“Despite the numbness in his heart, Salva was amazed to find himself walking faster and more boldly than he had before. What does numbness mean?

“It seemed that they had all forgotten that, for Salva now had to beg for scraps, which were given grudgingly.” What does grudgingly mean?

“It did not seem as if the camp could possibly hold any more, but still they kept coming: long lines of people, some emaciated... [as if they were skeletons]” What does emaciated mean?

“He felt as though he were standing on the edge of a giant hole - a hole filled with the black despair of nothingness". What does despair mean?

“Some preferred to spend their time scavenging for food, or for items that could be traded for food.” What does scavenging mean?

Soldier were firing into the crowd of refugees. The chaos was immediate. What does chaos mean ?

“Swollen by the rains, the Gilo’s current would be merciless.” What does merciless mean?

“If that [joking] didn’t work, he would talk to them earnestly and try to persuade them. What does earnestly mean?

“The soldiers were forcing some of them into the water, prodding them with their rifle butts...” What does prodding mean?

“Stunned, Salva realized that being forced under the water had probably saved his life.” What does Stunned, mean?

“The rain, the mad current, the bullets, the crocodiles, the welter of arms and legs, the screams, the blood...He had to get out somehow.” What does welter mean?

“Every group had stories of terrible peril : crocodiles, starvation, gunfire, harsh terrain” What does peril mean?

Thousands ran toward the Gilo river. Salva was immediately swept up in the surge. What does surge mean?

“The long grass had to be scythed and hoed under in order to dig for water.” What does the word "scythed" mean ?