Little Jack lets him off in a clearing and Lancaster makes his way toward the canyon. As he approaches it, he sees the rickety old bridge stretching off into the mist. It sags a little in the middle, and the wood looks like it's rotted a long time ago.
Lancaster takes in a breath, then lets it all out; best to have as little weight as possible. He puts one foot gently forward, then another, and slowly he begins walking across the bridge, keeping each hand on the rope railing on either side.
Below him, the fog blocks how far down it is, but as it drifts, he can see layers further and further down. Somewhere down there, very distant, the waves of the ocean are crashing against the rocky surfaces of the cliffs.
The groaning below his feet gets worse, as if the bridge is resenting his presence. He slows his pace, taking every step as gingerly as physics will allow. But it feels like gravity is yanking at him, as though his feet are being forced through the boards.
A little more than half way across and the other side is starting to take shape. He can see the cliff, and the roofs of some buildings are becoming visible.
The groaning of the bridge is replaced by a crackling. It gets louder, and Lancaster knows what it is. The bridge is giving way.
Which should Lancaster do?
