Not only were the shark's eyes narrowed (as if fish had eyelids! ha! yet here he was), but there was something queer happening that Javert did not notice. The cracks trailing subtly along the shark's massive back, lined with gold, were mending themselves. Soon, they were altogether gone, not a mark left on him.
The silver curtain blocking the exit flickered and died as the shark drifted off to a blissful rest. Javert and Ariadne were free to go, with their new shark friend cherishing their memory in his soul.
"Ah," he murmured quietly, tentatively lifting his hand from the shark's back. The shark stayed, mollified, utterly content. He rolled onto his side and tread water with his paddle tail. Javert raised his head to Ariadne. "Then let this be our signal to go."
He rose to his feet, taking one quiet step, then another, toward the opened grotto exit. He jerked his head toward the dark waters ahead.
"After you, Mademoiselle Ariadne. I trust you will lead the way out, this time, without interference from me. And then we might talk recompense for your assistance, after."
We can just about wrap this thread up and move on to the main game, I think!
The silver curtain blocking the exit flickered and died as the shark drifted off to a blissful rest. Javert and Ariadne were free to go, with their new shark friend cherishing their memory in his soul.
"Ah," he murmured quietly, tentatively lifting his hand from the shark's back. The shark stayed, mollified, utterly content. He rolled onto his side and tread water with his paddle tail. Javert raised his head to Ariadne. "Then let this be our signal to go."
He rose to his feet, taking one quiet step, then another, toward the opened grotto exit. He jerked his head toward the dark waters ahead.
"After you, Mademoiselle Ariadne. I trust you will lead the way out, this time, without interference from me. And then we might talk recompense for your assistance, after."