“I’d rather you didn’t, but if we have to separate temporarily to avoid being spotted, then I can stay steady here or lower myself down,” he responds in a hurried whisper.

Worst case scenario he can be caught and Walter can slip away unseen without the teenager slowing him down.

Given the two options, he does not have to think about his preference, “If you can wait with me about ten minutes I might be okay. I feel like I’ve been treading water for hours...”