Andrew ran as quickly as he could, but he could not keep up with Angel or the river.

The monster finally tumbled up against a tree fallen into the river. He pulled himself along the submerged trunk, which remained firm. He got his head and shoulders above water and pulled himself out onto the bank. He took great gasps of air to fill his lungs and looked about him for any sign of his hunter. He picked up a rock from the riverbed and threw it at the first thing he saw moving toward him.


Andrew knew there was no way to catch up with the athletic hunter, or with the river. The river! Andrew stopped and yanked off his shoes and socks and splashed out into the deeper water. He was soon being swept along, beyond his own control. But he found his head bobbed to the surface often enough to get gasps of air. It was exhilarating being in the current. He forgot nearly everything else, but he knew, just as the monster did, that there would be a fight when he came out of the water.