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Reaching into his pack, Ben took out his water bottle and sed a big mouthful It was almost empty, so he headed over to the river while he had the chance Here, the bank was al water, so it was easy to crouch and fill his bottle

As he stood, screwing the cap back on, he glanced farther downstrea, probably—and it stuck out into the river, its branches grasping the flowing current like fingers, and—

Red

He took a few tentative steps, narrowing his eyes as he peered at the tree

A few steps e band of a life jacket His ed by the tree or washed up on shore

He forced his lead feet to ie was just on the other side of the trunk, tucked in close, her face obscured

Motionless

Harlan Brown’s evil words replayed in Ben’s head as if shouted on a aphone Cut her little throat open Ben knehat he would see, but he had to look Had to bring her home to Jason

His hand treers closed over her shoulder, and Maggie twitched

Ben gasped and staggered back, crashing onto his ass Scra hiined it—her chest moved up and down, and the skin on her neck was smooth and white and whole

Relief and joy h the trees She was alive! He said a silent prayer to whatever deity ie!”

She ht have moaned softly in response, but Ben wasn’t sure Her body isted aardly, and he realized her foot was pinned beneath the fallen tree He tentatively poked and prodded her li any, he stood and heaved the trunk a few inches, adrenaline sparking through hiie moaned as he carefully pulled out her foot

Cradling her in his lap, Ben pressed a finger to the pulse point on the side of her throat, just to double check Sure enough, he felt a steady beat “Maggie, wake up Maggie!” He rubbed her sternum