The Swimmer

"The war has begun. Our country is being invaded. They have taken the first swimming pool." IONESCO [1] It is a radiantly beautiful Sunday afternoon. A man is walking through a woods barefoot and in bathing trunks. His step is jaunty, and he is whistling. Dapples of yellow sunlight slant through the leafy boughs overhead onto his tanned, lean-muscled body. The man's name is Ned Merrill. He is in his mid-forties. Although his handsome, even- featured face shows the marks of his age more than his body does, it is at the moment a youthful face, boyishly exultant with a feeling of well- being. Now and then Ned leaps gracefully from rock to rock in his path - - with the coordination of a lifelong athlete. Everything about him -- his health, his physical beauty, his happiness -- seems to be a celebration of life on this lovely day. [2] The Westerhazys Suddenly he bursts out of the woods onto a perfect suburban scene: the garden, swimming pool, and glistening white ridge-top house of Helen and Don Westerhazy. They are sitting on their colorful terrace. Helen's eyes are closed. Her body is inert. Don is sipping a drink. Both wear bathing suits. When Ned sees them he lets out a whoop of greeting and breaks into a dog trot across the lawn. At the sound of the shout Don and Helen lift their heads to squint at the approaching figure. As Ned comes closer, Don stands up and shades his eyes. Ned has reached the edge of the garden.