Shen’s voice remained measured. “I’m talking about getting Nick to a hospital, I’m talking about finding a village before we start to starve, before we’re forced to drink unclean water, before people start dying.”

“I want those things too, and one more night won’t hurt. But a night on the river might. I see where you’re coming from, Shen, but I’ve made my decision.”

Shen simply stared back at him, apparently unable even to formulate a response. Tom looked on, astonished, because he knew Shen wouldn’t have suggested traveling through the night if he didn’t think it was a matter of survival, and not just for Nick.

Joel turned away from Shen and called out, “Everyone!”

A few people had drifted here and there on the narrow beach, but they all turned to face him now.

Without much conviction, Shen tried to intervene again. “Joel—”

Joel ignored him, his voice taking on the familiar tone as he said, “I’ve given it some thought, but I don’t think it’s safe to stay on the river after dark, so we’ll camp here tonight and move on at first light. Start looking for firewood, but be careful.”

A good number of them started scouring the driftwood on the bank right away. Shen shook his head, and both Alice and George looked at him with concern, then at Tom. But then Joel looked at Tom as well, and smiled—a smile that seemed oddly victorious. Tom wasn’t sure what victory he thought he’d won, except that people were still willing to follow his orders, even with Nick lying broken in the bottom of the raft.

Tom noticed Barney was looking at him too, a searching, expectant gaze, almost as if he was reminding Tom of what he’d said about the kind of friend he was, the kind who stepped up. And Barney was right to look at him like that—in the beginning he could have played the outsider card, but not now. These people were his friends and they wanted him to do what he should have done all along.

Sandeep, holding a few pieces of driftwood, called, “Where are we building the fire, Joel?”

But before Joel could answer, Tom said, “Nowhere. We’re not staying.”

Joel turned to him, still with that smile. “It’s already been decided, Tom.”

“Yeah, it has. We’re moving on, for all the reasons Shen talked about.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”