Sandeep dropped the wood he’d been holding and said, “What do we need to do, Tom?”

“We need to tie the boats together. The one with Nick can go at the back. Shen should stay with him, maybe a few more…”

“I will,” said Chris.

“Me too,” said Mila. Chloe raised her hand to volunteer as well.

Tom nodded and said, “That might be enough. We’ll be more crowded in the other boat, but it’s more important that Nick can lie flat. You can ask Shen and Barney if there’s anything else you need to do. But let’s go as soon as we can—Nick needs to be in a hospital.”

Everyone started moving, all with a purpose, taking instructions from Shen and Barney, moving the other boat around and tying them together, spreading out the remaining packs.

Alice walked past Tom and muttered, “Nicely done.”

He laughed a little, and more as George gave him a friendly shoulder shove and said, “About time.”

Then the dog barked and Tom turned to see that Joel was walking along the narrow beach toward the trees.

Kate followed his gaze and said, “I came after you, Tom, but I’m not going after him.”

Tom smiled at her but then shook his head, baffled, wondering whether Joel wanted to be left behind, or whether he planned to go missing long enough to stop them from leaving before dark. Whatever the case, it made Tom angry.

He walked along the beach quickly, the dog keeping pace with him, reaching Joel at the top of the bank as he headed into the dappled dark of the trees.

“Hey!”

Joel stopped, but took his time turning, and said, “I need to pee, or do I need your permission for that?”

“If that’s all you need, then go ahead, I’ll wait.” Joel looked askance. “You’re coming with us, Joel, even if I have to tie you to the boat.”

“You think you’re such a big hero, don’t you?”

Tom wasn’t in the mood to navigate Joel’s damaged ego. “Just water the flowers and let’s get out of here.”

“I can wait,” said Joel, and jumped back down the bank and walked toward the boats. Tom reached down and scratched the top of the dog’s head, then followed.

CHAPTER 50

Within fifteen minutes, they’d set off again. At first, the atmosphere was awkward and tense, people talking as if there hadn’t been an argument, that Joel wasn’t sitting silent and stony-faced against the wall of the lead boat. But then they seemed to genuinely forget that he was there and the conversations flowed more naturally.

The river remained wide and flat, the banks lush and overhanging the water, with dark depths that looked as impenetrable as ever. Maybe because they were a reasonable distance from either bank, the dog seemed more relaxed and only barked or growled a few times.