“Don’t stop,” Gil urges, grabbing onto the sides of his seat as he gawks at the bigger boat bearing down on us, pushing waves ahead of its hull and rocking our boat.
“Not a chance,” Sean pants.
“What do we do? They’re getting closer!” Sabine cries, her shrill voice adding to the chaos of the moment. “We’re not going to make it!”
“Don’t panic,” Gil warns, but there’s an edge of hysteria to his voice that seems counter to his advice.
I swing back around and face forward, not looking anywhere except straight ahead. I refuse to look at the other boat. Sean is opposite me in his seat, and I lock on to his face as I row. His blue-gray eyes glow, caught in the harsh light ambushing us. The boat’s motor is a loud, angry beast now, breathing down our necks.
He nods at me, communicating something. What precisely, I’m not sure, until he shouts, “We’re going to have to jump!”
My chest clenches even as I acknowledge it’s our only chance. I cast a grim glance at the water to my right, a frenzied froth now from the waves of the bigger boat behind us.
“What? Are you insane?” Sabine demands.
He looks at her. “Can you swim?”
“Yes.” Even with her voice rising in panic, she looks mildly affronted.
“Then we’re jumping. It’s the only way.”
I stare out at the swift waters. So dark and fathomless.
Sean points to his right. “That’s the shoreline. Let’s try to stay together—”
“What about our supplies?” Gil looks down to where our packs rest.
Sean shakes his head and grabs his pack, rifling through it. He tosses out a few heavy items. A can of green beans hits my foot. “I’ll swim with this one.”
“It’s still too heavy,” I protest, thinking of the rest of the things still inside it.
“I can manage.” He grabs my bag and slides out the four-pack of flashlights. “These are waterproof.” He thrusts one at each of us. “If we get separated, these can help us find one another on the other side.”
I let the oar go and take the flashlight. It’s slim and not much longer than my hand. I stick it into the pocket of my jacket where I stashed my knife, glad the pockets zipper shut.
“Ready?” Sean’s eyes fasten on me as he asks this, searing and intent, and I realize I must not look ready.
I nod hard, just once. His hand clamps down around mine, and the clasp of his fingers feels good, reassuring. I’m glad for this. Glad that I can still feel some comfort from him. This hasn’t been stolen from me entirely at least.
He jumps first, pulling me with him. The sudden plunge into water is a shock to the system. Briny, loamy water rushes into my mouth and nose. Still overly warm from the hot day, it’s a far cry from the chilled swimming pools back home that I was used to.
Our heads all pop up close together. Gil and Sabine immediately start for shore. Sean still holds my hand, which makes swimming difficult. After a few strokes, we let go of each other to make better progress. Even with the burden of a bag strapped to his back, he quickly outswims me, even passing Gil and Sabine.
My shoulders burn as I try to catch up. Water slams into my face, filling my mouth. Choking, I keep going. The growl of the boat sounds like it’s right above me. The water grows more turbulent, and I know without looking that the boat is closer now. Panicked, I plunge underwater and swim below the surface as long as I can hold my breath.
When I next pop up, I’m beside Sabine. Gil is just in front of us. Sean still leads, but his body is half-turned as he looks back at us, shouting for us to get moving. He could probably be to shore by now if he hadn’t been stalling for us. This fills me with fury. I won’t be responsible for his life. Not again. I can barely take care of myself.
Suddenly it’s like I see myself from far above. A speck swimming for her life in a river with three other teenagers, men with guns behind us. How? How did I get from studying for my final exams and begging for an extra hour on my date with Zac to this?
“Go!” I shout as I cut my arms through water, pulling my body forward bit by bit.
He shouts something, but I can’t understand him. The roar of the boat engine is louder now, muffling everything else. And then there’s a pop, followed by a whistling hiss.
“They’re shooting!” Sabine screams, and her movements become more frantic.
Of course they’re shooting at us. They don’t care about retrieving us. A dead carrier is probably preferred.
Sucking in a deep breath, I dive below, swimming as long as I can, my arms pulling me. I stay under until my burning lungs can’t take it anymore; then I fight my way back to the surface.
My head breaks free with a ragged gasp and I drink oxygen deep into my starving lungs. I keep moving, spotting Sabine and Gil far to my right now, just a little ahead of me. Sean is farther ahead, still idling, looking back to us, lingering. Holding back for us. Placing himself in jeopardy for us.
More bullets. Sharp pops that smack water inches from me. I surge and suck in another deep breath, preparing to go under yet again for another plunge. Hopefully the next one gets me closer to shore. I can’t be far now. As I’m about to go down, my lungs gathering air to the point of bursting, pain punches me like a jackhammer, directly in the back of my shoulder. My breath expels from me in a screaming rush. I sink, swallowing a mouthful of river.
I come back up, sputtering, unable to move my left arm without agony. There’s so much noise. The growl of the boat motor is deafening, on top of me now, churning the water into a stew of angry, lathering waves. The sound competes with the swish of water slapping over my face. More bullets whistle. Men’s voices congest the air.