[Child of the 7th Age]

Child had flooded a 5-foot deep storage barrell on one of the lower decks, which was about 10 feet long. She felt it was too dangerous to start the two of them off in the ocean so Birdland had helped her devise this as an alternative. Eventually, if they sailed into a cove, they might try it out there as well.

With the help of Stacey, she was having Frodo and Sam practice what is generally known as the "dead man's float". It's a good thing they weren't Elves as this was the largest container she could find.

The hobbits were both surprised to discover that, if they kept their head about them and stayed calm, their bodies were naturally buoyant. By the end of the session, they were beginning to paddle much like dogs slowly back and forth.

Child whispered to Stacey. "I'm not trying to turn them into long-distance swimmers, but as long as we're out on this ship, it is downright dangerous not to know how to keep your head above water." She was careful to keep her voice low so that neither of the hobbits would overhear.

Child understood that both of them had some bad associations with water. Frodo, of course, remembered his parents. And even though Sam had good memories of swimming with Rosie in the Shire's swimming hole, he had apparently experienced an awkward moment or two chasing after Frodo just when he had decided to trek out to Mordor on his own. Child wasn't sure quite what had happened but she knew it involved Sam and water and Frodo and a boat. She wasn't about to ask for any more details, especially when she'd finally gotten them to try and learn.

It was quite strange for her to be in this teaching role with the two of them since Samwise and Frodo had always been the ones to teach her things. But, in this one activity, she could apparently be of some help.

There was another reason for Child's frantic activity which she was not about to acknowledge to anyone, least of all herself. She did not like the way Mithadan was taking so long to recover, and she still had no idea where Rose had gone to. Better to keep her mind on teaching swimming than to think about all that.