Chapter 18
Jabari and Gavi shouted and Ibba screamed as they saw Ben go over the edge. Isika threw herself on the bank and clutched at her brother's reaching hand, so she saw the moment the water touched him. His eyes went wide with horror and then they stared blankly, as though the water had killed him instantly. She held onto his hand with all her strength.
"Pull me back," she called to the others, and she felt strong hands on her legs, hauling her away from the river's edge. She and Ben inched up the bank until they were both on the dry ground, she still holding onto Ben's one dry hand. He was frozen, stuck in the same crumpled pose. She stood, horrified at the brown sludge that covered him.
"What do we do?" she cried, looking at Jabari and Gavi. Tears were flowing unchecked out of G
