📸 Photo

the packs over to me on it. Then you tie yourself to the vine, and I’ll pull you ashore.’

‘Don’t go in, Kevin. It’s much too dangerous. Wait a while,’ I called to him, but Kevin didn’t hesitate. He took off his shoes and socks.

‘I’ll make it, Yossi,’ he shouted, and jumped into the river.

The current’s tremendous force pulled him along. He disappeared for a moment but then bobbed up again. He was washed up against a rock about twenty-five yards downstream, grabbed onto it, and from there made it to the riverbank. I sighed with relief but then caught my breath. I felt the raft moving under me, slowly breaking free of the rock.

‘Kevin! Kevin! The raft is moving, Kevin!’

It was slowly slipping away. Kevin ran swiftly toward me.

‘Throw me my shoes, fast!’

I obeyed him automatically and threw his shoes as hard in his direction as I could. They landed on the rocky bank. The raft was almost free. It was headed toward the waterfall. I was trembling all over, looking at Kevin in terror, pleading. He was already hurriedly putting his shoes on.

‘The machete! Throw me the machete!’ he shouted.

The large blade whistled through the air and thudded to the ground. The raft had begun moving.

‘You’re leaving me, Kevin!’ I shouted.