she felt the ice water rush in her mouth and nose ; sheheexpelled it with a violent , wracking cough , thrashing for air , banging his fists wildly against the heavy wood above him , next to him , seemingly all around himbut there was no air , no air at all , only the icy saltwater and the blackness , blackness like iron blankets weighing her down , popping her ears , pulling her inexorably into its vast and unfathomable indifference .