Can’t see your fingers in front of your peepholes under murky old Thames. But I swim under much as I can. Summin about it. Way the sound goes weird. Hear the lads kicking at the water. See the lights break through the surface, all bent and that. I can hold me breath long time. All the boys can. But my lungs is wrong today. Have to pop me head up to cough. Lay skullin on back, coughing a while. Get a gobful of the filthy. Not good to drink like, not less you bubble it first.

“Howsit Skelly?” Manleb shouts.

“Still swimming boss.” Force the coughing to stop.

Then I dive under again, swimming stronger than I feel. Peering into the brown murk. Nearly cack myself. There’s a face down there. Way down. Swimming up. Not sure how I can see it, like it’s kind of glowing. Long black hair all about her fizzgog. Mummy age woman. Big brown peepers. Smiling like an old friend. Teeth all rotten and green.

Suddenly notice, I been swimming down. Shake my head, scramble up, mad panic. Break surface just in time to gasp and cough.

“Jenny!” I shout, voice all high pitched. “Jenny Greenteeth!”

“Swim for your lives boys!” Manleb shouts back.

The crew splash and kick as fast as they can. Nearly at the jetty now.

The letters in my eyes are going mental. All kinds of data scrolling up and down and sideways. And I see her now, even when my eyes are closed. Can see her swimming for Chips, reaching out her long bony arm. Wrapping her digits round his ankle.

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I come up top just as his little head turns to me, he’s grinning. Little bugger. Always laughing it up.

“Mak jam!” He shrieks, and then he disappears under.

I’m nearest. Manleb is already hanging off the rusty old ladder at the Jetty, helping Ninja up.

I dive under. I swim for her. Can see her before I see him. Can hear her voice. Not English. But somehow I can understand it.

Five little ducks went swimming one day.

Then I see him, Chips, eyes bulging, struggling, still grinning. And she... she’s just staring at me, waiting for me to catch up, like it’s a game.

For eye in range five push new instance of class duck to arrayofducks.

Oxygen is running out. I try to pull Chips up with me, but Jenny, her grip is too strong. And she’s so beautiful, I don’t want to fight her. Maybe she just wants to look after us?

When motherDuck says quack quack quack quack, delete last duck in arrayOfDucks.

I look at my hands, my arms, little lights glowing under my skin. Chips staring at me. Jenny singing to me. It’s better down here innit?

Return remaining ducks.

I know all of a sudden that I have to choose. There are three words I can’t read in my eyes, and I have to pick one. Eeny meeny money mo. I choose. Just random. Something happens. Jenny screams. Jenny rushes away, deeper and deeper till I can’t see her no more.

Repeat until arrayOfDucks is empty.

I don’t know how I do it, but I drag Chips up with me. Swimming one handed, kicking me legs like crazy. Dragging him along. Then the boys all helping, dragging him up with us onto the Jetty, all coughing and spluttering. Pack of drowned rats.