The phantoms of the foot-bridge

A narrow foot‑bridge spans a deep, rushing gorge, its simple wooden planks and a lone cedar rail trembling between light and shadow. The surrounding firs sway in the wind, and the water below churns in concentric circles, hinting at something unseen beneath the surface. Local lore whispers of a nearby graveyard and of “imponderable travelers” who cross the bridge, giving the place an uneasy reputation among the few who still venture this way.

Two men pause on the bridge: a seasoned mountaineer, talkative and brash, and the quieter, war‑scarred Simeon Roxby, whose thoughtful eyes linger on the restless water. Their conversation drifts between practical concerns and the lingering fear of the dead that haunt the gorge, setting a tone of cautious curiosity. As they watch the river’s ripples, the atmosphere grows thick with the suggestion that the bridge may be more than a mere crossing—it could be a portal for the restless spirits that linger in the shadows.