18

HOW TO BE A HERO

Icy water rises past my knees and my legs turn numb.

Dad, it would’ve been easier if you’d led Constable Curtin to the river or gotten a large boulder to fall and block the current. But I can’t be fussy with miracles, so thanks. The rope’s better than nothing.

I just hope you’re watching.

I’m alone.

Trouble is, I’m not the best person for the job. My stupid backpack weighs me down and I’m worried I’ll slip and get caught in the current. I can’t even use my torch. I need both hands free, and it’s getting darker. I wish someone braver was here, like Harriet or Alex. Anyone but me. But I keep going because, most of all, I’m terrified of what will happen if I don’t reach Ana.

Taking a wobbly step, my breath sticks in my throat. I’m afraid of micro bacteria in the water, I never swim here. More fears build up inside my head, forming lines like soldiers, but I force myself to take another step. Water pushes harder, throwing fistfuls of foam into my face at high speed. I swallow hard. What about catching hypothermia, drowning and eels with sharp teeth? Worse, what if I’m not strong enough to pull Ana in?

Water slaps my body, stinging and cold. My hands reach out — what’s that? My fingers scrape against rough stone. I’ve reached Caspar, one of the large boulders rising above the water, close to the fallen tōtara branch. Using all my strength, I drag myself onto the huge rock, safe above the current, still holding onto the rope wrapped around my arm.

I don’t dare get any closer.

Grabbing my torch from my bag, I shine the light towards the oak branch. A green face turns toward me. Ana’s still wearing my turtle mask, so I can’t tell whether she’s happy to see me or freaking out. Possibly both. How will this work? She might not hold onto the rope. Ana’s only a few metres away, but I’m not strong enough to carry her back, not through the current. It’s deep and too dangerous. We’re both stuck here.

And then Ana reaches out one hand and shouts, ‘Lucas! Help me!’

‘Hang on, Ana! I’ll think of something!’

There’s no way I’m leaving her. Maybe it’s that mask, because I feel like a ninja turtle asked for help and I’m a character in a film. I don’t feel brave, but she can’t stay on that branch, the water’s rising and there’s no one here but me. Turning my head towards the hillside, I check out two flat stones, the other Wise Men sticking above the water. If I can drag Ana towards me on the rope, we could jump from rock to rock without getting into the water and reach the other side of the river. That’s better than carrying her back the way I came, even though it’s closer, because I struggled getting this far and I can’t imagine dragging Ana through the current. We need to get out of the water, now.

Shifting the weight of my backpack onto one arm, I throw the rope towards Ana. I miss and the cord wriggles in the current. Again, I toss the rope, and this time it lands on the branch, lying near her head.

‘Hey, Ana!’ I shout across the foaming water. ‘Grab hold of the rope. Let’s go find Alex and see the moa.’

‘Home!’ I hear her call back, but she doesn’t move. Ana stares at the rope. It’s almost out of her reach.

‘Ana, hold tight onto the rope, pretend it’s my hand.’

She’s not stupid. Ana wants to get off the branch. But it’s hard to know what she’s thinking. Another second passes, feeling like a million years, then Ana grabs at the rope — once, twice she misses. Third time, I feel her weight pulling on the rope, and I gasp with relief.

‘Now let go of the tree, Ana.’

Taking a huge breath, I pull hard as she slides away from the tree, her legs floating in the current. Ana shrieks. She’s banging into rocks and, for a moment, she’s a dead weight almost dragging me into the water.

‘Hold on, Ana!’

My arms hurt. I swear, they’re about to fall off. But I can’t give up now. Crouching lower on the rock, I yank harder.

And then, Ana bobs towards me. Her hands reach out, touching Caspar. I grab Ana with both arms, letting go of the rope. The cord slips into the current like an eel, vanishing into dirty water. Ana, who doesn’t normally like being carried by anyone except Alex, digs her fingers into my back.

‘Okay, good. Hold onto me now. We’re going to jump over the rocks. Don’t be scared. Alex sent me, he’s been looking for you.’

She hasn’t noticed the Wise Men providing a path towards the shore. But Ana’s the sort who might find tiny ladybirds on a school field and miss the giant soccer nets. She nods and sobs, ‘Alex.’

Taking a deep breath, I tighten my arms around her and glance across the river. Is it my imagination or is the water still rising? It’s dark and I’m not sure, but we can’t stay here any longer.

‘Ana, we’re going to leapfrog across.’

She digs her fingers even tighter.

‘Um, could a baby bird climb onto a bigger bird’s back and go for a ride? I’ll bet that’s how moa travel.’

Hoping Ana hasn’t researched baby moa, I swing my backpack around, wearing it over my chest. It’s heavy but I can’t afford to lose my first aid kit, we might need it later. For a second I don’t feel anything, but then Ana climbs onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck. Good thing she’s only five years old, but she’s heavy enough to make me feel unbalanced. Trying to stand on the flat rock, I almost fall into the river.

‘Meep!’ Ana gasps.

‘Yeah, we might slip, but don’t panic, okay? Baby birds never freak out.’

Talk about a load of rubbish. If we fall into the water, we could drown. Isn’t that worth panicking over? All of a sudden keepsafekids.com seems useless. I need an adult, preferably one with lifeguard training. Not a website.

No, don’t think about grown-ups. No one is coming. No one will save us.

Just get out of this river.

Pushing all my strength into my legs, I jump for the next rock and … my foot slips. Sharp rocks slash my bare feet and Ana’s weight throws me forward, onto my chest. I gasp as we land, my legs dangling in the river. My head almost hits the jagged edges but my backpack cushions our fall. For a second, I can’t move, let alone breathe. Cold water rushes around my knees.

I want to lie here and never get up.

Wait … there’s water around my knees? How deep is it? Pressing my toes downward, I touch the bottom. Yes. It’s shallow and we’re close! But the massive current could still knock me over. If we’re going to get across, I need to make another jump.

Just one more rock.

Ana whimpers and pulls, trying to climb off my back. Guess she’s frightened and I need to think of something reassuring. What makes me feel better? I can’t think of anything, except, ‘Ana, safety is often overlooked by the average person!’

Okay, that sounded dumb. However, it’s the start of the homepage from keepsafekids.com. I know the words off by heart and they always made me feel better. I can’t think of anything more encouraging. So now I’m reciting the introduction, shouting into the wind, ‘Danger can be around any corner. However, we don’t need to live in fear!’

Am I making Ana feel better, too? Her arms stay wrapped under around my neck, making it hard to breathe, but at least her grip feels strong. My legs ache with cold and everything else stings or throbs. Forcing my frozen knees to bend, I say, ‘For the prepared person, these tips will save you from certain death. Taking precautions and looking out for the wellbeing of others keeps people safe and … that’s what …’

Cold and wet, my mind turns blank as I force myself not to panic. Taking a deep breath, I throw myself forward and think of something good, memories that make me strong —

Dad, Mum, Ellie.

And then we land on the rock, my arm hitting the side. My elbow stings, but Ana still clings onto my back. We’re safe, inches from dry land.

Stepping into the ankle-deep current, I drag us through the frothing river’s edge. As I stumble onto the soggy grass, the final words from keepsafekids.com rush back into my mind. Wet and shivering, I collapse onto the long grass. ‘Looking out for the wellbeing of others keeps people safe and that’s what makes an ordinary person a hero.’