But the flowers didn't make it across.
They were strangled by the river raging at the human interference.
Just the thought of the girl being so close
and to watch her messing up its waters made Rio Diablo drill more hatred into its streams.

She has done it again!

'Look, Antonio - this time we will make it.' Maria pointed at a twinkling flower, dancing across the river. Thrilled she clapped her hands.

Wrong !
Another crest was launched and made a hit.
Destroyed the flower disappeared.
Then Rio Diablo aimed its anger at the target on the rock.
The mess had to stop.
No doubt it could be handled.
With the help of the wind.
And afterwards - PEACE !

Antonio had reached the black and glistening rock and started to climb. 'Papi will be really cross with you, Maria - when he hears you've been so close to the river.'
'Only if you tell him!'
Maria had her hands on her swirling hair. Funny, she thought, how sudden the wind had turned into a storm.
Angry Antonio continued his climbing. He too had noticed the storm.

Rio Diablo had experienced a lot. But the anger shown in Antonio was new to the river.
How come? - Rio Diablo wondered.

Antonio - already standing on the top of the rock - called out for Maria to come.

Oh yes, there was something special about the boy, not only because of his obvious strength.
No it was something else and much more disturbing.
Why ? - Rio Diablo pondered, while being pushed at by the storm.
Why haven't I noticed him before ?

Laughing Maria shook her head. 'First you enjoy the sight of the Westland, then we'll leave,' she said and showed Antonio the amazing view across the river. 'Have you ever seen such valleys, and look at those Blue Mountains. Aren't they just stunning?'
Antonio couldn't but agree. Everything looked so much better over there. Even the sun seemed to shine with a different touch.
'Some day we'll get there,' Maria smiled and turned, but as she stepped towards him, Antonio to his horror saw the river rise behind her.
'Maria, jump!' he screamed. But too late. Maria was thrown backwards, her tiny body twisting in the air as she disappeared into the depth of Rio Diablo.

That was easy.
A punch - and there she lies.

'Let her go,' Antonio pleaded.
Rio Diablo just showed its teeth.
'She is nothing but a child,' Antonio argued in desperation. 'She is my sister.'

Rio Diablo couldn't care less. It was such a pleasure just to look
at the boy's face,
paled with fright, dancing above
the water, while that same water
forced his sister down. And how
exciting when she popped up -
in time to get enough air
to scream - and then
- back down, and kept down
till her eyes bulged.

Antonio prepared himself for a jump.

It couldn't be.
A rescue?
Nobody could be that stupid.

Antonio jumped, hit the riverside and was up running, before Rio Diablo got the chance to intervene. Somewhat fascinated Rio Diablo watched the boy pass a stack of branches. And all of a sudden the river understood, but was all too shocked to act.
'Maria, catch!' Antonio threw her a branch, strong enough to carry her. And from instinct she managed to grab and hold on to it. But only for seconds. With a tremendous force Rio Diablo tore the branch from the girl.

But that didn't stop the boy.
He continued to throw branches
and did it so thoroughly
that the water once so clear now was a sticking mess.
Furious Rio Diablo started to suck,
no longer in mood for a teasing prelude.

Antonio saw it happen. Saw how Rio Diablo forced Maria down into darkness.
Saw her small face vanish.

Good! At last the boy got the message.
No more branches.
It was over.
But to Rio Diablo's surprise, the boy raised his face in anger.

'If you think, you've killed her. Just you wait and see.' Unable to do a thing - which never before had occurred - Rio Diablo watched a sign glow from the bottom, right on the spot, where the little girl lay. A sign similar to the one made by the boy.
'Maria isn't dead. She is still with us.