Chapter 6: The Great Escape 2
Lara hastened her steps and started treading when she could no longer feel the riverbed beneath her.
In stark contrast, Reya's heart raced with terror as the solid ground beneath her vanished. She had not anticipated the depths of the water, which churned ominously around her. Panic surged through her as her arms flailed helplessly, slicing through the water in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. The driftwood, her only support, slipped from her grasp. If it had not been for the sturdy rope fastened firmly around her waist, she would undoubtedly have been carried downstream by the relentless pull of the current.
"Reya, relax. Stop struggling. Grab the log and use your feet to tread under the water." Lara spoke urgently, her voice loud and clear, as if she were trying to hammer her message into her panicking maid.
Reya regained her senses. How could she, older than Lara, have panicked in such a situation? As she calmed down, she felt her body begin to float, and she started to move her feet under the water. She grabbed the piece of wood and noticed that her body felt much lighter.
To protect the little girl, Lara swam on her back. She hoped that this part of the river was not infested with crocodiles, and she bet that since there were rapids nearby, the crocodiles wouldn't venture into the area.
Lara moved swiftly and cleanly. She used her feet and right hand to swim while her other hand held onto the driftwood, pulling Reya with her.
Reya was not surprised that her young Miss knew how to swim. Her brothers taught her how at a very young age.
In just a few moments, they found themselves on the other side of the river. The rugged terrain loomed before them, a steep incline covered in loose stones and thorny bushes, unlike the other side, where the vegetation consisted mostly of reeds and unknown wild grasses.
Gripping the rough rope tightly, Lara pulled themselves upward, straining against the uneven ground as she navigated their way up the treacherous slope, each step testing her determination and strength.