I paused a minute to let that sink in. Then, "We’re on a tiger right now, you and I. This is not a trail we can get off of by doing anything other than going forward."
I couldn’t read his reaction to that. So I added, "You know, before Drew fell, he’d climbed this trail a number of times. I’ve climbed this trail before. So I know that you can cross that bridge, because I know what it takes to cross it. And Emmett, you’ve got what it takes."
He looked at the other side of the bridge, but he didn’t move. I gritted my teeth. He had no choice. We had no choice! Except one. I have him that one choice.
I asked, "Do you want to go first, or do you want me to go first?"
"You."
"Okay."
Before starting across, on an impulse I pulled off my gloves. "See if these fit you at all," I told him.
"W
