Jaeger has the awful feeling that if he lets go of George, he'll never see the man again, so he holds on with all his strength, the muscle in his back and shoulders taut with the effort of trying to haul him out of the water. Or at least, keep him above the waves.

The six-inch combat knife at his belt would be better for this, and he fumbles for it without being entirely certain what to cut. He can't see under the water, either, aside from the drifting shadowy shapes of debris in the dark. Maybe the whole thing will come up and in, if he manages to pull George into the boat. It's something to hold onto, and with a quick, decisive flip, he shifts the knife to offer the hilt first. If the other man can grab it, it will be a better weapon for sawing through rope and netting, worth what small risk it presents.