1. He left a note so if anyone came into the shelter, they would see it.
2. The river channel would lurch sharply and he found that logs were VERY bad for turning in a river.
3. ???
4. He needed some comforting
5. He thought about how Derek could be somewhere down in the water so the trip could be easier but then snapped out of it
6. The situation came too quickly and he could not register the problem before it happened.
7. Brian tried fighting the current and ended up unconscious while the raft headed downriver. He decided to try and catch up with the raft but had no choice but to swim. I'd try letting the current take me to the raft.
8. He had no choice, walking didn't work.
9. He probably had a physical shock and didn't remember what happened between the chapters or he went into semi-doze: You're awake, but you're not awake.
Gloria