chris reached out for the nearest spoke as it broke water , and grabbed - cold and slippery - hand slid on algae - splinters cut his fingers - losing his grip - he grabbed with his other hand - desperate - the spoke was rising into the air - he could n't hold it - let go , fell back in the water - grabbed for the next spoke as it came up - missed it - missed it - and then was swept relentlessly onward , back into the sunlight , going downstream .