... the river, angry, broke in two, forming two tongues of water that separated immediately at the entry of the two warlike peoples.

Rapids disappeared.

Termodonte was unwilling to lose the love he had found. There had been too many years of loneliness, cold and neglect. So he made up his mind and swallowed huts on either shore and flooded them below its channel, except two that remained united forever and ever, surrounded by water, now docile and calm.

What had separated them at first, the river, was what would join them endlessly.