ruSHHHHHSSSSSHHHHHSSHHHH the white noise water higher now all submerged quiets for a moment shhhhhhhhssshh push off the cold bottom grasp a breheath back above, then below again until shallows out and try to stand but slip unstable footing can’t balance with hips twisted nor step with weight for fear of an ankle snag that won’t let go, deeper now and fast need to float butt forward to bare the brunt of rock hit scrape against the jaggedge but all numb in the cold with adrenaline flow and engage core to hold course until the current slows into a deeper pool and lean chest forward cautious swim feel in front navigate around the rock, see Paul ahead somehow holding on to the raft and dragging it to the bank, looking back at me, nod and feel for footing to follow mossy slip catch on all fours, crawl ahead instead, shallower inside the bend until shin high, find footing in the silt and soil and stand now with bipedal balance, bruised and battered but all here, all here, but cold, “Shit man, your knee,” said Paul, don’t want to look, “I’m okay, just cold,” “Go dry off in the sun, I’ll fix the raft,” tree clearing with a warm rock, out of the damp…