“We need to check how much food and drink we have left.”

Chloe looked confused. “We haven’t got anything left. Maybe something to drink, but no food. We ate it earlier.”

Alice looked astounded, but Shen called from the boat, saying, “So we should check our supplies anyway, see what we do have.”

Shen involuntarily looked out at the river, and Tom knew what he was thinking, that they needed to find a settlement soon, not just because of Nick, but because feeding themselves out here, let alone producing safe water to drink, would be almost impossible. It was a moment they would have faced anyway, but by finishing their supplies and losing their backpacks, the other boat had almost definitely brought the end a day closer.

CHAPTER 49

It was only when the remaining supplies were arranged on the floor of the other raft that Tom realized how hungry he was. But now that he felt the gnawing hollowness in his stomach, he was actually astonished that it had taken so long to hit him, because they’d hardly been eating enough—he credited Shen with concealing that truth.

Shen had briefly left Nick and joined the rest of them, but even he looked dejected. “We should stow it all away again, divide it out later.”

Kate said, “I can’t fish here without a rod. I guess I could scout for food, but that won’t help with water, and it’ll take time too.”

Oscar looked confused and said, “I thought we were camping here. Shouldn’t we build a fire?”

Shen shook his head. “No. I think it’s best to move on while we can.”

Joel had been quiet since the argument with Nick, but he glanced up at the sky and said, “I understand what you’re saying, Shen, but Oscar’s got a point. We’ve probably only got an hour of light left, and this looks like a good spot—we don’t know when we’ll find another one.”

Shen nodded, but he was preoccupied with looking at the river as he replied. “It’s wide, so we can keep to the middle, use the remaining flashlights to make sure we don’t drift off course or run into something.”

Joel looked taken aback. “You know, you’re all really good at criticizing my decisions, and I’ll admit some haven’t worked out, but you’re talking about drifting downriver in the middle of the night, when caimans and anacondas and all kinds of other things go hunting, and we’ll be in pitch black. Sandeep told me what happened to your boat even in daylight, so you have to know it’s ridiculous. No. I appreciate your efforts, Shen, I really do, but I won’t let you do this.”