he was not uncomfortable , precisely : it was quite pleasantly cool , and when laurence asked , temeraire said stoutly , `` oh , i do not mind it of itself , only i would like to get out of it , now , '' but that did not address the clinging , sticky quality of the stuff : sand was squirming everywhere under the edges of his hide , and there was something dreadful in not being able to get out : it was not at all like swimming in water , which did not try and drag you back down , like chains which you were not allowed to take off .