War Brothers

Paul and Norman return, announcing that they’ve found the boat and that it is unguarded. They wish to leave immediately, but Jacob wants to wait for Oteka to get back. Norman, Jacob, and Hannah scale the riverbank toward the boat while Paul waits behind for Oteka.

Eventually, the group meets up and heads toward the boat. Everyone manages to get in safely except for Jacob, who slips under the surface of the river. After a moment, he feels arms lugging him to the surface: Oteka has dived into the water to rescue him. As they float down with the current, soldiers reach the bank, but are unable to recapture the children.

The boat drifts downstream with the current for a few hours, passing crocodiles and hippopotamuses. Eventually, they come to rest at a dock. Jacob expects to see soldiers and trucks, but instead, they encounter a large gorilla, chewing on leaves and watching them.

In the boat, they discuss what to do, until Hannah scrambles out of the boat and approaches the gorilla, trying to demonstrate it won’t attack them. They sneak by the gorilla and come across the road to Sambiya Lodge, which Paul is familiar with.