“Oh! Oh! Can you remember? How much space is there between the branch of the tree and the dome-shaped ceiling? Do try to remember!⁠ ⁠… After all, the water may stop, it must find its level!⁠ ⁠… There, I think it is stopping!⁠ ⁠… No, no, oh, horrible!⁠ ⁠… Swim! Swim for your life!”

Our arms became entangled in the effort of swimming; we choked; we fought in the dark water; already we could hardly breathe the dark air above the dark water, the air which escaped, which we could hear escaping through some vent-hole or other.

“Oh, let us turn and turn and turn until we find the air hole and then glue our mouths to it!”

But I lost my strength; I tried to lay hold of the walls! Oh, how those glass walls slipped from under my groping fingers!⁠ ⁠… We whirled round again!⁠ ⁠… We began to sink!⁠ ⁠… One last effort!⁠ ⁠… A last cry:

“Erik!⁠ ⁠… Christine!⁠ ⁠…”