I raised my mouth up out of the water and took a
bite of the bread. If Thick-Neck was going to beat me, at least I
wanted to have something in my stomach to show for it.
Despite my dry mouth, I hurriedly began to chew.
The steps came closer. Did he see the netting move? Did he
hear my heavy breathing? Did he hear me chewing his bread?
Though I hadn't swallowed my first mouthful, I took another bite,
and then another, and another, until my cheeks were so puffed out
they looked as if they had the wingspan of a dragon. Well, maybe
not that big, but there was more bread in my mouth than there was
left in my hand-and I hadn't swallowed a single mouthful. At
least, not yet.
The footsteps stopped right next to the boat. I closed my eyes,
the bread stuck in my throat.
I started to choke!
The netting flew off me. Even as I tried to breathe, I covered
my face, hoping to ward off Thick-Neck's blows
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