First, she selected two strong, straight logs and began shaping the keel, the backbone of the boat. Using the hand saw and drawknife, she smoothed and narrowed them down, creating a gentle V shape underneath to better cut through the current.
Ekene crouched beside her, pretending to tie his shoelace, but really just observing.
"You're not even hesitating," he said, amazed.
"It's not that hard when you understand balance and flow," she replied without looking up, carving the inner seating frame with a carpenter's chisel. "Water moves like air, just heavier."
After constructing the keel, she began attaching the ribs, arched wooden slats that would form the frame. She steamed them briefly using a wrapped tarp and heated stones, bending them gently without cracking. The hull began to take shape.
"She even knows steaming wood?" Ekene thought, stunned. He had seen engineers do less.
