Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(38)

She managed a single sharp exhalation before the river closed over her head. The cold made her lungs seize as the water flooded thick and earthy into her mouth. She tried to kick but her feet were heavy in her boots. Without warning, she broke the surface, sucking at the air, blinded by water.

‘Help!’ The word was lost as she swallowed another mouthful of river.

‘Reach up! Reach up!’

Lauren heard the muffled shout above her as someone clambered and skidded down the bank. Something was being held out to her and she grabbed it with both hands, feeling the clack of movement inside canvas as her fists tightened. It was the tent pole bag.

‘Hold on, we’ll pull you in.’

She forced her wrist into the handle strap and twisted it until it was tight. The silvery glint of the canister swept by her face, carried along by the current, and Lauren snatched at it.

‘I can’t –’

The hunk of wood came from nowhere. Solid and slimy with sodden leaves, it surfaced in the rushing water and careered into the side of her skull. The last thing she saw was the bloodied piece of wood ricochet away and disappear without a trace back into the water.

Lauren was freezing. She was shaking so hard her joints were knocking against the hard ground. She forced her eyes open. She was lying on her side. Everything seemed painfully bright, but the daylight had a different quality from before. How long had passed? She thought she could hear crying followed by a harsh whisper. The noise stopped.

‘You’re awake. Thank God.’ Alice’s voice.

‘Is she all right?’ Jill.

‘I think so.’

I’m not, Lauren wanted to say, but couldn’t find the energy. She struggled to sit up. Her head was pounding. She touched the pain. Her fingers came away bloody. She was draped in a coat that wasn’t hers. Underneath, her clothes were soaked through.

Next to her, Bree sat huddled knees to chest, a camping towel around her shoulders. Her hair was sopping wet. A pool of watery vomit lay between them. Lauren wasn’t sure which of them was responsible. Her own mouth tasted dank and foul.

Jill and Alice stood over her. Both were white-faced with fear. Beth hovered behind, shivering, her eyes red-rimmed. She was not wearing her coat and Lauren realised she was lying under it. She wondered vaguely if she should offer it back, but her teeth were chattering too hard to speak.

‘You’re okay,’ Alice kept saying, a defensive note in her tone.

What happened? Lauren wanted to ask, but couldn’t form the words. Her face must have said it all.

‘Bree pulled you out,’ Jill said. ‘You were breathing, but you took a knock to the head.’

It felt like more than a knock. Lauren felt dizzy simply sitting up.

‘Did we at least get the canister?’

Their faces gave her the answer.

‘What about the tent pole bag?’

More bleak faces.

‘Lost in the river,’ Jill said. ‘It’s no-one’s fault,’ she added quickly.

Well, it’s not my fault, Lauren thought immediately. ‘What do we do now?’

Alice cleared her throat. ‘There should be spare supplies at the campsite.’ She was trying to sound optimistic. It came off as false.

‘I’m not sure I can make it.’

‘You’ll have to,’ Alice said. Her tone softened. ‘I’m sorry. But we can’t stay here without the tents. It’ll get too cold.’

‘So light a fire.’ Every word was an effort. Lauren could see Jill shaking her head. ‘Please. Jill, I know we’re not allowed, but –’

‘It’s not that. The lighter got wet.’

Lauren wanted to cry. She felt sick again and lay back. The cold ground made her headache worse. She felt a drop of liquid run across her forehead and down her temple. She couldn’t tell if it was river water or blood. With effort, she lifted her head a fraction. Alice was still standing over her.

‘Phone for help,’ Lauren said.

Alice didn’t move.

‘Call someone, Alice. On your mobile.’

Jill looked uneasy. ‘She’s already tried. We couldn’t get through.’

Lauren let her head drop back against the ground. ‘So what do we do?’

No-one spoke. Something scurried in the bush.

‘Maybe we aim for higher ground,’ Alice said at last. ‘See if we can get a signal.’

‘Will that make a difference?’ Jill said.

‘How would I know?’

There was an awkward pause.

‘Sorry.’ Alice unfolded the map and leaned over it. Finally, she looked up. ‘Look, I’m pretty sure this river is this one here, in the north. There’s a low peak with a path over here, to the west. It doesn’t look too steep. The campsite’s in that direction anyway. We can check for a signal on the peak. How does that sound?’

‘Can you get us there?’ Jill said.

‘Yes. I think so. That way is west. Once we get on that path it should be obvious.’

‘You’ve done this before?’

‘A few times.’

‘At school camp? Or recently?’

‘At school. But I remember how. Nothing’s changed since then.’

‘And it worked back then?’

Alice gave a grim smile. ‘Well, I didn’t end up dead in the bush. But look, Jill, if you’ve got a plan you prefer . . .’