Chapter 2
Crossing the woods was not such an easy task, as it had seemed in the beginning. Wild plants, fallen logs and dry branches covered the trail. The group had to make way through the obstacles, stepping over, aside or bowing under vaults of high green foliage.
“It’s exhausting”, Natasha complained.
“How far to that village?” Boris grumbled.
Kevin was walking ahead, making a trail. The tall blond Slovenian was breathing down his neck and he didn’t like it.
“We have to keep going”, he replied without turning to look back.
In half an hour, he heard Jackie call from the rear of the group.
“Hey Kevin! Can we pause for a minute?”
They were so deep into the woods that it seemed they were lost. Kevin listened carefully. There was a sound, very near, like roaring water.
“We should have arrived at that village by now”, Jackie told him, passing by the group of dancers who sat down to rest.
Kevin felt they were getting somewhere regardless.
“Just one more step. I can see light beyond those bushes”, he said and pushed the branches away from view.
Something was indeed beyond the leaves.
Taking one more step, he found himself on the edge of a precipice. Down in the abyss there was a tumultuous river. There was also a wooden bridge made of logs and ropes, going across.
“We must cross this bridge”, Kevin concluded.
The Spartan manager came closer to examine the ropes and unstable logs that were suspended above the emptiness. The menacing river was roaring so far down.
“I can’t look, it makes me dizzy”, Jackie said and took a step back.
“What if the wooden bridge is not safe?” Aysun asked Kevin, almost whispering, a bit worried about the logical consequences. “Someone should check it out. I could go first, since I don’t weigh too much.”
Kevin was certain the Turkish girl had more courage than most in that group, yet he didn’t expect her to take the lead and be so brave to go first on the dangerously unstable bridge.
He looked in her eyes, uncertain. He didn’t want to risk her safety. He felt responsible for the dancers.
“Let me”, she insisted, staring seriously in his eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ve done this before. We have many cliffs and heights in my country.”
Her serious tone and determined attitude convinced him. There was something completely trustworthy about her. She made him feel like everything she said was reliable and verified.
“Okay, you can go first.”
He realized she didn’t seem to weigh much of anything, as her slender figure started stepping carefully on the discolored wooden bridge. It served her purpose that she wasn’t wearing a long skirt, but plain navy blue jeans and a t- shirt. She could move easily along the bridge. She kept clinging to the side rope. Kevin felt his heart skip a beat as she staggered for a moment, above the roaring river, her long hair flowing in the air, a brown flicker of hawk wings. She regained her balance immediately and continued until she reached the other side.
She waved at the group, smiling as her almond eyes were shining warmly in the sun.
“You can cross, it’s okay!”
“Wow! She really did it”, Jackie remarked.
“Yes, she did…” he said, staring admiringly after the Turkish dancer that looked like an experienced athlete.
Jackie glanced at Kevin for a moment, noticing he was charmed by the Turkish girl, but didn’t comment.
“Who’s next?” the Spartan manager inquired.
“I’ll go, if nobody wants to.”
And he crossed the bridge quickly, followed soon by Miguel, the dark dancer. Consuelo was standing on the edge, looking anxiously at the bridge in front of her. She wanted to follow her partner, but after a few steps on the swinging logs she stopped above the abyss.
“I can’t go on”, she said out loud with a scared voice, looking at the abyss and the river beneath her feet.
Kevin wanted to help her, but didn’t have the choice of approaching the suspended dancer. Instead, he tried to give her encouragement.
“Yes you can”, he spoke to her.
“Don’t look down.”
She heard him and tried to advance. She took one more step. And then she stopped again.
“Come on, Consuelo!” the Spartan shouted from the other side.
His authority didn’t seem enough to get her to move.
“I can’t, sir!” she answered with an alarmed voice. “It’s too hard, I can’t do it!”
She started to cry. Kevin felt his heart cringe at the sight of her tears.
“Don’t cry”, he said trying to think of something to erase her fear.
“It’s just a few steps.”
“It feels like a thousand”, she replied between sobs.
“You can do it”, he repeated, but she still didn’t budge.
He felt helpless. Encouraging her didn’t seem to work. He wanted to do something – anything, to get her safe on the other side.
He attempted to step on the bridge, but Jackie grabbed his camouflage vest.
“You can’t be on that bridge, both of you at the same time. Let her be. She must do it on her own.”
On the other side, the Spartan and Miguel were watching attentively, also helpless about Consuelo’s conversation with Kevin. They couldn’t do anything about it and couldn’t help her either.
“It’s not so difficult”, Kevin spoke to her again.
“Consuelo, go back and let the detective pass”, the manager shouted at her.
Kevin hoped that, by seeing him accomplish the task of crossing the bridge, she would find the courage to do it too.
She came back with small steps. She was still sobbing, which was heartbreaking to watch. She sat down on the grown and hid her face in her arms, with another vulnerable gesture. He knew she was disappointed with herself for not conquering her fear and not having the strength to face the abyss.
He stepped on the bridge, determined to show her that it was possible. The river was roaring fast beneath his feet, but it didn’t trouble him. The wooden logs were shaking and swinging over the precipice. He realized it took some concentration, determination and muscle strength to keep balance at such a height, on unstable round logs, suspended in the air. He grabbed the rope, advancing steadily, not looking back. Aysun had made it seem so easy. He felt sorry for the gracious Spanish dancer that he had to leave behind, on the other side. He didn’t like leaving her there, so desolate and disappointed, but the girl didn’t react to any encouragement. She had to find the strength to cross on her own. He understood it was the only thing he could