This was bigger and more threatening than what they had just been through, and there was no question that passed between any of them that they would ride through the middle of it. They were high on achievement, but, for Jack at least, this felt like something they had to conquer together. Nobody was laughing now, he looked round at his children’s determined faces, and warned them to hold on tight. He gave a nod to Jane, and they both started paddling into the centre. It hit them hard, and took the breath out of the entire boat. They rose up so that they could see nothing of the river and came down again so it was all they could see. Keep paddling, Jack shouted, and they pushed on forward. Then a drop, and a crash, as they were jolted down into the floor of the boat. It began to turn, and they couldn’t stop it and suddenly the boat seemed to be shaking them out. Katie screamed. Hold on, Jack shouted. He and Jane stopped paddling and held tight, keeping their heads down. They watched their children, feeling helpless. Then, the light changed, everything twisted, the water was louder, louder, louder, then quieter, quieter, quieter.
Day 26
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