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‘Fuck. She’s come down in the river.’ Adrenaline spiked through him but he focused on taking the chopper lower.

‘It’s all right.’ David pointed. ‘Look, Ellie’s on top of the chopper. She’s okay.’

As the helicopter flew across the water, Ellie lifted her hand and waved to them. The world seemed to go by in slow motion as Kane dipped the bird to the east and brought it down as close to the edge of the river as he could. He shut everything down and gestured for David to wait until it was clear to get out. David tore the headset off and pointed to the building which was set back in a cleared space at the edge of the forest.

‘I’m going to find Gina.’

‘Wait. We don’t know where the guy from the car is. He’ll have heard us coming. He’s had plenty of time to hide while we landed.’

David ignored him. ‘I’m going. Just watch my back.’ He picked up a large lump of timber, and ran off past the SUV in the direction of the hut.

Kane stepped down from the helicopter and ran towards the water. ‘I’m coming,’ he called to Ellie.

‘No.’ Ellie screamed and put her hands over her face. She was sitting up now and even from a distance he could see the blood on her neck and her shirt front.

Kane stopped and looked past the helicopter. An enormous crocodile walked clumsily along the sandbank, its tail moving side to side, and then slid into the water.

His heart was pounding as he took a step back. Ellie dropped her hands from her face. There was blood on her fingers. ‘You’re bleeding.’

‘I’m okay. Go with David. Find Gina.’

‘But what happened? Where’s the guy from the car?’

Ellie shook her head and all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms. ‘He’s gone.’ She pointed into the water.

‘Hang on. I’ll come straight back.’ Kane walked stealthily towards the front of the hut, his eyes scanning the long grass as he moved closer. Stepping onto the front landing, he avoided the gaps in the timber where the floor had rotted away. He was about to try the front door when David’s shout reached him.

‘Kane, quick, around the back. It’s all clear.’

He vaulted over the low railing and ran along the side of the hut and up the back steps.

‘She’s here. Gina’s here.’ David was standing by the back door, supporting a woman in his arms. She wore a long pink bathrobe. She was bending forward; her long dark hair covering her face. ‘The baby’s coming.’

‘Shit. How long?’ Kane was qualified in emergency care but he’d never delivered a baby.

David’s wife clutched at his arm. ‘The contractions are about five minutes apart. There’s one building now.’ She doubled up with a moan. ‘David, I’m scared, it’s too early. It’s different this time. The pain is worse.’

David stared at Kane, his mouth set. ‘How many passengers can you take?’

‘Only one.’

*

Ellie lay with her eyes closed. She tried to open them but they wouldn’t open. She tried to talk but no words would come out. It must be a dream; she slipped back into the dark and floated painlessly for a few more seconds. Her head ached and when she tried to move, her limbs wouldn’t cooperate. The sound of running water surrounded her. Finally she forced her eyes open and pushed herself up, holding her head until the vertigo passed. She was on the helicopter in the river. There was a tender spot at the back of her head, but her fingers came away clean this time; the bleeding had stopped.

She looked over the side. The downed chopper had settled into the mud and the water was getting higher. The helicopter slipped a little further and she grabbed for the skids as the left side dipped a few centimetres.

Keeping completely still, she examined the water between her and the three large crocodiles on the far bank. The river was flowing swiftly but it wasn’t as deep as she’d thought. It was clear and she could see the stones that formed the causeway only about half a metre below the surface. Maybe she could try to get to the bank. But her legs refused to move. There was no way she would get in that water and strike out for the shore.

She turned to look at the other bank but the pain the movement caused was unbearable. The scene in front of her wavered as though she was looking at it through water.

Her hands began to tremble. She was in trouble whatever she did. The need to escape, to get away from here, overtook her, but she couldn’t move.

*

Kane ran the short distance from the hut towards the river. Even though he was moving quickly, his legs felt as though he was running through sand. He gritted his teeth and focused on the present, refusing to let his brain take over and put him back in the desert. Ellie needed him; he had to get to her. He looked down at the ground and concentrated on his breathing.

This is Australia and I’m in Kakadu. No sand, just hard red dirt. Gradually, the feeling eased and the solidness of the hard-packed earth beneath his feet calmed him. Strength filled him; he could do it.