The clearing was bright and green and the gentlest of breezes made the grass and flowers dance where they grew. Two figures approached the spring, sweating profusely from a whole day's walking under the sun's merciless rays.
The lawyer was the first to reach their goal, and with a heaving sigh he slumped down before the pool of water and dropped his heavy rucksack. He let himself fall back into the grass, stretching long arms and legs and took a long, relieved breath. The doctor followed shortly after. She took greater care sitting down, but looked no less exhausted or happy to have made it.
'No way?' she said.
'Right? Looks like the old man was telling the truth after all.'
'Well, at least there's a spring here. For now, that's all we know,' the doctor shrugged. 'Just imagine.'
It took quite a while for the professor to finally catch up. His middle-aged companions were already sitting up again, and enjoyed their provisions while continuing to speculate, and to examine the pool from a safe distance.
The doctor waved as the old man came closer.
'Look who's made it,' the lawyer grinned. 'I had half a mind to go back, and carry you the rest of the way.'
'It's not my fault that you two were in such a hurry,' said the professor in between gasps for air.
He perked up as soon as he spotted the pool, glistening sunlight reflecting off of its surface.
'Beautiful,' he said and took a few steps forward.
'Hey, why don't you sit down first. Have a sandwich,' the doctor said and held one up, but the professor seemed as though in a trance.
'Beautiful,' he said again. 'We're here. We're are really here at last.'
He turned around sharply.
'How?' he said, his voice suddenly raised. 'How can you be so calm, how can you eat? Look. Just look at where we are. At what we have.'
'Heat getting to you?' said the lawyer.
'Quiet, you,' said the professor, dramatically pointing an accusing finger.
His friends smiled bemusedly. Laboriously they rose to their feet, the lawyer pulling the doctor up in an almost gentlemanly manner, and they joined the old man by the spring.
'So?' the lawyer said. 'This is really it? You're sure?'
'There can be no doubt,' the professor said. 'It's exactly how I always imagined it, so very... pure.'
'It's pretty,' admitted the doctor. 'But will it... you know? Work?'
'Of course,' replied the professor, indignation in his voice. 'Can you not see the magic?'
They exchanged a glance.
'Well yeah,' the lawyer said hesitantly. 'From a certain point of view, it's pretty magical... .'
'Bah,' made the professor. 'You aren't looking right.'
Hurriedly the old man began to unbutton his shirt.
'Hey, hold on,' the doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Don't just go and jump in, are you mad!'
'What? What are you here for then?' the professor scoffed.
'We still need to do tests, take samples, you can't just... I mean... What are you thinking!'
'Bollocks to your tests,' the professor giggled and threw his shirt over his shoulders.
The wizened, old body suddenly moved with incredible ease, joints hardly creaking at all as he jumped up and down where he stood, trying to undo his belt.
The doctor glared at the professor, then turned to the lawyer, who shrugged.
'Oh well, if you can't beat the wrinkly old goat...,' he said with a carefree smile.
The doctor's reply was a frustrated grunt, but she too began to undress. The professor was stretching shamelessly, his naked form on full display, small and slim as it was, appearing perpetually malnourished.
'Haha!'
The old man shrieked happily, took a run up and jumped. A modest splash and he went under right away. The doctor let out a little sigh, quite happy to finally get off her bra. The three friends' shared sauna nights had made embarrassment a thing of their past, and the breeze felt soothing against her sagging breasts. Hiking was keeping her moderately fit, but looking down at her body she couldn't deny that she was also rather fond of the odd pudding. She looked over at the lawyer. He was easily the most active among them, and it showed, what with his broad shoulders and strong arms. His ginger hair remained vibrant, but the doctor was quite happy to see that the signs of ageing hadn't left her friend entirely untouched. Naked at last she wiped sweaty strands of greying hair out if her face, and calmly, head held high, walked to the edge of the pool.
The professor came up for air, with an expression of unbridled glee. The water was pretty deep and reached up to the old man's chest. The doctor dipped her toe. A pleasant tingling sensation travelled up her foot.
'Anything?' she asked.
'It's extraordinary,' the professor gushed. 'Magnificent.'
The doctor decided to sit down by the spring and slowly began to submerge her legs.
Splash.
The lawyer had imitated the professor and leapt, and the doctor screamed as a small wave washed over her.
'Oy!'
'Woah. That feels great,' the lawyer stared at his wet hand in wonder.
Droplets of water crawled across the doctor's skin, causing much more of the lovely tingly feeling.
Sod it, she thought, took a deep breath, and with a push dropped in as well. The water was cool and refreshing, and a strange excitement began to build inside of her. There was a serene calm under the surface, and the doctor felt happy in the dark quiet depth, enjoying the sudden stillness until her breath had very nearly run out.
