197. Frozen Assets
Amy decides to rely on her not inconsiderable swimming skills and heads for the island. At the first opportunity she dives in. She swims freestyle, sword in hand, as fast as her arms and legs will carry her toward the island. She is so involved in swimming that she doesn't notice that the gorgon isn't following her.
As she swims, she notes that the water is growing colder and colder. Her arms grow numb, but she presses on, certain that death is trailing close behind her. Finally she reaches the shore and triumphantly pulls herself out of the water.
Her triumph is short-lived. The air here is freezing and Amy is drenched in ice-cold water. She turns around and spots the gorgon in the distance, now waving at her. Amy feels confusion. Why isn't the gorgon following her?
Her question is answered when a breeze blows one of the willow's dangling leaves into her face. The skin it touches freezes instantly. The cold then sweeps rapidly down her body, freezing Amy solid. She drops her sword as the cold reaches her arm, and she is left standing in a surprised pose, mouth open, eyes wide.
Amy begins settling in for a long time spent contemplating her mistakes. She soon discovers, however, that the gorgon won't leave well enough alone. The gorgon has grabbed a bunch of rocks and begun chucking them across the lake at Amy. One strikes Amy's left leg, creating a spiderweb of hairline cracks emerging from the point of impact. Another strikes her right breast, leading to yet more cracks.
“Oh no!” thinks Amy, “I'm going to break!”
The gorgon rears back, takes careful aim, and, like a pitcher throwing a fast ball, wings one final rock at Amy. The stone strikes Amy right on the belly button, shattering the adventuress into a million pieces and ending her journey.
Amy is in no condition to continue this adventure or her life.