Reiff could barely concentrate. The shaking was now accompanied by bouts of intense pain throughout his body. Making any position difficult, even sitting.
He glanced through his window at the giant side mirror, vibrating from the rumble of the truck’s loud engine, but not enough to prevent him from seeing the bright headlights of Yamada’s Nissan behind them. The rest of the small car was obscured behind a swirling cloud of snowflakes as they drove along a dark and empty two-lane road.
When they arrived, a strange feeling came over him as Waterman pulled off onto the frozen dirt before stopping and throwing the hulking vehicle into reverse. Backing up and stopping within twenty feet of the edge.
In the Nissan, Yamada and Rachel circled around the front and came to a stop on the other side. They hopped out and moved to the truck to help Reiff down.
The freezing wind cut through him like a knife. A welcome, if only momentary, distraction from the pain. Together they led him away from the truck, which Waterman had turned off, leaving only the external generator running in the back.
Waterman took Yamada’s place under one of Reiff’s arms and motioned him back to the Nissan before looking to his friend.
“You sure about this, John?”
He winced and peered up through the falling snow. “Got a better idea?”
Waterman glanced at Rachel, wearing a heavy coat with one side left open for her folded arm and sling. Giving Reiff whatever support she could, her expression was a mix of apprehension and fear. “Are you sure you don’t want Elizabeth to be here?”
Reiff shook his head. “She doesn’t need to see this.”
“John, I…” Rachel shuddered. “I have no idea if this will work.”
“We don’t exactly have a lot to lose.”
She nodded reluctantly. “I don’t know if there was something special about this river. The temperature, the depth, some special composition of who knows what. But it’s the only thing I can think of. I just can’t—”
“I get it, Rachel.”
She stared into his eyes. “And if there is any possible way, any way at all, to bring you back, I swear I will.”
“I know.” With that, he looked past her at the iron bridge covered in snow. Long since repaired, but nowhere in his memories.
Yamada returned with his arms full, handing everything to Waterman, who held up the rubber dry suit to search for the large metal pull tab and then began unzipping it.
One leg at a time, he climbed in, assisted by Yamada, who brought up each arm when ready. Waterman then grinned at Reiff. “Don’t make me do this for nothing.”
His only reply was to reach out and shake his friend’s hand. Then Yamada’s.
On the bridge, Reiff faced the railing, unable to tell how much of the shaking was from the cold or his own body. His trembling hands were now upon the icy guardrail, with Rachel standing next to him.
She turned and checked with Yamada on the opposite side of the bridge, who looked down at Waterman, suited up and standing surrounded by ice chunks to his knees.
Back on the embankment, their large truck’s cargo hold was open with its industrial freezer running, along with a waiting stretcher and monitoring equipment inside.
Reiff unzipped his jacket and removed it, dropping it onto the frozen ground.
“What are you doing?”
“I wasn’t wearing a jacket on the bus,” he said. He turned and lifted one leg onto the railing.
“Wait!” she cried, grabbing him with her good hand and pulling him back. She hugged him and said, “I’m sorry. For everything.”
“Don’t be. You gave me a second chance.” He turned back to the rail and grinned. “Besides, it’s not the worst way to go.”
With that, he climbed up, placed a foot on top of the guardrail, and jumped.