داستان آنا

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Anna’s Story

Many years ago.

“Anna, Do you want to come out on the lake with us, We’re going to row across Coniston Water,” shouts Ken, the youth hostel organizer. He is strong and athletic. He loves to go boating.

“No, I don’t, Look at those dark clouds,” says Anna. “It’s going to rain.”

“It’s all right,” says Ken. “We can row in the rain! We want to row across to Hawkshead on the other side of the lake.”

“But I can’t swim,” replies Anna. She is fourteen and afraid of water. “I want to stay here, Ken.”

“Come on,” Ken insists, “get into the boat. Everyone is going.

We can’t leave you here. Sarah is your partner. She’s a very good swimmer and she can manage the boat.”

Anna touches the locket around her neck nervously. She wears the locket all the time. It’s her lucky charm.

“Anna, please get into the boat,” says Ken, impatiently. He pulls her hand and the chain with the silver locket breaks.

“Oh, Anna, I’m sorry,” says Ken. “Your beautiful locket. I’m sorry.”

Anna looks at the locket in her hand. “This isn’t a good sign,” she whispers to herself.

Ken says, “Maybe they can repair your locket in Hawkshead. Come on, let’s go.”

Anna gets into the rowboat with Sarah.

“Don’t worry,” says Sarah. “It’s easy to row the boat. It’s fun!”

The two girls row very slowly out to the middle of the lake. They can’t see the other boats now. Suddenly, their boat hits something under the water.

A small hole appears in the bottom of the boat and the lake water begins to come through the hole.

“Oh, no There is water in the boat,” screams Anna.

“Don’t panic, Anna,” says Sarah. “You’re going to be okay. I’m going to swim to the beach to get help.”

“No, stay in the boat, Don’t get out” cries Anna, terrified.

“Listen Anna, it’s not far. There is another boat on the beach. I can get back very quickly,” says Sarah. She jumps into the water and swims away.

Anna is alone in the boat. More water is coming into the boat. The hole is bigger. Anna is very frightened.

“What am I going to do?” She looks for Sarah but she can’t see her. More and more water comes into the boat. The boat is sinking. Anna’s legs are in the water.

“Help Help” she screams. Now her chest is in the water. She splashes around with her arms.

“Please, someone help me!” The boat is full of water. The cold lake water goes over her head. She goes under, then she kicks her legs to get up to the surface to get some air. She sees Sarah in the distance.

“Sarah, help me, Help me” she shouts. Three times she goes under and kicks back to the surface, but now her clothes are full of water.

They pull her back down. She goes under a fourth time. She kicks her legs but she is very tired and they feel so heavy, so heavy.

Anna feels herself going down and down to the bottom of the lake. Her eyes close, her hands open and the silver locket drops to the bottom of the lake.

Soon, everything is dark.