Summary

As Chapter 13, “Descent of the Aquanauts,” continues, Janice completes her story by telling the girls to be careful while they swim. The girls do not like this ending, and they ask for more. Janice then says that the Aquanauts did not die and that they remained young forever, but this ending appears to be equally upsetting to the girls who are listening. A girl on the beach paddles a small boat towards deep water, and she thinks she sees something swimming beneath the surface. A little later, on the beach, people notice that that girl has gone missing, and lifeguards go out to search for her. With a sense of resignation and cold detachment, Janice says that the girl is probably dead.

In Chapter 14, “Through the Wormhole,” the narrative shifts focus back to Mary. Mary and Walter are still married. Walter commutes to work...