The Sign in the Smoke (Nancy Drew Diaries #12)(7)

Normally I enjoyed swimming—but I was very much a “splash around in the shallow end” kind of girl, and nowhere near lifeguard level. I knew how to swim, but I wasn’t great at it. I couldn’t hold my breath very long. And I tired out easily.

After breakfast, we all went back to Pine Cabin and put on our bathing suits. Mine was a simple green one-piece I’d had for eons. I pulled on a hooded sweatshirt as a cover-up, but I knew it was only a temporary comfort—I’d soon be plunged in the cool lake.

As we were about to leave the cabin, Taylor suddenly let out a moan. She clutched her stomach and went running for the bathroom, and after a few seconds we could hear retching.

“Uh-oh,” said Sam, wide-eyed.

“I’ll go check on her,” said Bess, and she disappeared into the bathroom.

A few minutes later we heard the water running, and then Taylor stepped out of the bathroom, supported by Bess. “I’m really sorry, guys,” she said, looking pale. “I think breakfast didn’t agree with me.”

“You’d better stay here,” Maddie said, gesturing to Taylor’s bunk. “Lie down. We’ll explain to Deborah and Miles.”

“Thanks,” Taylor murmured, diving into her sleeping bag.

After saying our good-byes and get wells, the rest of us headed to the lake. I was still shivering.

“You know, it’s okay if you’re not a great swimmer,” Bess said as we were walking down the same path where Bella had pranked us the night before. “The camp has lifeguards. So, you know, no pressure.”

I knew that was meant to comfort me.

Bella had barely spoken that morning, saying the minimum she had to in order to seem polite—pass the muffins, thank you, oh, I’m fine, thanks. Whether she was still miffed by the way we’d reacted, or whether she just sensed she needed to tone it down and give us all a break from her, I couldn’t quite tell.

When we got to the lake, it was the brilliant robin’s-egg blue of the morning sky. I poked my toe into the water and shivered—it was also a good ten degrees colder than the morning air.

“Don’t worry,” Sam whispered when she saw me cringe, “you’ll get used to it.”

I knew she was right, but I’d still have to get out of the lake at some point. And then I’d be freezing!

“All right, girls,” Deborah said, stepping onto a short wooden pier that stretched into the lake. She was wearing a red, white, and blue striped one-piece. “For the basic swimming test, we’ll have you jump off the edge of this pier, swim out to the float, move about three yards away and tread water for two minutes, then swim back. This all must be completed in five minutes. Any counselor who passes this test will get their blue swimming badge, which allows you to swim in the lake as long as there’s a lifeguard present. If anyone would like to take the lifeguard test, that wins you a red swimming badge, and you’ll be allowed to swim in the lake unsupervised. Is anyone interested?”

Sam raised her hand, and so did Bella, after some hesitation.

“Great,” said Deborah. “We’ll save you two for last, then, since it’s a more complicated test.”

“Can I run to the ladies’ room then?” Sam asked. “Sorry—I should have gone back at the cabin.”

“Sure, that’s fine,” Deborah said. “There’s an outhouse down a little path that leads off to the right, on your way back to the mess hall.”

Sam turned and disappeared into the woods. But before Deborah could continue, Bella raised her hand.

“Yes, Bella?” Deborah asked.

“Can I go get a hoodie?” Bella asked. “I’m cold, and if we’re just going to be waiting for a while . . .”

“Sure.” Deborah shrugged. “Run back to the cabin quickly and then come right back, okay?”

“Okay.” Bella nodded and then scampered back up the path.

“Now, let me demonstrate the basic test for you.” Deborah walked out to the end of the pier, pinched her nose, and jumped in with a huge SPLASH!

“Ooh!” she shrieked when she came up for air. “That’s brisk! Anyway, I’m going to swim over to the float like so. . . .” She began paddling, kicking her legs out behind. The lake water splashed into crystals all around her. It was a couple of minutes before she reached the float. “Okay!” she yelled, struggling to make her voice carry over the yards that separated her from the pier. “Now I’m going to—aaugh!”

In the blink of an eye, it looked like Deborah was suddenly yanked downward—into the lake! Where she’d floated a few seconds earlier, holding on to the float, was a little whirlpool of churning water.

I looked uneasily at George. “What just happened?”

George shook her head. “Do you think she’s okay? Should we—”

But then the surface of the lake was broken again, and an extremely wet, slick-haired Deborah came up sputtering.

“Are you okay?” Maddie yelled, cupping her hands over her mouth.

Deborah held up one finger to say wait one minute. She pushed her hair back from her face, still blinking and gasping—clearly whatever had pulled her down had surprised her, too.

“I’m okay,” she said after a few seconds. “That was the darnedest thing! It felt like someone . . .” She looked down into the water, biting her lip.