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to make people feel better. He was rewarded with a rare
smile from Samuel.
    After their meager dinner, they walked to the water
to wash the food from their hands. Cleo looked with foreboding at the dark water
flowing by. “Not one of us is able to swim.”
    â€œThe raft is coming along.”
    â€œIt’s taking a long time.”
    â€œNo. It’s going well. Stop fussing, woman!”
    â€œI’m not fussing. I’m just worried.”
    â€œWorry is a waste of time.” Eldon embraced his wife
and patted her back affectionately. “Find us some more vines, and we’ll get back
to work.”
    Flower watched her parents and wanted to be
included in their hug, wanted to run over and place herself between them, as she
used to do when she was little. Instead, she squeezed her brother, who rewarded
her with a wet kiss on her cheek.
    Samuel dragged another log as they walked to the
sheltered cove. He was not as strong as her father, who pulled the logs along
with ease. Eldon helped him place it alongside the others.
    â€œWe have six of almost equal length.”
    â€œSix more would make it right.”
    â€œIf only we had an axe.”
    â€œThere would be noise then, and someone would hear
us.”
    They all turned briefly to look over their
shoulders, a nervous reflex. Eldon regarded the small craft. “It’s starting to
look seaworthy.”
    â€œAs if we knew what we were doing,” added Samuel.
    â€œYou should be proud,” Cleo said. “You’ve never
made anything like this before.”
    Flower looked down at the rectangle of logs with
less respectful eyes. To her, it just looked like a jumble of mismatched trees,
barely held together with vines, not capable of carrying them anywhere,
especially across the river. “I’m not going to get on that.”
    Her father gave her a stern look. “You’ll do what
you’re told when the time comes.”
    At the plantation they’d escaped from, they had
spent their lives doing what they were told. Flower recognized that at least her
father was giving orders for her own safety, not to work her to exhaustion. Her
thoughts returned to Aunty. Flower hoped she wasn’t being given extra chores now
that they were gone and not able to share the daily labor.
    Gabriel began to whimper and held out his arms to
his mother, who lifted him into hers. “I’ll feed him, and then we should be
bedding down. The sun will soon make things bright.”
    â€œI’m hungry too,” said Flower.
    â€œHave some more berries and a sip of water, then
settle in.”
    â€œI want bread.”
    â€œYou know there isn’t any. Hush now, child.” Cleo
took her daughter’s hand, and together they started for their shelter. Eldon and
Samuel began to lay leafy branches over the raft to hide it.
    Suddenly, they heard a dog barking. Even the baby
lifted his head. Another bark, then two dogs together, perhaps more. They
sounded far away, but they were moving. Samuel began to moan.
    Eldon looked at the water. “It’s time.”
    â€œHow can we? It’s not finished.” Samuel hung his
head. “It’s too late.”
    â€œHurry now! It’s our only chance!”
    Samuel started to moan again. “Oh, Lord…”
    Eldon grabbed the other man by the shoulders and
said, “The Lord helps those who help themselves. Remember?”
    â€œI’m so afraid.”
    â€œCome on. Let’s get going.”
    They uncovered the raft and returned to the task of
lashing the remaining logs together. The vines were in a heap. Flower reached
into the tangle, handed the shoots to her father and Samuel as fast as she
could. The men tugged and twisted, weaving the lumber together, making the joins
as tight as possible. Cleo sat and nursed Gabriel, murmuring to him to try to
block out the yowling of the approaching animals.
    Soon they could hear men’s voices, as well as