Page 35 of Falling for the Enemy

Norm and Ian sat in their huts, hugging their packs and listening for the bikes to return. I wasn’t entirely sure we’d get Norm across the bridge, but the camp was disintegrating before our eyes, and staying at the campsite was far less inviting than a short romp across the flooded, wobbly bridge.

Jack and I finally had a chance to pack our belongings. He came into the hut carrying his pack on one shoulder and looking about as bedraggled and wet as one person could look. It was hard not to smile.

“Are you telling me I don’t look as good as I feel?” he asked.

“Let’s just say you’ve earned your true adventurer stripes this trip.”

Jack sat on the edge of Robyn’s empty cot while I finished rolling up my last shirt to push into my pack.

“Do you think we’ll get Norm across?” Jack asked.

“I plan to walk him across myself.”

“I can do it.”

I shook my head. “No, he’s my student, and you’ve already done more than your part in babysitting the guy. Plus, that bridge looks really fragile, and it’ll be less weight if I walk him across.” I put down the pack and stared out at the destroyed camp. “They rushed us out here so we’d miss the big rainy season.”

“I’d sure hate to see what that’s like,” Jack said. “I think the problem is the weather is becoming far too unpredictable.”

“Seems that way.” I sighed deeply. “What a disaster. I feel bad, Jack. I’m sorry. I know you didn’t want to go on this trip.” He was shaking his head as I spoke.

“It’s been good for me, Lo. I’ve been cooped up in that science building for too long. I forgot what real science was all about—experiencing things firsthand, instead of virtually or through a microscope lens. Could have done without the hurricane, but I don’t regret this trip at all.”

One thing was certain. The terrible storm had helped wash away some of the bitterness we’d parted on last night. Today we were facing something difficult and uncertain, and the last thing we needed was to be angry at each other.

Ian stepped through what was left of the canvas door. “They’re back. It’s time for Norm and I to take off. Or, I could wait and go with Professor Sinclair,” Ian suggested. “If you want to go first, Professor Lovely.”

“No, Ian, my main goal is to have all of you safely back at the station. I’ve been through much worse than this and came out the other side just fine. The professor and I will hunker down here and wait for Harold and Mia to return.” I looked at Jack. “We’re going to have to do something nice for those two. What a day—riding back and forth on that trail, and they’ve done it much faster than I expected.”

“They are the true heroes, that’s for sure,” Jack said.

Ian and Jack went out to meet Harold, and I walked over to let Norm know it was time to leave. He was sitting on the cot, holding on to his pack as if it was his life support system. It already seemed so long ago that we were both in the river trying to free his shoe while hungry crocodiles swam toward us.

“Harold and Mia are back. Time to go.”

“I could wait,” Norm said. “Why don’t you go?”

I shook my head and walked over to the cot. “Because I’m the teacher and I’m going to make sure all my students make it home safely. You’ll be back in the civilized world with real bathrooms and decent food. Professor Sinclair and I will be along shortly, then we’ll start making plans to fly back to the states.”

He looked up at me. “Is there no way across other than that rickety bridge?”

“I’m afraid not. I’ll walk across with you. Let’s go. Harold and Mia have been riding back and forth all day. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”

Norm took a deep breath, lifted the pack onto his shoulders. “Wait, maybe I’ll leave this behind. It weighs a good twenty pounds and that’s twenty pounds less on the bridge.”

“It’s up to you, Norm, but I don’t think it’s necessary.”

He dropped the pack onto the cot. “Nothing in there that can’t be replaced.”

“You’ll only have one set of clothes, and they’ll be wet.”

“I’m fine with that. Beats having that bridge snap and falling into the river. When Evan and Robyn crossed it, the water was already running over the bridge. No way to survive those rushing rapids, especially a non-swimmer like me.” He had a point, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

We walked out. The wind had slowed, but the rain was still coming down in buckets. The puddles around the campsite were ankle deep, and as Norm had mentioned, the river was rushing by at a speed that would sweep away anyone unfortunate enough to fall in.

By the time we made it to the bridge, Ian was already across, and the three were waiting on the bikes for Norm to join them. We’d all been complaining about the heat and humidity, but now I craved it. I was soaked to the bone, and there was no chance of a fire or warming sunlight. The storm had cooled the air down considerably.

Norm paused at the bridge. Jack was there waiting. “It’ll be fine, Norm. Just hold on tight to the railing.”

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