Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 Josh's mind swirled in panic as he bicycled his legs under the water, desperately trying to keep them both afloat. In health class, he'd learned what to do if someone was choking. Was drowning the same as choking? It didn't matter—it was the only thing he could think to do.

He managed to whip Holly around so her back was against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, locked his hands under her rib cage, and pushed in hard right below her chest. Water gushed from her mouth. She sputtered and gulped in the smoky air, coughing between each breath. Her eyes fluttered open. But something still wasn't right. "My leg," Holly said weakly. "I think it's broken. I can't move it." Josh struggled to hold her up. He kept his eyes on the fires on the opposite side of the river. They were growing bigger now. If he and Holly didn't get over there soon, they would lose any chance of getting out alive. A feeling of doom rose up inside Josh. But so did something else: a rush of energy. Like at that basketball game, when they were down by two and time was running out. When there had been nobody to pass to and it was up to him to try to make that three-point shot.

Josh whirled around in the water so his back was to Holly. "Climb on!" Josh shouted, the words coming out before he knew he was saying them. "I'll get us to the other side." Holly had gotten them through the flames, to the river, over the burning trees. She'd picked him up when he was hurt, cheered him on when he was sure he couldn't move. Now it was his turn. Holly wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Josh started to swim. It was hard. Really hard. Josh had to kick his legs and stroke very fast with his one good arm. It took every ounce of strength he had to keep them afloat. But he did it. Inch by inch, he moved them forward until finally his feet scraped the river bottom. He held Holly on his back and staggered toward the shore. He made it to knee-deep water and then couldn't go another step. The pain in his arm and

hand was agonizing. His legs were shaking. The smoke made it almost impossible to breathe. "I just… need… to… rest… for a minute," he gasped. But the new fires were gaining power. Flames hopped from one tree to the next. Embers took hold. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! "We can't stay here," Holly said, reading Josh's mind. "There," Josh said, pointing about thirty yards up, where the trees and bushes were farther back from the river. "It's better up there." Josh turned so Holly could climb onto his back. He staggered forward, praying his legs wouldn't give out. The fire roared and crackled and shrieked. And then there was a new sound, a furious pounding from behind them.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. The noise reminded Josh of a ferocious beast snapping its jaws. He imagined a huge creature bursting through the wall of fire, its jagged teeth gleaming through the black smoke. He was afraid to turn around. The river began to churn. The hot wind swirled faster, whipping around them. And whatever was making the sound got closer. THWACK. THWACK. THWACK. "Josh," Holly rasped into his ear. Her voice was bright, not scared. "Look!" Josh glanced back. And sure enough, something enormous hovered behind them. But it wasn't a fiery beast. It was a helicopter—white and red. Josh's heart leaped. The Huey!