Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15 They pushed off and started to fly. They whizzed along the wire. The burning bushes seemed to reach up for them. But the wire held. In seconds, he and Holly were over the river. "Let go NOW!" Holly cried. Josh opened his fingers and fell through the smoke.

SPLASH! He could practically hear the hiss of his hot body hitting the cold river. And he knew that for as long as he lived, he would never forget the feeling of this cool water on his roasted skin. He let himself sink down, down, down, where the embers couldn't reach him, where the fire's roar was muffled. But his aching lungs couldn't hold much air. Only a few seconds later he was back on the surface, gulping in smoky breaths. Embers swirled around, glowing bits of wood, some ribbons of flaming bark. A few landed on him and he splashed them away. The smoke wasn't as thick down here near the water. He could see some small fires on the other side of the river. But nothing compared to what they'd escaped. The current was strong. But not as strong as in the ocean at the Jersey Shore, where Josh had learned to swim. He could handle it. His hopes rose up.

He looked for Holly, surprised she wasn't shouting out her orders. Where was she? He spun around, searching. Had she already started swimming to the other side? No. She wouldn't go without him. He saw some pieces of wood floating in the water. But no sign of his cousin. "Holly!" he called. He swam back and forth, swinging his head around. His eyes kept returning to what looked like a rock, bobbing in the water. But wait… rocks don't float. That was Holly! He thrashed over to her and grabbed hold of her arms under the water. He tried to pull her up, but she was stuck! Josh took a breath and dove down. He groped in the water; her leg was caught in a branch. It took him three dives before he could work her leg free. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to the surface. They both exploded up out of the water.

He'd done it! But Holly was strangely silent. Her head lolled. "Holly!" he screamed. "Holly!" But she didn't open her eyes.