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Back Whirlwind Save as PDF
Chapters (95)
  1. Title Page
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. Also by DAVID KLASS
  95. Copyright Page

Then we reach the next huge cataract, tip over the edge, and down we go! Our canoe is in free fall. I try to keep my wits about me and help the chief pick out a safe landing spot. When we finally splash down in an explosion of spray, my first thought is that we made it!

Then I see that the front of our canoe is empty. We’ve lost P.J.! The impact knocked her out. I search the churning river and spot her, being swept toward the next set of monster rapids. She reaches up an arm and seems to wave, perhaps saying goodbye.

I dive over the side. The river grabs me in its powerful arms, but I fight back with everything I have. Always been a powerful swimmer. The best in my grade, in my school, in my town. Aced junior and senior lifesaving. Won gold medals at the town races. Once swam across the Hudson and back to win a bet. Now I put every ounce of strength and skill I have into saving P.J.

She’s trying desperately to slow herself—to avoid being swept down the next waterfall. Foot by foot I claw my way through the white water, moving ever closer to her. I’ll have only one chance to grab her. We’re perilously close to the lip of the thundering cataract.

Too late. She’s gone over! I’ve lost her! No, there she is, clinging to a rock at the very edge.

I grab a leg. Yank her back from the abyss. Find a handhold on the sharp rock she was clinging to. The chief sees us, and steers the canoe in our direction. But there’s no way he can possibly rescue us. We’re too close to the edge of the watery precipice.

P.J.’s freaking out. Thinks she’s gonna die. I grab her in a lifeguard hold. Push off the rock. Kick and stroke and fight my way back against the current.

Somehow I make it to the canoe. The chief reaches down. Grabs P.J.’s arms. Tries to paddle and haul her up at the same moment. I try to anchor us against the current and push her up. She calms down enough to help. I push, he pulls, she climbs, and suddenly she’s in.

Saved her! Our eyes meet for a fraction of a second. She knows I just saved her life.

BAM! Something slams me on the side of the head. A rock? A floating branch? I fade out, and come back to consciousness whirling in limbo. Fight my way up to the surface.

“Jack! Jack!” I see P.J. in the canoe, searching for me, as they tip over the edge of the falls.

I try to wave back, to let her know I’m alive.