RAKOTZBRÜCKE
(THE
DEVIL’S
BRIDGE)
(5)
to
shimmer.
None
of
them
saw
the
perfect
gaseous
cloud
take
sh
ape
inside
the
circle
on
ce
more.
Even
J
ulio,
who
found
himself
once
again
on
camera
duty,
did
n
o
t
n
o
t
i
c
e
t
h
e
b
r
i
d
g
e
c
o
m
i
n
g
a
l
i
v
e
.
I
t
w
a
s
h
a
l
f
p
a
s
t
m
i
d
n
i
g
h
t
,
and
the
others
were
still
lost
in
their
revelry
at
the
c
ampsi
te.
None
of
them
was
there
to
witness
what
was
unfolding.
He
might
have
caught
it
sooner
if
not
for
Fraulein
Gretchen.
She
had
been
eyeing
him
since
they
passed
his
group
while
hik-
ing
on
Monday.
Now,
as
the
others
partied,
she
had
cozied
beside
him,
drawn
to
the
quiet
observer
behind
the
camera.
Since
he
did
not
drink,
he
had
no
problem
manning
the
equipment—though
tonight,
h
is
at
tention
was
divided.
That
night
,
Julio
had
hi
s
blanket
on
the
ground.
Fraulein
G
r
e
t
c
h
e
n
a
n
d
h
e
w
e
r
e
m
a
k
i
n
g
o
u
t
w
h
e
n
h
e
c
a
u
g
h
t
a
g
l
i
m
m
e
r
o
f
l
i
g
h
t
o
u
t
o
f
t
h
e
c
o
r
n
e
r
o
f
h
i
s
e
y
e
.
S
t
a
n
d
i
n
g
u
p
i
m
m
e
d
i
a
t
e
l
y
,
h
e
c
h
e
c
k
e
d
t
o
s
e
e
i
f
t
h
e
c
a
m
e
r
a
a
n
d
a
u
d
i
o
w
e
r
e
w
o
r
k
i
n
g
.
G
r
e
t
c
h
e
n
was
still
playfully
fondling
his
ear
with
her
lip
s.
“Stop,
this
is
importa
nt.
Can’t
you
see
what’s
happening?”
He
said
to
her
with
a
stern
but
play
ful
voice.
“Look
at
it;
it’s
getting
brighter
and
brighter.
Come
on,
let’s
get
c
loser.
”
The
luminous
gateway
had
a
compelling
allure,
almost
trance-
like,
and
it
kept
tugging
at
their
interest.
At
the
river’s
edge,
there
was
a
small
row
boat.
They
went
down
to
the
water,
determined
to
get
a
c
loser
look.
Meanwhile,
the
light
got
bright
enough
to
grab
the
attention
of
the
others
partying
at
th
e
c
ampsite.
Hans
was
the
fi
rst
to
notice
the
l
igh
t.
“Look,
guys,
the
forest
is
be
ginning
to
light
up.
Must
be
responding
to
our
partying:”
He
said
playfu
lly.
“No,
I
think
it’s
the
bridge,”
Gerda
said
as
she
took
off,
4