There are few times I’ve been as scared. When that croc caught me by the arm leaving an exciting scar was one time but this time I was left on the Island with a croc attaching itself to my leg and the boy out of sight, I hoped he could hear me shout.

Akimbo appeared as if from nowhere, he walks so silently for a boy not treading on any twigs. I yelled for the paddle, Akimbo grabbed it fending off the croc very quickly. Bleeding I managed to get out of the water but couldn’t stand, one generally can’t with a broken leg. Again Akimbo was quick to help. He tore off his shirt and used it as a bandage to slow the bleeding.

Now how do we get back to the mainland? The croc had shredded our inflatable boat so that was out. Akimbo had an idea that he could swim but the waters were infested with crocodiles so I forbade that. Then he had another idea to use a large log he’d seen as a canoe. This sounded a very dangerous idea to me but he insisted he had to do something and there was nothing else to do so I very reluctantly agreed. I had a duty to his parents to get him back safely and so far it didn’t look promising.

It wasn’t very long before he was back with the ranger, I was settling in for a much longer wait with my heart in my mouth the whole time. Akimbo is very quick and resourceful. It seems he fell in part way across the river, managed to swim the rest of the way before realising he had no key to start the truck. He put some wires together and hey presto! The truck moves!!!

When Akimbo saw the ranger he was very quick to change trucks, telling his story as quick as can be. They were with me before I could think too much more about my dilemma.

Akimbo will go far, silent when he needs, quick thinking and a mean mechanic. I am very grateful his parents allowed him to be with me that day, I would not be with you now.

You can buy this book from Angus & Robertson.