laurence eased himself over the edge , groping for hand-holds beneath the lip ; he could not see the face of the cliff beneath him , his own body blocking what little glimmer the stars gave , and could only rely on the sense of touch : the stone cold , beneath his cheek , and his breathing very loud in his own ears , with the strange amplified quality of being underwater ; blind , deaf , he pressed his body flat as he could against the rock .