He didn't have much time. Roger was coming down the stream fast. He fought off his pack and tried to remember the quick way of getting off his boots. He couldn't remember for an instant, then it came to him; his knife! Cut the laces! In moments the boots were flying off then he was wading into the water, pushing himself into the stream and not a moment too soon! Roger was rushing by him, but with a few swift strokes Samuel caught up. He knew his first priority was to get rid of Roger's pack. It had held him up temporarily, but now it was slowly filling with water and would soon pull him under. Samuel struggled to get him out of it. Finally it floated away.
Now he had to deal with the boots. He got out his knife, took a deep breath, and went under the water, but at that meant the current carried them into the bank with a thud and Samuel lost hold of his knife! Cursing he broke the surface, then struggled to find Roger's knife. Getting it he again dove, this time successfully cutting the laces. He returned to the surface discarding the knife.
He had memorized the stream coming up, knew they would be hitting the first rapids any moment. He righted Roger, drew him to his chest, and held on. Moments later the rushing water was throwing them back and forth.
Samuel lost track of how many times they hit the rocks. He only knew it hurt! But finally it was over. The water was still swift, but he could maneuver. Twice he got to the bank, found handholds only to have the loose vegetation rip away. The second rapids were coming, and he knew if they didn't get out of the water after them, they wouldn't have a chance because after the next calm stretch was a sixty foot water fall onto jagged rocks!
Again, he shielded Roger with his own body. They were through and Samuel fought for the shore. He remembered about 2/3rds of the way down there was a ford where vehicles crossed the stream. If he could reach that road they could get ashore, but his left leg hurt terribly! It was very difficult for him to swim. He knew they couldn't make it.
"Roger!" he began to scream, "Roger! You've got to help me now, or we're not going to make it! You've got to swim! You've got to kick! You've got to help me fight the current! Come on, Roger! Come on, you lazy bastard! Don't make me do all the work! Kick! Come on, kick!"
Suddenly Roger's legs began to move. They began to kick against the water! Samuel put the last of his strength into the effort. The road was coming fast. He suddenly felt his back scrape bottom. He dug in with his good leg and pushed, then pushed again. He felt the bottom again. He dug in and slowly pulled himself and Roger out of the water until they were laying in the shallows. Then he could go no further. His strength failed him, and unconsciousness claimed him. He never heard the helicopter or, the screams of the men who piled from it, picked the two drenched cadets up and out of the water, and carried them to it. It was many hours later before Samuel began to feel anything again. He woke in a hospital bed, an older nurse sitting beside him.
"Is Roger all right?" he moaned.
The startled nurse jumped. "Oh, yes!" she finally managed, "Yes dear! You friend is just fine! They took a bullet out of his head, but it did surprisingly little damage. You're the one that took the worst of it."
"Leg's broken, right?" Samuel moaned.
"Yes, dear," the nurse answered, "and seven ribs besides! Not to mention a concussion and internal injuries. The doctor says you must be made of iron! Far less has killed other men!"
Samuel wanted to laugh, but the pain in his chest wouldn't even let him consider it.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"Eastern Maine Medical Center," the nurse answered, "Bangor. They flew you directly here, just as soon as they found you. Here's the doctor!"
"Well, it's about time!" a gray bearded face announced, coming into view, "You had us worried, young man! Let's have a look, shall we?"
The doctor made a thorough examination then nodded. "I do believe the young man is going to live!" he announced, "provided he doesn't take any more swims in mountain streams for the next six or seven months! Right now I think he needs sleep. There's all kinds of people here waiting to see you, but they will not until I say it's permissible."
For two more days Samuel rested. Finally the doctor could hold off the visitors no longer. The first was a very beautiful woman. She came in and took Samuel's hand.
"I am Roger's mother," she announced. "There are no words to tell you what I feel this moment, young man! I understand you wanted to meet me anyway. I had planned that it be under much better circumstances than this! If there is anything I can ever do for you, let me know. And if it is within my power I will do it."
"Thank you!" Samuel managed.
"Roger spoke of you often. He kept saying I wanted to meet you but I never quite understood what he meant."
The woman smiled. "My name is Rogerson now," she remarked, "but it used go be Gadhafi, Ronna Gadhafi."
"OH!" Samuel gasped. "I am honored, ma'am! I had no idea! How did you get to be Roger's mother?"
The woman laughed. "With a little help from his father," she answered, "who died in the fighting. I got here because the guard that watched over me during my trial offered me a very nice place to spend my exile. Roger looks upon him as his true father. Now, I must depart. There's some official gentlemen in the hall that must ask you some

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