Ethan gazed at the wooden bridge ahead. It was dilapidated, utterly impassable.
"Let's wade across," he suggested after a moment of thought.
The riverbed beneath them was quite deep, but the water itself only reached their knees. On both banks, pale marks showed that the water level of this underground river had once risen nearly even with the edges. Now, it seemed to be dropping year by year.
Uncle Jed volunteered to lead the way. Nora Vance followed behind, and finally, Ethan carried Dot in his arms. They crossed the thirty-meter-wide river without incident.
Walking last, Ethan kept his Soul Sense extended, constantly probing for any sign of danger. He stepped onto the far bank, feeling a mix of relief and lingering apprehension. Part of him had half-expected something strange to happen.
Once ashore, he muttered to himself, 'Damn it, too many TV shows and novels.' He'd almost convinced himself some bizarre creature would erupt from the water at any moment.
