The water was disconcertingly warm. It made London uneasy, like they were wading through body fluids.

The stench of it wafted, sour and fishy, up to her nostrils. She gripped Zens arm tighter, her fingers digging anxiously into his impressi e biceps. !Thats kinda starting to hurt," he said in response to her raptor#grip. !Sorry." London eased up. !I $ust cant see s%uat in this piss#water. It makes me ner ous." !&re you shuffling your feet like I told you'" he asked her. !(es, but I dont see how thats supposed to help. I dont think the gators gonna care one way or another if I step on it or bump into it." Zen chuckled. !The waters not e en up to your waist. )ould you relax'" !Im plenty re*" London screamed, frantically clawing her way up Zens back until her arms circled his head and her legs were wrapped around his chest. !)hat was that' )hat was that'" !+ammit, London, I cant see." Zen sho ed at her arms until hed unco ered his eyes. !Something touched my leg, S-./T0I12. T-340/+. .(. L/2." Zen started laughing. !It was probably $ust a turtle. Im sure whate er it was, you scared the be$esus out of it by now." London did not find this amusing. !5ust get me out of this water," she begged. 6ortunately, they were nearing a palm co ered embankment. Zen hoisted her up the slope and dropped her unceremoniously on her butt. !(oure hopeless," he told her.

!Screw you. 7esides who says something like 8be$esus anyway' )hat does that e en mean'" London wrinkled her nose and fisted her hands. Zen shrugged. !I dont know. .aggs says it all the time." !4an we please lea e your con%uests back in 7ayou 4amp 6our where they belong' I really dont want any reminders of the trail of broken hearts were lea ing in our wake, thanks to you." London hopped up and punched him in the arm. !(eah, sorry," Zen said. 0e looked at her sideways, like he was studying a lab experiment. !)hat'" she said. !0ow do you do it'" he asked her, his $olly expression gone. !0ow do you $ust forget'" London sighed and wrung out her slee es. The swamp water had washed out a lot of 4larks blood, but a faded, dirty red ring remained. !I ha ent forgotten. I couldnt forget 9ye e en if I wanted to."